politics

Summary

At a North Carolina rally, Donald Trump used aggressive language, questioning if he was “allowed to hit” Michelle Obama after her recent criticism of his values and policies.

Though Trump spoke metaphorically, his comments drew backlash, with analysts calling the remark in poor taste. Trump recounted an imaginary conversation with his staff advising him to tone down his rhetoric, prompting cheers from supporters urging him to “hit back.”

The statement, shared widely on social media, has raised concerns about its impact on the gender gap and support among conservative women voters.

>Senator Bernie Sanders has been an active surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, telling crowds at dozens of stops in battleground states that “we must do everything we can to see that [former president] Donald Trump is defeated.” But that does not mean that the Vermont independent approves of the way in which the Democratic candidates have addressed particular issues—especially when it comes to the Israeli assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 44,000 Palestinian men, women, and children.

>Sanders has been an outspoken critic of US support for Netanyahu and the war on Gaza, which began after the October 7 attack by Hamas but has since stirred an international outcry because of the overwhelming number of Palestinians that Israeli forces have killed. And no matter who wins the election, the senator is determined to continue leading the charge “to block US military aid and offensive weapons sales to the right-wing extremist Netanyahu government in Israel.”

>Sanders is far from alone in that view. Polls show that, among American voters, there is strong support for cutting arms shipments. Polls also show that there are many Americans who are angry about the failure of the Biden administration to stand up clearly and effectively to Netanyahu.

>As the 2024 campaign concludes, Sanders has encountered voters across the country who share his frustration with the administration’s stance, and with the Harris campaign’s approach to the issue. He knows, from polling data and personal experience on the campaign trail, that Gaza is a top issue for millions of voters nationwide—and especially in the battleground states that will decide the election.

> Vice President Harris has a 50-point lead over former President Trump among two- and four-year college students in the seven swing states: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada, according to a new Generation Lab poll.

> Why it matters: It’s a commanding lead that could even swing the results in some of these key states, depending on turnout among this youngest contingent of voters.

> The Republican-led state of Missouri asked a judge on Monday to block the U.S. Justice Department from sending lawyers to St. Louis on Election Day to monitor for compliance with federal voting rights laws, even after the city's election board agreed to permit it.

Archive link: https://archive.ph/SWbKO

Summary

Support for Donald Trump among Black voters has dipped to 9% in recent NBC polling, down from 12% in 2020, as Election Day nears. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, currently leads with 87% of Black voter support.

In response to potential support shifts, Harris has introduced initiatives aimed at Black men, addressing business, mentorship, and health equity.

Despite minor gains with Black voters in past elections, Trump’s campaign remains focused on economic outcomes, with recent polls suggesting his support among Black voters may be lower than previously estimated.

Summary

Elon Musk’s pro-Trump group, America PAC, selects $1 million giveaway winners based on their potential as spokespeople rather than randomly.

The Philadelphia district attorney Lawrence Krasner alleges this violates state consumer protection laws. "This was all political marketing masquerading as a lottery, albeit an illegal lottery," Krasner said.

The U.S. Department of Justice has warned America PAC the giveaway could violate federal law, according to media reports, but federal prosecutors have not taken any public action.

The outcome of the lawsuit could impact the group’s ability to continue the contest, which has already awarded $16 million to registered voters in battleground states.

• Former President Donald Trump said that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposal to remove fluoride from the U.S. water systems “sounds okay” to him.
• Kennedy, who is poised to play a health policy role in a potential Trump administration, recently wrote, “The Trump White House will advise all U.S​. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.”
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the safety and benefits of fluoride are well documented and have been reviewed comprehensively by several scientific and public health organizations.”

Some headlines are just too good

> The top court in the battleground state of Georgia ruled on Monday that Cobb County cannot extend the deadline for counting about 3,000 absentee ballots that were sent out shortly before Election Day, handing a victory to the Republican National Committee and presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Archive link: https://archive.ph/W4Kws

cross-posted from: https://yall.theatl.social/post/4196265

> From the Atlanta Daily World: > > ! > Former president and current presidential candidate who attempted to disrupt the election process in Georgia following his 2020 loss in the state has already filed a lawsuit contesting the state’s early voting process. Campaign organizers and Republican supporters filed a 21-page lawsuit in Savannah, arguing that county offices illegally collected early voting ballots over the … Continued > > The post Trump Files Lawsuit Against Georgia Elections Before the Election appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/53250

Summary

Albuquerque officials say Trump now owes the city $444,986 over five years.

Trump’s campaign has left numerous cities with hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills for public safety costs incurred during his rallies. Some cities have hired law firms to collect the debts, while others have required campaigns to pay estimated costs in advance. Despite Trump’s support for law enforcement, his campaign has consistently failed to reimburse local governments for the expenses they incur.

Summary

In an emotional monologue, John Oliver urged undecided and reluctant voters to support Kamala Harris, emphasizing her policies on Medicare, reproductive rights, and poverty reduction.

Addressing frustrations over the Biden administration’s Gaza policy, he acknowledged the struggle for many voters yet cited voices like Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman, who supports Harris despite reservations.

Oliver warned of the lasting consequences of a second Trump term, including potential Supreme Court shifts.

Oliver said voting for Harris would mean the world could laugh at this past week’s photo of an orange, gaping-mouthed Trump in a fluorescent vest and allow Americans to carry on with life without worrying about what he might do next.

Summary

Evangelical Christians have fallen prey to the temptations offered by Donald Trump, similar to those faced by Jesus in the desert. Trump has offered evangelicals wealth, protection, and power, leading them away from the teachings of Jesus and closer to the path set forth by the devil. The evangelical church has submitted to Trump, moving further from the values of serving the poor, healing the sick, and loving neighbors.