The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago. Hurricane Ernesto causes warnings along the East Coast. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken says this may be the ‘last opportunity’ for a Gaza cease-fire.

Here’s what to know today.

The most unusual DNC in generations is about to kick off 

The most unusual Democratic convention in generations is set to kick off today and make history by nominating Kamala Harris for president just one month after Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign.

Vice President Harris rapidly unified the party and locked up the nomination, even though she didn’t compete in any primaries at the top of the ticket — and her campaign has since surged into a statistical tie or narrow leads in national and battleground surveys against Donald Trump.

All eyes will be on how Harris distinguishes herself this week — after running a campaign based on good vibes that energized an organic fan base, it is to be seen if the Democrats will persist with the joyful and optimistic theme that could have its limits for a party that continues to warn that a Trump presidency could spell doom for American democracy. Harris has faced criticism for running a platform more on that feel-good factor than hard policy details, so her Chicago speech will be a crucial opportunity to fill in the blanks.

More questions remain — will Harris break more distinctly with Biden policies, will she try to fire up the base or appeal to independents, and how will she handle Gaza protests, which are already underway near the DNC and are expected to grow? Read more about what to look out for at this week’s historic convention.

Read more 2024 election coverage:

• In the 11-week runup to the election, the Harris campaign is pouring tens of millions of dollars into an ad blitz to introduce the vice president to voters who don’t know much about her.
• President Biden’s presence at the Democratic National Convention provides the complicated challenge of passing the torch to Vice President Harris and bridging divides among voters in his remarks as he departs office.
• Democrats released their party platform document yesterday, laying out more than 90 pages of policy priorities just one day before the convention kicks off.

This may be the ‘last opportunity’ for a Gaza cease-fire, Blinken warns in Israel

This may be the “last opportunity” to end Israel’s offensive in Gaza and free the hostages who remain held in the enclave, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned this morning, leading the push for a deal given new urgency by fears of a wider regional conflict with Iran. Speaking in Tel Aviv, Blinken said the new round of negotiations were “probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.” 

The U.S. and fellow mediators have voiced optimism, but the talks have so far failed to produce a clear breakthrough, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the lack of progress. The U.S. had previously blamed Hamas for stalling the negotiations, but U.S. and foreign officials have said new conditions introduced by Netanyahu during negotiations have also stifled progress.

The push for a breakthrough comes as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with Israeli strikes reported to have killed at least 28 people overnight on Saturday and into Sunday, including young quadruplets, local health officials said.

Hurricane Ernesto brings life-threatening surf to East Coast

Ernesto reclaimed hurricane status as it gathered speed over the Atlantic Ocean, generating a maximum of sustained 75mph winds yesterday. The storm, now churning 435 miles south-east of Halifax, Canada, has created life-threatening surf and rip currents for much of the East Coast. New York officials have closed beaches to swimmers in Brooklyn and Queens, and the high-powered waves caused destruction in North Carolina’s Outer banks, knocking a stilted house off its wooded foundation and causing it to fall into the water. Ten million people have been covered by the National Weather Service’s coastal flood advisories, and threatening surf and rip currents from Bermuda to Canada are possible through the week. Read more.

Politics in Brief

Biden impeachment: The GOP-led House committee investigating whether to impeach President Joe Biden released their report, which alleges the president concealed the mishandling of classified information and enriched himself through his family business ventures. 

Graham warning: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told NBC News that former President Donald Trump, “the provocateur, the showman, may not win this election.”

Santos charges: Former Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty on multiple charges related to campaign finance fraud.

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Staff Pick: The ‘Big One’ is inevitable. How should scientists warn the public?

When Japan issued its first-ever “megaquake” warning last week, fearing a heightened risk of a bigger earthquake after a smaller one struck, U.S. scientists were paying close attention. The same situation could play out here: Experts know the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the West Coast will rupture someday — they’re just not sure when. And the U.S. has no protocol for when or how to warn the public if clues arise that suggest the “big one” could be imminent. Science reporter Evan Bush accompanied a team of scientists by canoe to a graveyard of cedar trees killed 324 years ago, when an earthquake in the Cascadia fault caused a devastating tsunami in Washington state. They’re looking to piece together a centuries-old story of what happened and hoping to find ways to forecast future destruction. –Dana Varinsky, science and health editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Is gardening one of your favorite summer activities? NBC Select editors rounded up the 18 best gardening tools on Amazon and talked to the experts to find the best fertilizer for gardens, flower beds and lawns.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week .

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