Trump suggests ‘Purge’ style violence to tackle crime as Harris brands him ‘a scab’ for overtime rant: Live

Donald Trump is being mocked online for suggesting a concept to tackle crime that mirrors the horror movie franchise The Purge.

In a wild rally speech in Pennsylvania on Sunday, the former president proposed “one really violent day” could put an end to crime across the US: “One rough hour and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately.”

During the rambling speech, Trump also admitted he “hated” paying workers overtime at his businesses – and would replace workers who asked for it. “I shouldn’t say this,” he admitted.

Kamala Harris’s campaign quickly seized on the comments, branding Trump a “scab.”

“Donald Trump is finally owning up to it: He’s built an entire career on screwing over workers. It’s exactly what he did in the White House…. and exactly what he plans to do in a second term,” a spokesperson said.

This comes as Trump is facing backlash from Republicans and disability advocacy groups for calling Harris “mentally disabled” at a campaign event on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Tim Walz and JD Vance are preparing to go head-to-head in the vice presidential debate on Tuesday.

Key Points

• Trump wildly suggests ‘Purge’ style violence to tackle crime

• Trump calls climate change ‘greatest scam’ in wake of Hurricane Helene

• Republicans push back on Trump attacking Harris as ‘mentally disabled’

• New Harris ad taunts Trump for refusing to debate her again

• Numbers show Vance-Walz vice-presidential debate could change the course of the election

Watch: Ryan Routh pleads not guilty to attempted assassination of Trump and other charges

17:12 , Oliver O’Connell

Former GOP candidate charged over threats to ‘call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad’ to take out political rival

17:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A former Republican candidate for Congress in Florida has been charged with threatening to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to make his political rival “disappear.”

A damning indictment from the Department of Justice – unsealed on Thursday – alleges that William Robert Braddock III, 41, made several threats to “injure and kill” Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna during a 2021 telephone call with a conservative activist.

Madeline Sherratt reports.

Ex-GOP candidate charged over threats to ‘call up my hit squad’ to take out rival

Watch: Biden promises resources for areas hit by Hurricane Helene

16:46 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden has spoken about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, promising more resources for those impacted and to visit the area later this week.

“We’re not leaving until the job is done. … I’m committed to traveling to the impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told it would be disruptive if I did it right now,” he told reporters at the White House.

The president also said he was considering the possibility of asking Congress to return to Washington, DC, to pass a supplemental in response to the disaster.

Asked why he and Vice President Kamala Harris had not been in Washington to command the response over the weekend, Biden pointed to the existence of the telephone as a major factor in his ability to do his job.

Man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump to appear in court

16:30 , AP

The man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course will appear in court on Monday after being indicted on additional charges.

Read on…

Man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump will appear in court

Watch: Trump ramps up inflammatory rhetoric as election nears

16:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Dozen VA employees improperly accessed Vance and Walz’s medical records, sparking investigation

16:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A criminal investigation is underway after at least a dozen employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly accessed medical files for JD Vance and Tim Walz.

A breach involving records of the Republican and Democratic vice presidential candidates, both military veterans, could amount to violations of federal medical privacy laws.

Alex Woodward reports.

Dozen VA employees improperly accessed Vance and Walz’s medical records

‘Camp North Star’: Inside Tim Walz’s debate prep

15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz prepares to take on Senator JD Vance in tomorrow’s vice presidential debate, The Hill has a little insight into the behind-the-scenes preparations at what has been nick-named “Camp North Star”.

Walz is practicing against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is playing Vance in a “cheap red tie”, and in his downtime, the governor has hiked, had Harbor Springs pizza, and visited a local farm.

Investigation underway as Veterans Affairs staff accessed Walz and Vance medical records

15:15 , Oliver O’Connell

The Washington Post reports that at least a dozen employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs have improperly accessed the medical records of both vice presidential nominees Tim Walz and JD Vance.

Department investigators discovered the violation of federal health privacy laws and the matter is now under criminal investigation. They are trying to determine whether the records were shared outside the VA.

Per the Post:

VA officials notified the Vance and Walz campaigns about the breaches after discovering the unauthorized viewing by employees at the agency’s massive health-care arm, the Veterans Health Administration, according to people familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the ongoing investigation.

VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office has shared evidence with federal prosecutors on the actions of several employees in the health system, including a physician and a contractor who spent extended time looking at the candidates’ medical files, according to law enforcement officials, raising investigators’ concerns about their motives.

Full story: Trump-endorsed GOP senate candidate reveals shock voting decision

15:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump-endorsed Senate candidate Larry Hogan has revealed his shock decision over who he plans to vote for this November – and it turns out he won’t be returning the favor to the former president.

Speaking on CBS News Face the Nation on Sunday, the former Maryland governor said that neither Trump nor Vice President Kamala Harris has earned his support in the presidential election.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Trump-endorsed GOP senate candidate reveals shock voting decision

In wake of Hurricane Helene destruction, Trump sparks controversy for calling climate change a ‘scam’

14:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has sparked controversy for declaring that climate change is “one of the great scams” after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction, killing more than 100 people, across the southeast US.

Speaking at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday afternoon, the former president pushed a conspiracy theory that man-made climate change is a myth.

James Liddell reports.

Trump calls climate change a ‘scam’ after Hurricane Helene hammers states

Trump says mail-in voting is ‘cheating’. MAGA activists are pushing it anyway

14:00 , Ariana Baio

MAGA activists are trying to flip Pennsylvania for Trump by encouraging Republicans to vote by mail — despite the messaging of the former president, Richard Hall reports from Indiana, Pennsylvania

Trump says voting by mail is ‘cheating’. MAGA activists are pushing it anyway

WATCH: Trump suggests ‘Purge’ style violence to tackle crime

13:40 , Rachel Sharp

Trump-endorsed GOP senate candidate reveals shock voting decision

13:20 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump-endorsed Republican senate candidate Larry Hogan has revealed his shock decision around who to vote for in November – and he won’t be returning the favor to the former president.

Speaking on CBS News Face the Nation, the former Maryland governor said on Sunday that neither Trump nor Vice President Kamala Harris had earned his support.

“Neither one of the two candidates has earned my vote, and the voters in the country are going to be able to make that decision,” he said.

“I didn’t vote for him in 2016 or 2020 and I’ve made that pretty clear. I’m willing to put country over party, and I’m hoping that the voters will be willing to do the same thing.”

In Photos: Trump’s rally in Pennyslvania

13:00 , Ariana Baio

New unearthed footage shows JD Vance saying childfree adults should be ‘punished’ with higher taxes

12:40 , Rachel Sharp

PICTURED: Kamala Harris campaigns in Las Vegas

12:20 , Rachel Sharp

Latino voters are supporting Harris less other Democratic presidential candidates

12:00 , Ariana Baio

Vice President Kamala Harris holds the lead over Donald Trump among Latino voters but it’s still much lower than past Democratic presidential candidates, a new poll from NBC News/Telemundo/CNBC finds.

The poll found that among registered Latino voters, 54 percent support Harris while 40 percent support Trump. Another six percent said they were unsure or did not plan to vote.

But Harris’s 14-point lead is the smallest margin between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates since 2012.

In 2012, Barack Obama led Mitt Romney by 39 points, in 2016 Hillary Clinton led Trump by 50 points, in 2020 Joe Biden led Trump by 63 percent.

The extreme measures the US is taking to prove elections are safe

11:40 , Ariana Baio

Four years after claims of rampant election fraud punctured public confidence, counties across the United States are trying new measures to restore voter trust and protect workers who have taken much of the heat

Kelly Rissman reports:

The extreme measures the US is taking to prove elections are safe

Trump expected to visit storm-ravaged Georgia today

11:20 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is due to visit Georgia to survey Hurricane Helene’s impact on the swing state later on Monday.

The former president is expected to receive a briefing, facilitate the distribution of relief supplies during the visit, and will deliver remarks at 2pm ET at the Chez What Furniture Store in Valdosta.

The White House announced on Sunday that President Joe Biden will visit Hurricane Helene-impacted regions this week as long as it does not disrupt rescue and recovery operations.

In a brief exchange with reporters on Sunday, the president described the impact of the storm as “stunning” and said that the administration is giving states “everything we have” to help with response efforts.

Trump calls climate change ‘greatest scam’ in wake of Hurricane Helene

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has declared that climate change is “one of the greatest scams” of our times – despite the fact that more than 95 people have died and several states have been devastated by Hurricane Helene.

In a campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Sunday, the former president claimed: “Do you ever notice, this was such a big deal the environmental stuff. I haven’t heard the environmental stuff mentioned in six months. I was saying the other night, ‘What the hell happened to the environment?’” He added to David McCormick, the Pennsylvania GOP senate challenger: “David, will you figure this out?”

“No but think about this,” Trump continued. “They never talk about the environment anymore. You know why? It’s one of the greatest scams of all time… people aren’t buying it any more. I don’t want to use bad language, my wife said, ‘Please don’t use bad language.’”

On Sunday, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said that the severe flooding and subsequent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is linked to the climate emergency.

Speaking to CBS’s Face The Nation on Sunday, Deanne Criswell said that rising temperatures in the Gulf were causing conditions that caused “significant infrastructure damage” that had affected a multi-state area.

Trump admits he hates paying workers overtime. Harris responds by calling him a ‘scab’

10:40 , Rachel Sharp

In a wild rally speech in Pennsylvania on Sunday, Trump admitted he “hated” paying workers overtime at his businesses – and would replace workers who asked for it.

“I shouldn’t say this,” he admitted.

“I know a lot about overtime. I hated to give overtime. I hated it. I’d get other people, I shouldn’t say this, but I’d get other people in. I wouldn’t pay.”

Kamala Harris’s campaign quickly seized on the comments, branding Trump a “scab.”

“Donald Trump is finally owning up to it: He’s built an entire career on screwing over workers. It’s exactly what he did in the White House…. and exactly what he plans to do in a second term,” a spokesperson said.

“Trump is a scab, plain and simple. He is selling snake oil lies in a desperate attempt to trick voters. He can’t be trusted–workers know it, and voters know it. They’ll elect a champion who has their back by voting for Vice President Harris this November.”

Trump brands Bill Maher ‘Crazy Bill’ after late-night host predicted ex-president will ‘definitely lose’ election

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has lashed out at Bill Maher, branding him “Crazy Bill” after the late-night host predicted the ex-president will “definitely lose” the election to Kamala Harris.

“I seldom watch Low Rated Bill Maher but, when I do, I marvel at the fake laughter on the Show,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday.

“It sounds like a bad “Laugh Machine,” it’s so obnoxious and disgusting, just like him, always laughing no matter what is said. Real Republicans hate it when Fox puts Crazy Bill on, far too often, to show that the Left “agrees” with us. Fox ought to GET SMART, and not use LOSERS like this! Also, they shouldn’t allow negative Ads.”

This comes after Maher made a far from favorable prediction for Trump’s chances in November.

“I’m not even worried about it,” he said on Friday night during a panel discussion on Real Time with Bill Maher.

When pressed by guest Fran Lebowitz, he added: “He’s definitely going to lose. You just feel it.”

Lindsey Graham hit with fact check after repeating Trump’s immigrant crime claims

10:00 , Ariana Baio

Lindsey Graham was fact-checked live on air by CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday after criticizing Kamala Harris for “crazy liberal” immigration policies — despite her endorsement of a border security compromise negotiated in the Senate that was also supported by some of Graham’s allies.

John Bowden reports:

Lindsey Graham hit with fact check after repeating Trump’s immigrant crime claims

‘Literally proposing The Purge’: Trump mocked for solution to crime

09:41 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump was mocked online after proposing a solution to crime that bore jarring similarity to horror movie franchise The Purge.

At a rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday the former president suggested that one way to decrease levels of criminal activity would be allowing police “one rough hour” to tackle the issue, during which time there would be less restraints.

“One rough hour and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately,” Trump said.

Read the full story:

Trump mocked online after his solution to crime compared to horror movie The Purge

Republicans condemn Trump’s ‘insulting’ and false claims on Harris’ mental fitness

08:00 , Mike Bedigan

Several Republicans have sought to distance themselves from “insulting” comments made by Donald Trump, in which he claimed Kamala Harris was “mentally disabled.”

Many have urged the former president to “stick to the issues” of his campaign, rather than reverting time and time again to personal attacks on Harris.

Perhaps the strongest rebuke came from former governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, who is in a tight race for the Senate. “I think that’s insulting not only to the vice president, but to people that actually do have mental disabilities,” he said.

“Trump’s divisive rhetoric is something we can do without.”

Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, also pushed back on the personal nature of Trump’s attack. “I just think the better course to take is to prosecute the case that her policies are destroying the country,” Graham told CNN.

Graham added that while he did not think Harris was crazy, he did think her policies were.

Representative Tom Emmer — a Minnesota Republican who has been helping Trump’s running mate JD Vance get ready for his debate with Tim Walz, shared a similar sentiment. “I think we should stick to the issues,” he told ABC News.

Watch: Trump makes bizarre comment about fly bothering him on stage

06:00 , Ariana Baio

Trump suggests solution to crime is ‘one rough hour’

04:00 , Ariana Baio

At his rally on Sunday, Trump suggested that a solution to crime is allowing police “one rough hour” to tackle an issue.

The former president told rallygoers in Pennsylvania that police “aren’t allowed to do their job” and in order to stop crime from occurring it would require less restraints.

“One rough hour and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately,” Trump said.

Numbers show Vance-Walz vice-presidential debate could change the course of the election

02:00 , Alicja Hagopian

New poll shows the choice of VP has a ‘significant impact’ on two-thirds of Democrats, and 75 percent of Americans will be tuning in to watch Vance and Walz debate on Tuesday.

Two-thirds of Democrats believe the vice-presidential candidate has a significant impact on the overall presidential ticket, according to polling from Prolific for The Independent.

Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance is set to debate Democratic VP pick Tim Walz this Tuesday, October 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

Read more here:

Numbers show Vance-Walz debate could change the course of the election

Kamala Harris set to hold rally in Las Vegas

Monday 30 September 2024 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight, hoping to secure independent voters.

The rally will be held at the Expo at the World Market Center.

Shazam! star Zachary Levi endorses Donald Trump after RFK Jr suspends campaign

Sunday 29 September 2024 23:00 , Tom Murray

Shazam! star Zachary Levi has endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump for president after his first choice, Robert F Kennedy Jr, dropped out of the race last month.

The DC actor appeared at a Donald Trump rally in Michigan on Saturday to throw his support behind the former president.

“I’m not gonna take too much time, but I did just wanna just give you a little context about why Shazam is sitting here talking to you about these various things,” said Levi, referencing his superhero character.

“We’re here to make sure that we are going to take back this country, we are going to make it great again, we are going to make it healthy again. And so, I stand with Bobby, and I stand with Tulsi, and I stand with everyone else who is standing with President Trump. Because I do believe, of the two choices that we have, and we only have two, Donald Trump, President Trump is the man that can get us there. And he’s gonna get us there because he’s gonna have the backing and the support and the wisdom and the knowledge and the fight that exists in Robert Kennedy Jr and former representative Tulsi Gabbard.”

Kennedy suspended his campaign last month, endorsing Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

Biden national security spokesman claims Netanyahu wants to avoid wider regional war

Sunday 29 September 2024 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Joe Biden’s national security council spokesman claimed on Sunday that despite several rounds of Israeli bombings and attacks across Lebanon, Benjamin Netanyahu still supposedly opposes the escalation of the conflict against Hamas and Hezbollah into a wider regional war.

He also downplayed the reports of increasingly frayed ties between Washington and Jerusalem, which emerged in the wake of recent strikes including one that killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Hassan Nasrallah. The US president was reported to have been frustrated and caught off-guard in the wake of the strike, which he viewed as a humiliation of his top diplomat, Antony Blinken.

Read more:

Biden national security spokesman claims Netanyahu wants to avoid wider regional war

Jeff Flake endorses Kamala Harris as anti-Trump right coalesces

Sunday 29 September 2024 21:30 , John Bowden

Kamala Harris on Sunday picked up the endorsement of another prominent opponent of Donald Trump within the Republican Party, a sign that the remaining “#NeverTrump” wing of the GOP is rallying behind her.

Jeff Flake, a former senator from Arizona who left Congress in 2019, issued his endorsement in a statement released on Twitter. He further explained his motivations in an interview Sunday on ABC’s This Week.

“I’ll be supporting Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President,” wrote Flake in the post accompanying his video message endorsement. “I’ve served with Kamala in the U.S Senate. I’ve also served with Tim in the House of Representatives.”

He added: “I know them. I know first of hand of their fine character and love of country. I would encourage all Republicans who feel this way to do the same.”

What is the anti-immigration ‘Snake’ poem Trump reads at rallies?

Sunday 29 September 2024 21:00 , Ariana Baio

The Snake in full: The ‘anti-immigration’ song lyrics quoted by Donald Trump

Republicans have pushed back on Trump’s ’mentally impaired’ rhetoric

Sunday 29 September 2024 20:53 , Ariana Baio

Multiple members of the Republican Party have pushed back, or denounced, Donald Trump’s use of “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled” to attack Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Saturday, Trump said in a rally speech, “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way.”

“And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country. Anybody would know this,” Trump added.

Less than 24 hours after, some Republicans distanced themselves from Trump’s rhetoric.

Minnesota Rep Tom Emmer responded to the comments by urging the former president to “stick to the issues”.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham echoed that, telling CNN on Sunday that, “the better course to take is to prosecute the case that her policies are destroying the country.”

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan called the remark “insulting not only to the vice president but to people who actually do have mental disabilities.”

Despite this, he repeated the “mentally impaired” claim during a rally on Sunday.

Trump delivers familiar rambling speech at Pennsylvania rally

Sunday 29 September 2024 20:18 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump delivered familiar, rambling lines to a crowd of supporters in Erie, Pennsylvania on Sunday, attacking Vice President Kamala Harris and asserting anti-immigration policies riddled with incorrect facts.

The former president once again called Harris “mentally impaired” and “stupid”, despite people rebuking Trump’s insensitive and ableist rhetoric.

But he continued to attack Harris and blame her for the influx of migrants – falsely asserting she was responsible for border security.

New Yorker endorses Harris

Sunday 29 September 2024 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Vice President Kamala Harris picked up another endorsement from a media outlet on Sunday, this time by The New Yorker.

The legacy media outlet published a comment piece titled “Kamala Harris For President” in which they praised Harris for displaying “the basic values and political skills that enable her to help end, once and for all, a poisonous era defined by Donald Trump.”

Social media reacts after Trump makes bizarre comments about a fly he’s bothered by on stage

Sunday 29 September 2024 19:30 , Michelle Del Rey

Former President Donald Trump expressed his frustration over a fly that approached his lectern in a bizarre moment during a rally speech.

Trump was on stage at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, making a point about a hat, when he appeared to get distracted by the creature.

“Oh there’s a fly,” the former president said. “I wonder where the fly came from?”

Michelle Del Rey reports:

Trump makes bizarre comment as he’s bothered by fly on stage

Donald Trump complains about media coverage

Sunday 29 September 2024 19:00 , Ariana Baio

On Truth Social, Trump complained about Fox News “constantly” inviting “Liberal Democrats” onto their shows.

“CNN will not put on a Republican Conservative, nor will MSDNC. But Fox is constantly putting on Liberal Democrats to counter previous guests from the Right, thereby nullifying any message they may happen to give – The Fake News is already unfair enough to Republicans, we don’t need it from Fox, also,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Where are the candidates today?

Sunday 29 September 2024 18:32 , Ariana Baio

The presidential campaigns are busy this Sunday, with both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris holding events.

Harris is attending a fundraiser in Los Angeles, California and delivering remarks and then will hold a rally in Las Vegas at 7:15 p.m. ET.

First Gentleman, Doug Emoff is in California and Oregon to deliver remarks at campaign receptions.

Trump is in Pennsylvania and will hold a rally in Erie at 2 p.m.

New poll finds Latino voters are supporting Democrats less

Sunday 29 September 2024 18:30 , Ariana Baio

Vice President Kamala Harris still holds the lead over Donald Trump among Latino voters but it’s still much lower than past Democratic presidential candidates, a new poll from NBC News/Telemundo/CNBC finds.

The poll found that among registered Latino voters, 54 percent support Harris while 40 percent support Trump. Another six percent said they were unsure or did not plan to vote.

But Harris’s 14-point lead is the smallest margin between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates since 2012.

In 2012, Barack Obama led Mitt Romney by 39 points, in 2016 Hillary Clinton led Trump by 50 points, in 2020 Joe Biden led Trump by 63 percent.

SNL skewers Trump and ‘bad’ pick JD Vance over campaign lies in hilarious Cold Open

Sunday 29 September 2024 18:00 , Michelle Del Rey

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, making a joke about the former president picking the wrong running mate with Ohio Senator JD Vance.

“People are saying he was a bad pick and in many ways he was,” Johnson’s character says before introducing Vance, played by Bowen Yang, at a rally. An enthusiastic Yang walks on stage, saying Johnson’s version of Trump told him: “JD, you’re like a son to me, because I don’t like you. I’m stuck with you.”

Johnson’s character continued to poke fun at the Republican nominee, particularly his recent comments about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, which have been proven false by city officials.

“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re taking your pets, and they’re doing freak offs,” he said. “They’re doing freak offs with the dogs and they’re making the geese watch.”

Pennsylvania restaurant denies JD Vance was ‘banned’

Sunday 29 September 2024 17:30 , Ariana Baio

The Pennsylvania restaurant where JD Vance was denied entry says the vice presidential candidate was not banned from making a political stop at it but that a series of miscommunications caused the staff to turn him away.

Primanti Bros said in a statement to KDKA-TV that Vance’s campaign gave them no advance notice about his appearance which caused “some momentary confusion for our staff” but that Vance and his team were welcomed into the restaurant after.

“Primanti’s prides itself on being a staple of the Pittsburgh community and a proud American business that has hosted sitting presidents, politicians, and political candidates from across the spectrum for over 90 years. Our doors are open to all patrons who wish to dine with us,” a spokesperson for Primanti Bros said.

“Without any advance notice, today’s campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff. However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly after and engaged with our guests inside and on the property. Senator Vance’s supportive comments that our manager got a little nervous given the secret service, police and crowd accurately reflect the nature of what occurred, but we are glad that it was resolved quickly.”

Numbers show Vance-Walz vice-presidential debate could change the course of the election

Sunday 29 September 2024 17:00 , Alicja Hagopian

As Republicans and Democrats gear up for the vice-presidential debate next week, exclusive polling shows that this is an event that has the potential to change everything.

Two-thirds of Democrats believe the vice-presidential candidate has a significant impact on the overall presidential ticket, according to polling from Prolific for The Independent.

Three out of four Americans (75 percent) are planning to watch the VP debate, according to the poll, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 participants on the Prolific platform on September 22.

Harris campaign responds to Trump’s ‘mentally impaired’ comments

Sunday 29 September 2024 16:45 , Ariana Baio

On Saturday, Donald Trump claimed Vice President Kamala Harris was “born” “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled.”

“Donald Trump is finally telling the truth to voters: He’s got nothing ‘inspiring’ to offer the American people, just darkness,” Harris-Walz Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said.

“He has no plan to grow our economy, no vision to bring down costs, and no plan to fix the immigration system he broke. He sank the bipartisan border deal because he’s more interested in fanning the flames of hate and division than delivering real solutions for our country. The American people deserve better than Trump’s bleak, backward-looking Project 2025 agenda. This November, they’ll elect Vice President Harris for a new way forward.”

Republican ex-senator Jeff Flake endorses Kamala Harris as anti-Trump right coalesces

Sunday 29 September 2024 16:23 , John Bowden

Kamala Harris on Sunday picked up the endorsement of another prominent opponent of Donald Trump within the Republican Party, a sign that the remaining “#NeverTrump” wing of the GOP is rallying behind her.

Jeff Flake, a former senator from Arizona who left Congress in 2019, issued his endorsement in a statement released on Twitter. He further explained his motivations in an interview Sunday on ABC’s This Week.

“I’ll be supporting Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President,” wrote Flake in the post accompanying his video message endorsement. “I’ve served with Kamala in the U.S Senate. I’ve also served with Tim in the House of Representatives.”

John Bowden reports:

Republican ex-senator Jeff Flake endorses Kamala Harris as anti-Trump right coalesces

In photos: Trump appears at Alabama v Georgia game

Sunday 29 September 2024 15:43 , Ariana Baio

Trump reportedly requested Filet-O-Fish for football game

Sunday 29 September 2024 15:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump attended a college football game between Georgia and Alabama on Saturday and part of his meal request was two McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwiches with cheese, a Domino’s pizza, stadium hot dogs and a Diet Coke.

Alabama businessman Ric Mayers, who invited Trump to Saturday’s game, told AL.com about Trump’s order.

Trump notoriously liked McDonald’s and Diet Coke.

Reports over the years have indicated the former president prefers the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which is a fried breaded fishfillet with tartar sauce and American cheese between a steamed bun.

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates

Sunday 29 September 2024 14:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Check out the latest presidential polling numbers from Alicja Hagopian, The Independent’s data correspondent:

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates from the 2024 election

Melania’s upcoming memoir already tops Amazon bestseller chart days ahead of release

Sunday 29 September 2024 13:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Former first lady Melania Trump is now a bestselling author, as calculated by Amazon’s sales rankings.

Her forthcoming memoir, Melania, is the #1 seller in Amazon’s “Books” category, as of Friday afternoon. It is scheduled for an October 8 release.

Amazon calculates its bestseller list based on actual sales or downloads of its books, and says it updates the chart “frequently.”

Melania’s upcoming memoir already tops Amazon bestseller chart days ahead of release

Watch: Trump claims he could end Russia-Ukraine war as he meets with Zelensky

Sunday 29 September 2024 13:00 , Michelle Del Rey

They joined the military for a path to citizenship – then they were being deported

Sunday 29 September 2024 12:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Those who pledged to lay down their lives for the country they immigrated to expect the same rights and protections as US citizens. That was not the case, they tell Mike Bedigan

Undocumented vet who fought in US military recounts being deported despite service

Where do Trump and Harris supporters differ on immigration?

Sunday 29 September 2024 11:00 , Ariana Baio

A new survey from Pew Research Center found that Donald Trump supporters view immigrants significantly more negatively than Kamala Harris supporters.

When it comes to mass deportations of immigrants living in the country illegally, 88 percent of Trump supporters say they favor them while 27 percent of Harris supporters oppose them.

Eighty percent of Harris supporters believe undocumented immigrants should be permitted to stay in the country legally if they married to a U.S. citizen. Only 37 percent of Trump supporters support that.

Only 48 percent of Trump supporters believe more civilian refugees should be admitted into the U.S. while 85 percent of Harris supporters are in favor of that.

Most Trump supporters, approximately 29 percent, believe immigrants should be admitted into the country to ensure a diverse immigrant population but 72 percent of Harris supporters agree with the statement.

Harris should be impeached, says twice-impeached Trump

Sunday 29 September 2024 10:00 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump suggested Vice President Kamala Harris should be “impeached” and blamed her for allowing thousands of people who committed crimes into the United States.

Despite having been impeached twice during his own presidency, Trump believes “there can be nothing worse” than what Harris has done – though he did not clarify what exactly that is.

“Even the LameStream Media is mocking Comrade Kamala Harris for her pathetic attempt yesterday to justify her HORRIBLE performance at the Border.

14,000 CONVICTED thugs and slimeballs who have committed MURDER have been allowed to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, and roam free to KILL AGAIN…And they will kill again, over and over, and wreak havoc like never seen before. We don’t know anything about them.

Kamala is a FOOL to have let this happen to our beautiful USA.

It is totally unjustifiable, there can be nothing worse! She should be IMPEACHED for what she as done to our Country!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 13,099 noncitizens have been convicted on homicide charges and are currently non detained.

Trump’s nine weirdest nicknames for his political rivals

Sunday 29 September 2024 09:00 , Michelle Del Rey

There’s the good, there’s the bad, and then there’s the plain ugly. Donald Trump is known for branding his political allies and enemies alike with a nickname.

James Liddell writes:

Donald Trump’s weird nicknames – from Wacky Jacky to Tampon Tim

New Harris ad taunts Trump during Georgia v Alabama game

Sunday 29 September 2024 08:00 , Ariana Baio

Vice President Kamala Harris’s team is running ads during the Alabama and Georgia college football game, which Donald Trump is attending, that mocks Trump for refusing to participate in a second presidential debate against Harris.

The “Say It To My Face” ad uses stock footage of football players in contrast to footage of Trump golfing to claim the former president is a “loser” who will “take his ball home.”

“Winner never back down from a challenge,” the ad says. “But losers, they whine and waffle and take their ball home.”

The ad will air nationally during the primetime game and be featured on a plane that will fly above the Bryant-Denny Stadium while Trump is at the game.

“Donald Trump walked off the stage at the first debate angry and rattled after he failed to offer any coherent vision for where he wants to take this country, so now he’s trying to take his ball and go home,” Harris-Walz Communications Director Michael Tyler said/

“No matter where Trump looks tonight – whether it’s up in the sky or at the TV in his luxury box – he won’t be able to escape the truth: Trump is running away from a second debate with Vice President Harris because he doesn’t want the American people to see just how weak and unpopular he and his Project 2025 agenda are.”

Trump says he was denied Secret Service resources for rally

Sunday 29 September 2024 07:00 , Ariana Baio

Former president Donald Trump’s rally in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin was cut down from a large outdoor rally to a smaller indoor one because “the administration” could not give him the Secret Service resources necessary.

Trump claimed an outdoor space could have held “40,000” or “60,000” people but instead, the venue he held the rally could only  hold “2,000” or “less.”

He said it was a result of lacking Secret Service resources – there have been two attempts to assassinate the former president in the last four months.

“Because the administration couldn’t give us the Secret Service necessary because they’re guarding the Iranian president who is looking to kill Trump,” the former president told people.

The former president insinuated Secret Service was protecting the president of Iran. The Independent could not verify that information immediately.

The extreme measures the US is taking to prove elections are safe

Sunday 29 September 2024 06:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Four years after rampant election fraud claims punctured public confidence in the election process, counties are trying to both implement new measures to restore voter trust as well as protect election workers who have taken much of the heat.

Kelly Rissman reports:

The extreme measures the US is taking to prove elections are safe

Harris to troll Trump with plane banner during Alabama-Georgia football game

Sunday 29 September 2024 04:57 , Michelle Del Rey

The Harris campaign plans to troll Donald Trump on Saturday as he attends a highly anticipated college football game between Georgia and Alabama.

The campaign announced it plans to send a plane flying a banner with the words “Say It To My Face” during the game – a reference to Trump’s refusal to debate his Democratic rival for a second time.

Mike Bedigan reports:

Harris to troll Trump over second debate during Alabama-Georgia football game

WATCH: Crowd applauds as Trump shown big screen at Alabama-Georgia game

Sunday 29 September 2024 04:00 , Michelle Del Rey

SEE IT: Trump spotted Alabama-Georgia game

Sunday 29 September 2024 03:50 , Michelle Del Rey

Trump was seen in a suite at the Alabama-Georgia game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Harris ran a TV ad during the game pressuring Trump to debate her.

‘It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail,’ Zelensky says

Sunday 29 September 2024 03:20 , Michelle Del Rey

Zelensky is praising Pennsylvania artillery shell manufacturers in a new social media post after visiting a factory in Scranton earlier this week.

Harris runs ad pressuring Trump to debate her a second time

Sunday 29 September 2024 02:58 , Michelle Del Rey

“Winners never back down from a challenge,” the 30-second ad, which aired during the Georgia-Alabama college football game, states. “Champions know it’s anytime, anyplace. But losers, they whine and waffle and take their ball home.”

Harris continued: “Well, Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage,” she says. “If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.”

JD Vance criticizes Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky

Sunday 29 September 2024 02:38 , Michelle Del Rey

During the Ukrainian president’s visit this week, he toured an artillery shell factory in Scranton, but Vance claimed he came to campaign with Democratic leadership.

Zelensky used his visit to thank the factory workers for manufacturing the shells used to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

“We spent $200 billion on Ukraine. You know what I wish Zelensky would do when he comes to the United States of America? Say thank you to the people of Pennsylvania and everybody else,” Vance misleadingly said.

Trump: ‘Two years ago I wouldn’t have had a fly up here’

Sunday 29 September 2024 02:00 , Ariana Baio

A fly interrupted Trump’s rally speech in Wisconsin on Saturday, which he insinuated could be due to an influx of migrants.

“Two years ago I wouldn’t have had a fly up here,” the former president said.