CNN: “The 21st of July looms for Kamala Harris and the much smaller world of advisers left around her. It’s the day she’s set to lose the US Secret Service protection that former vice presidents are granted for six months — six months from the inauguration that she believed would be her own after Joe Biden gave her 107 days to win the 2024 election when he ended his reelection bid last July 21.”

“By this date, multiple people close to her say they increasingly believe Harris will have finally ended the intrigue over her political future and be preparing for a 2026 California gubernatorial run. Though she hasn’t made up her mind yet, several of those people tell CNN they expect an official launch would likely come in August or soon after Labor Day.”

New York Times: “Before the shadow primary — the quiet frenzy of courting donors, aides and the news media that defines the earliest stages of a presidential race — comes a period of politics that is a bit louder and a whole lot sillier.”

“Call it the chatter primary.”

“And this year, the talk about the 2028 presidential race seems to be coming from nearly every direction in the Democratic Party.”

“The party’s next primary battle is widely expected to be highly competitive and very crowded. Political kibitzers have flung around at least 19 names, crafting an early list that includes governors, senators, House members, former Biden administration officials and even some business leaders.”