NEW: Former VP Kamala Harris will NOT run for California governor. “For now, my leadership—and public service—will not be in elected office.” Statement from Harris: “Over the past six months, I have spent time reflecting on this moment in our nation’s history, and the best way

NEWS: Karoline Leavitt says that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will go into Gaza tomorrow to assess the famine situation on the ground.

Construction of a new $200 million White House ballroom will begin in September, Karoline Leavitt says. It will be "substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, its theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical," she said. It will

President Trump and Gov. Whitmer met today at the White House to discuss tariffs, Medicaid, and a new air force base in Michigan, according to Whitmer's office. She also saw Sec. Marco Rubio, Sec. Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles at the White House.

Asked if JD Vance is his heir apparent, President Trump doesn’t definitively say yes: “Certainly he’s doing a good job” and “probably” would be the next GOP nominee. Says Vance and Marco Rubio could possibly team up and “some other people on this stage” - some of his Cabinet

Asked if he supports having the FBI help Texas Republicans return Texas Democratic lawmakers hunkering down in suburban Chicago to the state, President Trump says, “They may have to. … The governor wants them back.” Earlier, Sen. Senator John Cornyn had asked the FBI to help round up

As Democratic governors shelter Texas Democrats during a showdown with the Lone Star legislature over a major redistricting overhaul, Gov. Whitmer heads to the White House to meet with Trump and press for relief on tariffs & Medicaid cuts for Michigan cbsnews.com/news/gretchen-…

VP's office denies CNN report that admin officials had planned an Epstein strategy meeting tonight “The CNN story is pure fiction. There was never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President’s residence to discuss Epstein Strategy," said spox h/t Olivia Rinaldi

Sec. Rubio tells Fox Business there is no call scheduled between the White House and Kremlin at this time but said “maybe” it could happen over the next couple of days.

White tables and yellow striped umbrellas at Mar-a-lago (left) and new tables and yellow umbrellas on the Rose Garden patio designed by President Trump. (photo at left by me, photo at right taken by Laura Figueroa Hernandez today)

News: Vice President Vance met with Indiana lawmakers today about a variety of issues, including redistricting their nine congressional seats. I'm told by several administration officials that the conversations went well and possibly moved the needle on a redistricting effort.

"My friend President Putin" India was hit by Trump admin this week with an additional 25% tariff as punishment for buying Russian oil.

Vice President Vance told reporters the US "has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state" while meeting with Foreign Secretary Lammy in the UK. The United Kingdom plans to recognize Palestinian as a state by September if Israel doesn't agree to a ceasefire in Gaza by then.

TRUMP says he'll announce meeting with Russia's Putin soon. "I think we're getting very close, and we're going to be announcing later on -- we're going to have a meeting with Russia," he said. "I think the location will be a very popular one, for a lot of reasons."

Scoop: Presidents Trump and Putin are discussing meeting in the United States, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. They are likely to meet in Alaska. Via Richard Escobedo and me

Trump says he'll meet with Putin on Friday, Aug. 15. Zelenskyy could still end up being involved in some way, Nancy Cordes reports.

UK official: •The UK will host key National Security Advisors, including from the US, Ukraine and European partners today. They are expected to join the Foreign Secretary and Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance at Chevening.  •The meeting, at the request of the US,

Treasury issued a license to allow Vladimir Putin & his Russian team to land in Alaska despite US sanctions. It is good through August 20th.