Your Morning: Inside DNC protester headquarters

March on DNC: With the Democratic National Convention set to start next week, an estimated 30,000 protesters are expected to descend on the city of Chicago hoping to capture the attention of the convention. The coalition march on the DNC is made up of more than 200 organizations with varying causes, from reproductive rights to combating police brutality to those seeking environmental change, but it’s the war in Gaza that has motivated activists from all over the world to add their voices to the rallying cry. NewsNation was given behind-the-scenes access to see how organizers are planning and preparing, including efforts to spread their message and recruit new volunteers. Watch >

Warning: Jewish leaders are already warning Chicago officials of possible violence and vandalism in the streets like that which has been seen in Washington, D.C., and New York City. The Chicago Police Department has been preparing for the protests, training their officers in the event riots and fighting break out between opposing groups. The DNC said it is grateful for ongoing efforts to protect peaceful protests in the Windy City. Read more >

Tech trouble: Monday’s highly anticipated conversation between former President Donald Trump and Tesla founder Elon Musk on X was delayed by tech issues, which Musk blamed on an apparent cyberattack. The glitchy chat also represented a return to X, formerly known as Twitter, for the former president. The conversation revealed little new information about Trump’s thinking or his plans should he win a second term, mostly replaying Trump’s favorite topics like the border. Details > 

Assassination attempt: Musk opened the Spaces conversation by asking Trump about the assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally last month. “I didn’t know I had that much blood,” Trump said of the shooting, later adding that after the assassination attempt he is “more of a believer in God.” Read more > 

Trump praises president of Argentina: Trump praised Argentina President Javier Milei and his extreme austerity measures that have laid off more than 70,000 public sector workers and cut pensions by 30% to reverse spending that caused the country to default on its debts. “He’s great,” Trump told Musk. “I hear he’s doing really a terrific job. He’s going to make Argentina great again.” What to know > 

Time illustration: Trump likened the recent Time magazine cover illustration of Vice President Kamala Harris to another highly visible woman adjacent to American politics: his own wife. “She looked very much like our great first lady, Melania,” Trump told Musk, as they discussed the cover image of Monday’s issue. Time’s new cover story on Harris features the phrase, “Her Moment,” alongside a black-and-white illustration of the vice president. Read more >

Possible Iran retaliation: World leaders are urging Iran to refrain from launching a possible attack on Israel, which top United States officials warn could be “significant.” On Monday, British and German leaders spoke to Iran’s president, pushing for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and expressing concerns about the risk of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. The latest > 

What’s the White House saying? U.S. officials continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East closely, and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned reporters that an attack from Iran or its proxies is becoming increasingly likely and could happen in the coming days. Read more > 

High alert: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raised its alert level for the first time this month after receiving intelligence that Iran and Hezbollah are making preparations for an attack, adding the IDF is “prepared at peak readiness.” Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is mobilizing the missile-armed submarine USS Georgia and fast-tracking the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the region in a strong show of support for Israel. Details >

Jumping off trains: Human smugglers are teaching migrants how to jump on and off moving trains in order to enter the U.S. undetected, according to a memo exclusively obtained by NewsNation. Border Patrol agents told NewsNation the recent memo alerted them to the new tactic, describing how people are being instructed to jump off trains in a way that tries to avoid injury. Full report > 

Mexico wants answers: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said U.S. authorities “have not delivered sufficient information” about how cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López were taken into custody. Zambada’s lawyer claims he was detained against his will. Read more > 

Drone incursions along border: Authorities are warning that U.S. airspace along the southern border is being breached by drones used by cartels fighting each other. A memo circulating among border agents warned of unmanned aircraft dropping explosives on the southern side of the border. What to know >

Olympics: An international sporting court rejected an appeal by Team USA against an Olympics decision to strip gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal. The International Olympic Committee claimed a coach’s appeal to the gymnast’s score came four seconds after the allotted time, meaning her true score was lower. Read more >

USO: UFOs have been in the headlines recently, but some are worried about a different kind of phenomenon: unidentified submerged objects. There have been hundreds of cases of unidentified submerged objects, or USOs. While the idea of mysterious creatures of the seas may bring to mind old beliefs in mermaids or kraken or modern cryptids like the Loch Ness monster, these phenomena have been identified as a security risk. What to know >

That bites: A couple who identify as a vampire and a fairy told NewsNation that “blood drinking is a boring topic” and they’ve “never heard of someone beheading someone.” Maven Lore, who identifies as a vampire, and Pixie Cat, who identifies as a fairy, are both members of the “vampire court” of New Orleans. They’re not alone. A 2015 survey found that there are at least 5,000 people in the United States who identify as vampires. Watch the interview > 

Coven of vampires: A soon-to-be-released Netflix documentary titled “Vampires in Gem City” alleges Dayton, Ohio, is home to “the largest coven of vampires outside of New Orleans,” according to “What’s on Netflix.” Details >