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Com promo code WIRE. I'm Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, July 18th, and this is your Morning WIRE afternoon update. The White House announced last night that President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. He will self-isolate at his beach house in Delaware and continue carry out his presidential responsibilities. Though Biden only has mild symptoms, the diagnosis is a tough blow to his effort to hold on to the nomination as the Democratic candidate for President. Though the Biden campaign is adamant that he will be the nominee, Biden has said he will step aside if diagnosed with, quote, some medical condition. According to Axios, many top Democrats believe Biden will step aside. Gold Star families took to the stage at the RNC last night to say the names of their loved ones who were killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Daily Wire reporter Tim pierce has more.

Joe Biden came under fire last month for saying this in his debate against Donald Trump.

The truth is, I'm the only President this century that doesn't have any this decade. The many troops dying anywhere in the world.

Thirteen US service members died in Afghanistan during Biden's disastrous withdrawal three years ago. Last night, families of two of those fallen service members voiced their frustrations at the Republican National Convention.

Our son, Corporal Hunter-Lopes, whose name Joe Biden, has refused to say out loud, was killed on August 26, 2021.

Lopes' father, Herman, read aloud the names of all 13 service members who died during the Afghanistan withdrawal, receiving thunderous applause after each one. Christie Chamlin, a gold star mother-in-law, drew a sharp comparison between President Biden and former President Trump.

While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump knew all of our children's names. He knew their stories, and he spoke to us in a way that made us feel understood.

Morningwire spoke with Gold our aunt Sheryl Jules this morning at the RNC, and she really underscored what the moment meant for these families.

For the last three years, we've been basically ignored by this administration. Just having these kids remembered, saying their names, it It was important to us. Having this opportunity meant everything. The crowd was so receptive and made us feel so warm and welcome. When they were chanting, never forget, it meant so much to us.

The Biden administration announced today that it's canceling $1.2 billion more in student debt. Here to discuss is Daily Wire Senior Editor, Joel Neidler.

The latest round in Biden's student debt cancelations will reportedly forgive 35,000 1,000 borrowers who work in public service professions such as firefighters and teachers. The Department of Education has now waived almost $170 billion for 4.8 million Americans. This despite a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that found Biden's original student bailout plan unconstitutional. Since then, relief programs have targeted specific borrowers. For example, this round only applies to people with a limited public service loan forgiveness waiver from 2022. However, the Biden administration said it's still planning to relaunch the original broad-based program.

This episode is brought to you by Good Ranchers. Subscribe to any box on goodranchers. Com to save up to $150 on their 100% American meat subscription service. That's Good Ranchers com today. A former CIA analyst has been charged with secretly working as a foreign agent. The indictment alleges, Sue Me Terry began to provide South Korean intelligence officers with, quote, access, information, and advocacy privacy in 2013, a few years after she left the CIA. In return, Terry allegedly received luxury handbags, expensive meals, and thousands of dollars. The FBI said, This arrest sends a clear message. The FBI will pursue and arrest anyone who endangers our nation's security by collaborating with foreign spies. The indictment mirrors US Senator Robert Menendez's conviction this week, where he was found guilty in a bribery scheme. Despite that conviction, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continues to refute reports that has agreed to step down. Here with the details is Daily Wire contributor, Matthew Sanofky.

Menendez was convicted Tuesday of 16 felony counts related to a bribery scheme where he, quote, sold out his office to foreign and domestic partners alike. But That doesn't immediately disqualify him from the Senate. Though he stepped down as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee when he was first charged, Menendez has resisted calls for him to resign entirely since the start of his trial. He could be forced out, but it would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker have both called for Menendez to resign, among other Democrats. Menendez will be sentenced on October 29th, but plans to appeal.

After a long-awaited week-long meeting, Chinese officials announced few changes to the Communist nation's sagging economy. In a rare move, leaders did acknowledge the country's economic threats, but didn't signal any major overhaul to the government's financial direction. Instead, they reaffirmed their dedication to a state-controlled market and made calls to persist amid growing unease among Chinese citizens and foreign investors. And historic agriculture company John Deere announced it will discontinue its diversity initiatives. The world's largest seller of farm equipment said it will not include socially motivated messages in its training or participate in social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events. The move comes in the wake of fellow rural retailer Tractor Supply, also retreating from DEI goals. Both companies cited customer feedback for their decisions. Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire. Com. For more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of MorningWire every morning.