was pressured out of the race and "shouldn't have been our president." thank you forjoining us. we're tracking new developments here in washington — as several top democrats rally behind kamala harris after presidentjoe biden announced he's ending his re—election bid — while endorsing her as the new democratic nominee for the 2024 us presidential election. in a post on x vice president harris said... a source has told the bbc that — following the endorsement — vice president harris has been making calls to key democratic officials, lawmakers and governors to secure support.

this follows president biden�*s announcement on x, where he said... the 81—year—old president — currently in isolation while recovering from covid — was under increasing criticism since a poor debate performance against his republican opponent donald trump in latejune. a number of democrats called for president biden to end his campaign. democratic donors also threatened to pull funding. former president trump reacted on truth social, saying...

our news partner cbs news has also gotten some reaction from the former president. in a phone conservation with cbs news�* chief election and campaign correspondent robert costa, mr trump said... earlier, i asked our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal about the endorsements the vice president has so far. you have this group of governors that were suggested as potential contenders tojoe biden�*s throne.

you had the governor of california gavin newsom who has backed kamala harris tonight. you have the governor of pennsylvania josh shapiro. you have the governor of michigan gretchen whitmer who has not explicitly endorsed kamala harris and then you have the kentucky governor andy beshear who has not specifically endorsed her. we will have to wait and see what happens in the next few days and weeks, i think the democratic party will want to unify behind one candidate. they have been in such disarray over the past few weeks while republican parties are coalescing around donald trump and we saw that at the republican convention. what they will want to do is get back to focusing on the issues rather than the focus being on ifjoe biden is fit to run for the white house. they want the focus to be on is donald trump fit to run for it?

you are there outside of the white house. can you give us a sense of what people are saying? they are not necessarily voters, tourists from around the world but what is the atmosphere there? it is busy here. it always is, it is the summer and the weekend. you have so much media of course and people were coming up to us and asking us what was happening and in shock thatjoe biden has stood down. there were a group of people outside the white house that were saying thank you joe. he did the honourable thing. yesterday there had been a protest outside the white house from a group of voters who back the democratic party who felt it was time forjoe biden to step aside. i spoke to one woman who is a donald trump supporter and she said that she thinks thatjoe biden has been pushed out. she believes that donald trump will beat whichever democratic candidate they put forward.

more prominent democrats in congress are coming out in support of ms harris�* bid for president, including progressives in the party. senator elizabeth warren from massachusetts and representative alexandra ocasio cortez endorsed the vice president on x. senator warren touted the vice president's legislative agenda, emphasizing her role protecting abortion rights. she said... she has been a ferocious warrior on the issue of abortion and we will get roe v wade back. representative ocasio cortez pledged herfull support to ms harris, saying... their endorsements add to those from other top figures in the democratic party, including bill and hillary clinton and congressmanjim clyburn — an influential lawmaker among black voters. let's bring in semafor�*s political reporter, kadia goba.

great to see you and have you back on bbc news. we are seeing these endorsements coming in and kamala harris has been speaking to a number of leading democrats including the leadership in congress and the senate and house of representatives. is it safe to set this point that she does have support across the board in congress? i have support across the board in congress?— in congress? i would say she definitely — in congress? i would say she definitely has _ in congress? i would say she definitely has the _ in congress? i would say she definitely has the majority i in congress? i would say she definitely has the majority of lawmakers in congress. something we reported a week ago despite what people were saying that she didn't have the support or that people were concerned, our sources were telling us about nearly 100% of them were backing kamala harris. and if they suggested that they wanted some kind of open primary, they werejust saying that because they wanted to reinforce the idea that she could earn the position. when we spoke _ could earn the position. when we spoke to — could earn the position. when we spoke to adam _ could earn the position. when we spoke to adam smith - could earn the position. when| we spoke to adam smith week could earn the position. when . we spoke to adam smith week or two ago when he was calling on joe biden to bow to the grace,

is said if he does 90% of colleagues will breathe a sigh of relief. is that what you're hearing from democrats? yes, this is something _ hearing from democrats? yes, this is something that - hearing from democrats? yes, this is something that was, - hearing from democrats? yes, | this is something that was, you saw the endorsements tripled out initially and then they started becoming loud. a couple of days ago 11 to 12 winemakers announced that they would prefer that the president stepped down. this was a big pressure campaign and i would say it was done strategically as well. . ., . , say it was done strategically as well. _, . , ., , as well. other concerns at this oint as well. other concerns at this point that _ as well. other concerns at this point that there _ as well. other concerns at this point that there is _ as well. other concerns at this point that there is not - as well. other concerns at this point that there is not a - as well. other concerns at this point that there is not a lot - point that there is not a lot of time until the convention and then until the election to rally more support around vice—president? i rally more support around vice-president?— rally more support around vice-president? i think many eo - le vice-president? i think many peeple see — vice-president? i think many people see kamala _ vice-president? i think many people see kamala harris - vice-president? i think many people see kamala harris as| people see kamala harris as part of the administration. they haven't been included in all of this time, during joe biden�*s tenure. not making

herself larger than the president, but definitely there and aware. i don't think that will be a problem. i think it will be a problem. i think it will be a problem. i think it will be energising the democratic party after so much divisiveness and i think people will be excited about who she picks as her running mate. indeed that will be a big question. do we have any indication to this point on who that may be?— indication to this point on who that ma be? ., ., , ., that may be? no, the names that someone had. — that may be? no, the names that someone had, people _ that may be? no, the names that someone had, people think - that may be? no, the names that someone had, people think about bringing in the swing state to the fold, mike kelly represents arizona, they also think about his wife and her unfortunate incident being shot. some say that kind of, if kamala harris comes in as this forceful prosecutor type, trying to convince the former president,

his recent unfortunate incident with his shooting, having a running mate like mike kelly, minimises that. or does not give republicans this, you know, this... it doesn't give the republicans a chance that owe how could you be like this when he was just shot. that is something i have been hearing throughout a little scuttle. i'm seeing here on twitter that act blue, the political action committee raising money that they raised m6] million according to them as of nine pm following kamala harris's campaign launch. how significant is that? we know money is always significant in a campaign. i money is always significant in a campaign-— a campaign. i think this is incredible. _ a campaign. i think this is incredible. it's _ a campaign. i think this is incredible. it's an - a campaign. i think this is - incredible. it's an opportunity for democrats to obviously by

advertisements and tell kamala harris is. more importantly we just saw numbers may be a few days ago saying thatjoe biden was slipping in the past few days and he had lost financial headway over donald trump. this will benefit the democratic party in a big way.- will benefit the democratic party in a big way. great to have you — party in a big way. great to have you on _ party in a big way. great to have you on bbc _ party in a big way. great to have you on bbc news - party in a big way. great to i have you on bbc news tonight party in a big way. great to - have you on bbc news tonight as always, thank you.— always, thank you. thank you for having _ always, thank you. thank you for having me. _ the us secretary of state antony blinken says he's proud to have worked for president biden — and vowed to work for him through the remainder of his term. another high level cabinet official, secretary of defense lloyd austin, didn't endorse kamala harris but did praise president biden, saying as part of a statement...

praise for mr biden also came from another cabinet member, secretary of transportation pete buttigieg. he endorsed the vice president — saying... for more on biden's unprecdented decision to drop out of the race, i spoke to democratic congresswoman barbara lee. she's been speaking with the congressional black caucus about biden's endorsement of vice president kamala harris. i want to start by asking you about the endorsement that came from the congressional black caucus for kamala harris as the nominee today. why did the caucus though its support behind harris?—

caucus though its support behind harris? actually this was the political _ behind harris? actually this was the political action - was the political action committee and the board decided that it was time to unify around nominee, hopefully to be the presidential nominee, kamala harris. and in fact the party is moving forward, hopefully we will be a unified convention and move forward. first i want to give my personal opinion, i know kamala harris very well, i endorsed her when she first ran for presidency. she was born in california and has a phenomenal history. she is prepared, mark, experienced, and she is ready. —— smart. i'm sure that there will be liberation is all those factors considered. it's also important to recognise the contributions ofjoe biden. he has been a transformational president and i think today we

of him a debt of gratitude for so much he has done for soft not to me for the american people but for working people, and for our global economy. indeed, as a message we are hearing from so many today honouring joe biden. i want to ask about looking ahead to the election. we saw ask about looking ahead to the election. we sanoe biden had sent his support among black voters in particular softening. if we look even closer among black men, why do you believe vice—president harris could then when these photos back into the fold? —— voters. i’m into the fold? -- voters. i'm not sure _ into the fold? -- voters. i'm not sure about _ into the fold? -- voters. i'm not sure about all _ into the fold? —— voters. i“n not sure about all these into the fold? —— voters. “i.” not sure about all these polls but everyone i've talked to, in the grassroots level. remember we have voters who were communicating with directly and i don't hear that sentiment. of course is there but what is important is kamala harris, along with all of us who support her, communicate to

voters, the grassroots organisations, to political organisations. not of me what she has accomplished withjoe biden but her vision is for the future. that is connecting with african—american men and i know kamala harris very well and i know that she wants to make sure that the wealth gap is closed, japan —— entrepreneurs and people of colour and young people is a priority. there are issues that i think need to be connected with voters and all of us have a responsibility. swing states are going to be incredibly important here including michigan. we saw incredibly important here including michigan. we sanoe biden did lose support among some democrats, over the war in gaza because of a large muslim american community. will this be a struggle for her to win some of these voters back? i tell you, we have to look at

all of our swing states. and all of our swing states. and all of our swing states. and all of us had to try to connect with voters and talk to voters about the differences we have with this administration. i called for a ceasefire early on and ifor one called for a ceasefire early on and i for one and called for a ceasefire early on and ifor one and on called for a ceasefire early on and i for one and on the appropriations committee and had been fighting for humanitarian assistance in the catastrophic humanitarian disaster, we can have it on people in gaza and around the world. we all have our differences but at the end of the day the threat of a donald trump presidency, with threats of a man who is a pathological liar, convicted felon, someone who wants to destroy our democracy and someone who is not a ally and their partner on the global stage. what people compare and contrast kamala harris, a prosecutor to a

convicted felon, will unify and come together with our differences of course but one that everyone will have a seat at the table. we that everyone will have a seat at the table.— that everyone will have a seat at the table. ~ ~ ., , at the table. we know the trump cam aiun at the table. we know the trump campaign will — at the table. we know the trump campaign will be _ at the table. we know the trump campaign will be talking - at the table. we know the trump campaign will be talking a - at the table. we know the trump campaign will be talking a lot - campaign will be talking a lot about immigration. if you look at polls and i know you are talking about your questions about some of the polls but what has been clear is for many immigration as a chief concern. kamala harris was named the border czar in his first administration withjoe biden. administration with joe biden. will this administration withjoe biden. will this be something that is difficult for her to overcome? i know the republicans are going to challenge out there in many distortions and misinformation and disinformation. when you look at what donald trump actually put forward in his immigration policy and killed the bill was a very tough bill, i remember i supported it when it was in the senate but he alone went to the members of the senate and

killed the bill on immigration. they are being disingenuous and we need to look at border security is connected to a fair and just and legal immigration system and the vice president is very clear, she comes from california and understands immigration. it will be a campaign where the debate between herself and donald trump will show who will protect our democracy and who will live up to the values that we care about and who will win the campaign and connect with the campaign and connect with the people and make their lives better, because this is about making life better for everyone in our own country throughout the world. in our own country throughout the world-— the world. very quick last question- _ the world. very quick last question. are _ the world. very quick last question. are you wait. the world. very quick last. question. are you wait about how little time that is until the election?— how little time that is until the election? we don't have a lot of time — the election? we don't have a lot of time and _ the election? we don't have a lot of time and that _ the election? we don't have a lot of time and thatjust - the election? we don't have a l lot of time and thatjust means we have to double down. we have to circle the wagons, i'm a member of the dnc and i am working very hard to make sure our delegates are working to unify around kamala harris and so that i think the timeframe even though it is consolidated

and really concise and i think that this is going to give a new burst of energy and a sense of having a seat at the table. and some new energy and excitement over making sure that we can defeat donald trump in november and that is what we must do. the bbc has also gotten a statement from the spokesperson for first ladyjill biden. communications director elizabeth alexander said this of ms biden... jeff mason is white house correspondent with the reuters news agency. very good to have you back on bbc news. what do we know about what happened in the early hours of sunday that led to this decisionjoe biden?

hours of sunday that led to this decision joe biden? well, what we know _ this decision joe biden? well, what we know and _ this decision joe biden? well, what we know and i _ this decision joe biden? well, what we know and i thank - this decision joe biden? well, what we know and i thank you for having me, as he was presented with some polling and ultimately decided was the polling was such that he needed to get out of the race and to be on us, this has been building for three weeks. we have seen some of that polling beforehand, he was trying to win some of those polling's from lawmakers and the former speaker of the house anti— policy, the leader of the democrats in the senate chuck schumer. his own advisers brought him the latest round of polling is and it was my understanding, he looked at that and reflected on that and decided that the best move to make for his party was to step aside. b, make for his party was to step aside. �* ., ., , ., , aside. a lot of us have been focusing _ aside. a lot of us have been focusing on _ aside. a lot of us have been focusing on the _ aside. a lot of us have been i focusing on the nomination, aside. a lot of us have been - focusing on the nomination, the endorsement of kamala harris at this point. what will be, however, see from joe biden in the coming days?— however, see from joe biden in the coming days? right now we are not seeing _ the coming days? right now we are not seeing much _ the coming days? right now we are not seeing much of- the coming days? right now we are not seeing much of him - are not seeing much of him because he is sick with covid,

he hasn't been in public since last wednesday night. we dropped him off in delaware at his house on wednesday night and unusually for him, especially he has not left the house for any events, church or anything at all. it will depend on his health, we are not seeing him because he is still recovering. once he is recovered and is able to appear again than he signalled in his letter today he plans to address the nation when he is backin address the nation when he is back in the office. we will see that and in general over the next few months i think my analysis is we will see him continue to raise money for the next nominee, whoever that is, it was made clear that he would like that to be kamala harris. that endorsement was huge for her in terms of momentum and i

think the president is probably going to want to end his one term in office is being seen as someone who did everything they could to get her elected. the? could to get her elected. they would be my _ could to get her elected. they would be my next _ could to get her elected. they would be my next question, i could to get her elected. they would be my next question, how active a role you anticipate bidons team will be in coalescing support and money around kamala harris going forward? i around kamala harris going forward? ., �* ., ., , , forward? i don't have any fresh re ”ortin forward? i don't have any fresh reporting on — forward? i don't have any fresh reporting on that _ forward? i don't have any fresh reporting on that to _ forward? i don't have any fresh reporting on that to share - forward? i don't have any fresh reporting on that to share with | reporting on that to share with you but my suspicion is he will still be very active. this is a man, a leader who is still absolutely loved in the party. i have heard from multiple that there is a sense of grief and anguish that the democratic party that he needed to set aside and even to the point a senator told me last week there was anguish among the people who are calling him to step aside. it was not personal, they still love joe aside. it was not personal, they still lovejoe biden. they just can see that he was not the right person at this point

to lead the party to victory in november. all that said, joe biden is very popular which means you can still raise money, he will still be able to be out there working towards the election of a democrat, likely kamala harris, to the role he has and i think you will also want to show that he finished strong as a leader of the country. you will see him continue to govern and finish strong in that way to cement his legacy as president of the united states.— united states. with so many democrats _ united states. with so many democrats coming _ united states. with so many democrats coming out - united states. with so many democrats coming out in - united states. with so many - democrats coming out in support of kamala harris, what challenges do you think she could still face leading up to the convention and cementing that nomination? she said she wants to own it? she that nomination? she said she wants to own it?— wants to own it? she did. and as one donor _ wants to own it? she did. and as one donor said _ wants to own it? she did. and as one donor said that - wants to own it? she did. and as one donor said that was - as one donor said that was deliberate. she wants to show that it's not a coronation, that it's not a coronation, that it's not a coronation, thatitis that it's not a coronation, that it is something that she

has earned and prepared for and she can take the mantle of not just because she is number two but because she is the best placed person to win in novemberfor the placed person to win in november for the party. placed person to win in novemberfor the party. i think that that is one of the reasons she said that. as far as challenges she faces, one of thoseis challenges she faces, one of those is time. it isjuly of the election is in november. the democratic convention is next month, a few weeks from now. she benefits of course she becomes the nominee from the campaign infrastructure in place that was in place for the ticket but she doesn't have the benefit of having a year and a half to go around and talk to donors. she has a lot less time but that doesn't mean she cannot do it.— but that doesn't mean she cannot do it. always good to have you _ cannot do it. always good to have you on _ cannot do it. always good to have you on bbc _ cannot do it. always good to have you on bbc news, - cannot do it. always good to l have you on bbc news, thank cannot do it. always good to - have you on bbc news, thank you so much. mr; have you on bbc news, thank you so much. y , .,, have you on bbc news, thank you so much. g , ., ., ~ have you on bbc news, thank you somuch. g , ., so much. my pleasure, thank you for having — so much. my pleasure, thank you for having me- — kamala harris is receiving endorsements from other big names in the democratic party. in a statement from former president bill clinton and former secretary

of state hillary clinton, but former president barack obama stopped short of endorsing ms harris in his own statement. one more story before we go. the us department of homeland security has ordered a 45—day independent review of the attempt on donald trump's life. homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas named a bipartisan panel to review the actions taken by the us

secret service and local authorities before, during, and after the rally in pennsylvania where the former president was shot. the secret service has been under intense scrutiny after the assassination attempt on mr trump. the secret service's director, kimberly cheatle, is due to testify before the house oversight committee on monday as part of the investigation into security failures. that is our programme at this hour but don't forget you can head to our website to get all the latest information and analysis from correspondence across the us and the world. on this momentous day, joe biden dropping out of the race and endorsing kamala harris. we will be back at the top of the next hour. hello. it looks like the second half ofjuly will continue to be much more in tune with summer weather than the first half ofjuly. it's going to feel quite warmer out there when you get the sunshine — temperatures at or above average — but this week, a more typical week and there'll be

a bit of a mix around. some rain at times, particularly on monday and thursday, they're the greatest likelihood, but some longer drier spells, too. now one of the wetter spells said monday. it's these weather fronts pushing across the country, which gives a rather grey and misty, murky start to the day. patchy light rain or drizzle for many, but some heavier bursts across scotland and the far north of england first thing. many will brighten up, a scattering of showers will quickly rush across early afternoon southern areas before some longer, drier spells later. further north will also see sunshine develop. lots of cloud eastern scotland, best of sunshine in the west, but some slow moving showers, not much of a breeze here, and where those showers do form in scotland, northern ireland, northern england, there's an outside chance of the odd rumble of thunder. but look at the temperatures in the afternoon with some sunshine — 16—24 celsius. they're bang on target for this stage in the year. some of the heavier showers will last in eastern scotland into the first part of the night, but through monday night into tuesday, cloud and patchy rain will push from ireland into wales, central and southern england. and like monday morning, it will be a mild enough

start today for many — coolest with clearer skies in northern scotland. but for tuesday, a ridge of high pressure starts to build in. before it does, though, we've just got this little kink in the isobars, little trough linked to the weather front, which will bring cloud and occasional showery bursts of rain, especially during the morning across parts of southern wales, central, southern england. odd isolated shower elsewhere on tuesday, but for most it will be largely dry. best of the sunshine around northern and western coasts. we will see a bit of a breeze, so temperatures down a little bit on monday's values. a cooler night then to take us into wednesday, but with that ridge of high pressure, a bit more widespread, lighter winds, it will be a much more pleasant day. a few isolated showers can't be ruled out. a lot of dry and bright weather with some sunshine to begin with and then clouds spilling in from the west. longer spells of sunshine for the afternoon in eastern areas — just one or two inland showers. it will feel warmer again, temperatures more widely into the 20s. as we go through wednesday night into thursday, though, this will probably the wettest spell of the week, with these weather fronts pushing across. not completely wet, but there will be some patchy

rain or drizzle around again more widely on thursday, brighter on friday, and turning warmer and drier through the weekend.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

in a world where nature is under relentless attack, there are still places that have been left untouched. this is about as good as it gets, the forest is in excellent condition. the water is crystal clear. mount mabu is an isolated patch of rainforest, almost like an island. this isolation has meant that the animals that live here have evolved uniquely. inaccessible for decades due to war, it's only now that scientists are discovering mount mabu's secrets. sh—sh—sh—sh—sh—sh. wow, that is amazing!