The Bulletin

• Kamala Harris: The Vice President's political "honeymoon" could be coming to an end, according to one political scientist, who has warned that she is now likely to face increased scrutiny of her policy proposals that are "arguably far to the left of the median U.S. voter."
• Presidential election: Kamala Harris has taken a four-point lead over Donald Trump in a new national polling average after the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential bid.
• Tax: Monetary policies have been at the forefront of the presidential race so far, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump promoting different visions for America. Here is what Harris hopes to achieve with her taxation policy.
• Gambling: Political gambling on the 2024 U.S. elections is expected to bring in a record volume of bets by November even though it is not legal in the United States, industry experts have said.
• Life expectancy: America has the lowest life expectancy of all English-speaking countries, new research has found. However, this varies significantly across the nation, with some states seeing much lower life expectancies than others.
• Middle East crisis: Israel launched a wave of a "pre-emptive" airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Sunday, while the militant group said it had fired back hundreds of rockets in a major escalation of the conflict. 
• Ukraine-Russia war: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has celebrated Kyiv's first strike on Russian targets with its new long-range drone missile Palianytsia.

The rundown: Kamala Harris' main political weakness — the economy — took a backseat at the DNC, which focused on joy and excitement. Now, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to provide clarity with his highly anticipated speech on Friday. Here's what to expect.

Why it matters: Democrats addressed several policies at their convention, from reproductive rights to criminal justice, healthcare, and even immigration, another weakness. However, pocketbook issues like inflation and wage growth received less attention from speakers throughout the week, despite polls that show those among the pitfalls that could hobble Harris' campaign in November. This week, the Labor Department revealed that the job market is significantly weaker than it has appeared, with payroll figures revised downward by more than 800,000 — a stunning 28 percent — for the 12 months ending in March.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will Kamala Harris Be Judged on Biden's Economy? It's Complicated

TL/DR: This week, the Labor Department revealed that the job market is significantly weaker than it has appeared, with payroll figures revised downward by more than 800,000 — a shocking 28% — for the 12 months ending in March.

What happens now? The chair of the Federal Reserve will deliver a policy speech from the central bank's annual symposium in Jackson Hole that is likely to provide some hints about the state of the U.S. economy as the general election gets underway in earnest. Powell's remarks come amid conflicting economic indicators, one or more of which could turn into this election cycle's October surprise.

Deeper reading The DNC Danced Around a Key Harris Weakness. Now Jerome Powell Takes It On

The rundown: Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination on Thursday, concluding the four-day convention. The night featured speeches from Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. Harris' family, including her husband, stepchildren and sister, also appeared to endorse her in a personal capacity. Here are some of the big moments from the fourth and final night of the DNC.

Why it matters: Harris made history, becoming only the second woman and the first Black and South Asian American woman to accept a major party presidential nomination. In a passionate speech, she called on the country to move toward "joy" and away from Donald Trump. Read her full speech. Meanwhile, Gun-violence survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Abbey Clements, a former Sandy Hook Elementary teacher, also spoke. The convention also emphasized a strong stance on military, foreign policy, and law enforcement. The Central Park Five, who were convicted and later exonerated in the rape and assault of a young woman in 1989, took the stage in a powerful moment recounting Trump's ad against them that called for them to be executed. The night also featured A-list celebrities, with female pop stars like The Chicks and Pink delivering a heartfelt rendition of "What About Us" alongside her 13-year-old daughter, Willow.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Winners And Losers From Day 4 Of The DNC

TL/DR: Harris delivered a politically calculated message Thursday that tackled the criticisms that those on the right and left have lobbied at her.

What happens now? The party's energetic convention in Chicago is officially over and the general election is now underway in earnest. Now Harris has just 73 days to convince voters she is a better option to lead the country than Donald Trump.

Deeper reading Four Takeaways From the Final Night of the DNC

The rundown: While the Democratic National Convention demonstrated the optimism about Vice President Kamala Harris' candidacy, her opponent Donald Trump quietly had a great week. Several leading bookmakers on Thursday had Trump as the favorite to win November's election.

Why it matters: Harris' entry into the 2024 race after President Joe Biden dropped out has energized Democrats. She saw a surge in polls, while her campaign has reportedly raised a staggering $500 million in the month since she joined the race. At the convention's fourth and final day on Thursday, she accepted her party's nomination. Trump, the Republican nominee, has appeared to struggle to adjust to Harris as his new rival, sparking a backlash earlier this month after he questioned the vice president's racial identity. A poll of battleground states published on Tuesday found Trump narrowly leading Harris in Pennsylvania and Arizona, and tied in Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Three other surveys showed Harris trailing Trump in Pennsylvania.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Rejects Kamala Harris' Poll Gains: 'She's Not Having Success'

TL/DR: Bookmakers again have Trump as the favorite to win in November, while some polls have given his campaign welcome news.

What happens now? Speculation is mounting that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to drop out of the race and back Trump. Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, discussed the possibility that Kennedy could "walk away right now and join forces" with Trump to prevent Harris from winning in November. Kennedy's exit would be a bigger boon to Trump than Harris, polls have suggested. Trump said on Tuesday that he was open to offering Kennedy a role in his administration if he drops out of the race.

Deeper reading Despite DNC Optimism, Donald Trump Has Quietly Had a Great Week

The rundown: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine for the first time this week to hold talks with the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, raising questions over New Delhi's potential role in bringing about an eventual ceasefire in the Eastern European country. Here's what analysts are saying about Modi's objectives.

Why it matters: India has carefully maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, advocating for peace through dialogue. The country was present at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Geneva in June, a summit that Zelensky lobbied hard for, though India did not sign the joint statement. India's discounted purchases of Russian oil have helped sustain Moscow's isolated post-invasion economy, with bilateral trade reaching a record of $65.7 billion last year. The U.S., which seeks to maintain strong ties with QUAD partner India to counter China's expansive moves in the Indo-Pacific, has called on New Delhi to use its leverage to push Russia toward a ceasefire.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Putin Backs Down Over Modi's Mercenary Demand: Report

TL/DR: Chris Weaver, CEO of Macro-Advisory, believes Modi's Kyiv trip aims to demonstrate India's neutrality to the West and explore a potential role in peace mediation.

What happens now? According to Ukraine's presidential office, Modi and Zelensky are expected to "discuss issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation" and sign multiple documents. Modi's visit comes as Ukraine pushes its initiative in Russia's southwestern region of Kursk.

Deeper reading Can India's Modi Make Putin Stop Russia's War in Ukraine?

The rundown: Property taxes are a crucial aspect of homeownership in the U.S., impacting everything from monthly mortgage payments to long-term financial planning. Here are the top five states with the highest and lowest property taxes.

Why it matters: Property tax is a levy imposed on real estate by local governments, primarily used to fund public services such as schools, roads, and emergency services. In recent years, property tax rates have been on the rise across the U.S., driven by increasing home values and changing local government needs. The year 2024 has seen significant changes in property taxes, with states implementing various measures to either alleviate or increase the tax burden on homeowners. Nationally, the average property tax bill for single-family homes has increased by 4.1 percent in 2023, driven largely by rising home values.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Property Tax Map Shows Most Expensive States

TL/DR: From 2019 to 2023, the median property tax bill for single-family homes in the U.S. increased by around 24 percent.

What happens now? As property values continue to rise, and with them property tax assessments, the financial burden on homeowners could grow, making it more important than ever to understand the property tax landscape.

Deeper reading Map Shows States Which Have The Highest Property Tax