An assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign marked a wild month.

I typically write a piece each month titled "Beware the Ides of August," which is a play on Shakespeare's "Beware the Ides of March." The middle of March marked Caesar's downfall, and I have found that August, often the midpoint, is the most dramatic, historic, and volatile period in politics and government.

In August 1974, Richard Nixon resigned the presidency; in August 1945, the U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; in August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech; in August 2017, there was a riot in Charlottesville, Va.; and in August 2011, there was an earthquake in Washington, DC.

Will August 2024 measure up?

July of 2024 is like, "August, hold my beer."

Despite the political events of August being significant, July was particularly extraordinary due to the assassination attempt on former President Trump and President Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 campaign. The shooting of former President Trump and the political hailstorm that followed President Biden's horrific debate performance in late June also contributed to the intensity of the news cycle. Additionally, the Republican convention in Milwaukee and Mr. Trump's selection of Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio as his running mate were also notable tectonic shifts.

On July 24, a remarkable case study was published about the intensity of the July news cycle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to deliver a contentious speech to a Joint Meeting of Congress. Despite bipartisan Congressional leaders, mainly Republicans, inviting Netanyahu to speak to Congress for a record fourth time, his address would be overshadowed by other events.

Consider how the story shifted throughout the day on July 24.

During any other period, Netanyahu would have been the lead story in the news. However, the testimony of FBI Director Christopher Wray to the House Judiciary Committee that morning overshadowed Netanyahu for a time. Wray was already scheduled to appear before the panel prior to the Trump shooting. But the failed assassination of the former president now dominates the nation's news coverage, especially with Wray appearing before a House committee to discuss the FBI's investigation into the shooting.

Netanyahu's speech to the Joint Meeting of Congress was not scheduled until the afternoon, but it angered the left and many pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel demonstrators. They gathered in Washington and clashed with police, burning American flags and waving Palestinian flags near Union Station, just a few blocks from the Capitol. The protests captured the news cycle before Netanyahu's speech.

The Israeli Prime Minister's presentation to Congress was met with controversy, as multiple sub-angles highlighted the speech. Many Democrats boycotted the Joint Meeting, and Vice President Harris did not preside because she was speaking to a Black sorority in Indiana. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to shake hands with Netanyahu on the House floor. Netanyahu criticized the demonstrators near the Capitol, calling them "useful idiots" for Iran. Democrats who attended the speech were disappointed that Netanyahu did not offer a plan to get hostages back or call for a ceasefire.

But by nightfall, Netanyahu was old news.

President Biden, after recovering from COVID, announced his decision not to seek a second term. However, he planned to deliver a nationwide address to the country about his monumental decision.

The country was examining who Kamala Harris was and evaluating her against former President Trump. Additionally, there was an in-depth analysis of Mike Pence's policy views and his 2016 book, "Hillbilly Elegy."

There was a lot going on.

So August, beware. You have a lot to live up to.

We don't want another difficult news cycle, but we understand that those in politics and media are dealing with it.

The Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago at the end of August, and Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate. Although there is still much to discuss, these events do not seem as exciting as the challenges we faced in July.

Despite the concerns about a potential conflagration in the Middle East and the possibility of hostilities between China and Taiwan, there are still many other major political narratives that could emerge in August. These include the former President Trump, Harris, Vance, or Walz, as well as questions about Mr. Biden's final months in office. Additionally, August has a history of surprising people with historic events and episodes that can shift the course of history.

The Gulf War was sparked by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, while the Soviets shot down a Korean airliner in August 1983, killing an American congressman and hundreds of others. The decision by John McCain to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008 was a shock, overshadowing the selection of Walz. However, the GOP's convention was cut short by a hurricane in 2008, which paled in comparison to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2006, altering the course of George W. Bush's presidency.

Be cautious of the dangers of August, not just because it's August.

But last month, it was "Beware the Ides of July."