Trump calls Walz ‘moron’ as betting odds show him favored over Vance ahead of high stakes VP debate: Live

The Trump campaign appears to be trying to manage expectations ahead of tonight’s vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but Donald Trump doesn’t seem to be on message, calling Kamala Harris’s running mate “a moron”.

Earlier, during a campaign call with reporters, senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said: “Walz is very good in debates. I want to repeat that: Tim Walz is very good in debates. Really good. He’s been a politician for nearly 20 years. He’ll be very well-prepared for tomorrow night.”

Walz will square up to Vance on the debate stage on Tuesday evening in what promises to be a hugely consequential and fiery encounter in New York. Betting odds currently favor the Democrat.

Meanwhile, Trump has continued to try to attack Harris and Joe Biden over the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which has wrought havoc in states including Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. State governors have said they have received the support they need.

As the Biden administration coordinates the response to the disaster, the president and vice president are also monitoring Iran’s attack on Israel from the White House Situation Room.

Key Points

• Betting odds: Walz and Vance go head-to-head in VP debate tonight, but who will win?

• Trump campaign tries to temper expectations ahead of VP debate — former president has other ideas

• When is the VP debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance?

• VP debate could change the course of the election, according to the data

• After Iran launches missiles at Israel, Trump claims Harris and Biden are leading world to brink of WWIII

Watch: Trump appears to struggle with words ‘rage’, ‘age’, and ‘wage’

21:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden insiders say president is feeling ‘left behind’

21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden has reportedly complained to his closest allies that he feels “left behind” as his fellow Democrats rush to embrace their new presidential nominee Kamala Harris and support her in the fight against Donald Trump.

Biden, 81, made the historic decision to step aside from the 2024 in July following intense pressure from his own party in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Trump in June.

The president moved quickly to endorse the vice president, who went on to pick up the nomination unchallenged, her dramatic ascent reinvigorating a race many were previously unenthused by.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Biden insiders say he is feeling ‘left behind’ by Harris campaign

Watch: Trump claims he doesn’t need a teleprompter… standing before a teleprompter

20:55 , Oliver O’Connell

‘He’s a pro’: Trump says Vance ‘doesn’t need a lot of advice’ ahead of debate

20:50 , Oliver O’Connell

NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake reports that Donald Trump told him regarding JD Vance and tonight’s debate: “He doesn’t need a lot of advice. He’s a pro.”

He also wants his running mate to be aggressive about immigration.

Analysis: As Iran retaliates for Israel’s Lebanon campaign against Hezbollah – what comes next for the Middle East?

20:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Chris Stevenson writes:

The missiles lit up the sky across Israel, explosions ringing out as they were intercepted or they hit the ground. Civilians across the country were asked to stay in shelters while air raid sirens blared.

It is not the first time Iran has fired on Israel this year, Tehran launched more than 330 drones and missiles against its most bitter adversary in April – retaliating for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. That attack, the first such strike ever, took a number of hours to complete compared to the one on Tuesday night, with the drones taking some time to reach Israel. Alongside help from allies such as the US and the UK, Israel said it had intercepted 99 per cent of the projectiles that day, in what was a highly-telegraphed move by Iran.

In the wake of that barrage, Tehran said it considered the matter “concluded” although it would respond if Israel struck back.

While we are waiting to see the extent of the damage from the latest attack, Israel said that there were few injuries and was bullish about its capability to fend off the attack, again with the help of the US.

Continue reading…

As Iran retaliates against Israel – what comes next for the Middle East?

Biden will ensure ‘severe consequences’ for Iran after Israel rocket attack

20:35 , Oliver O’Connell

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the US will work closely with Israeli officials to determine what the response would be to nearly 200 missile attacks aimed at Israel on Tuesday, while declaring that there would be “severe consequences” for the strike.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

White House says Biden will enforce ‘severe consequences’ after Iran attack on Israel

How can Vance win tonight’s VP debate?

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

George W Bush’s former speechwriter has revealed how JD Vance might be able to best his Democratic rival on the debate stage: by exposing his “goofs.”

William McGurn, who worked as former president Bush’s chief speechwriter between June 2006 and February 2008, penned his prognosis in a The Washington Post op-ed on Monday – one day before the vice presidential candidates were set to take to the debate stage in New York on Tuesday evening.

In the article titled “How JD Vance Wins the Vice-Presidential Debate With Tim Walz,” the former White House staffer said that Vance could win the debate by using Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and President Joe Biden’s “goofs” to pick apart Kamala Harris’s campaign.

James Liddell explains.

Vance can use Walz and Biden’s ‘goofs’ to win VP debate, Bush speechwriter says

Biden and Harris pictured in Situation Room discussing Iran attack on Israel

20:27 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Trump repeats claim Biden to blame for his small crowd sizes

20:12 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden to travel to North Carolina and South Carolina

20:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Per the White House:

On Wednesday, October 2nd, the President will travel to North Carolina and South Carolina. He will take an aerial tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, receive operational briefings, and greet with first responders and local officials. He will also engage with first responders and state and local officials in South Carolina en route to North Carolina.

Latest poll updates: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Alicja Hagopian looks at the latest polling numbers.

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

Watch: National security adviser says Iranian attack on Israel appears ‘defeated and ineffective’

19:58 , Oliver O’Connell

Harris to travel to Georgia to survey impact of Hurricane Helene

19:55 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House has announced that on Wednesday, October 2, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene and receive an on-the-ground briefing about the continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state. The Vice President will also provide updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia and several other states throughout the southeast.

The visit comes after yesterday’s visit by Harris to FEMA headquarters where she received a follow-up briefing on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene and thanked federal personnel and first responders for their work to support impacted communities. During her remarks, she made it clear that the Biden-Harris administration “will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and to help you rebuild – no matter how long it takes.”

Before visiting FEMA, Harris continued to speak with leaders from the impacted states. This included North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Mayor Knox White of Greenville, South Carolina, and Mayor Van Johnson of Savannah, Georgia. In her conversations, the Vice President received updates on response and recovery efforts, and shared how the administration will continue providing support to impacted communities. She also reached out to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa.

Watch: Harris wishes happy 100th birthday to ‘dear friend’ Jimmy Carter

19:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Ukraine support top priority for Nato’s new chief Mark Rutte

19:00 , Oliver O’Connell

New Nato chief Mark Rutte has vowed to help shore up Western support for war-ravaged Ukraine, as he takes charge at a critical time for the Western alliance.

The Dutch former prime minister has officially replaced Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general after Mr Stoltenberg spent a decade in the job.

Mr Rutte’s appointment comes just before a pivotal US presidential election in November, with Nato-sceptic Donald Trump, who declined to say whether he wants Ukraine to win the war, on the Republican ticket. But Mr Rutte said he would be able to work with Mr Trump or the Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.

Alexander Butler reports.

Former Dutch PM takes over as Nato chief

Biden urges deal with striking dockworkers

18:45 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden issued the following statement on the negotiations between USMX and the International Longshoremen’s Association:

Collective bargaining is the best way for workers to get the pay and benefits they deserve. I have urged USMX, which represents a group of foreign-owned carriers, to come to the table and present a fair offer to the workers of the International Longshoremen’s Association that ensures they are paid appropriately in line with their invaluable contributions. Ocean carriers have made record profits since the pandemic and in some cases profits grew in excess of 800 percent compared to their profits prior to the pandemic. Executive compensation has grown in line with those profits and profits have been returned to shareholders at record rates. It’s only fair that workers, who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep ports open, see a meaningful increase in their wages as well.

As our nation climbs out of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, dockworkers will play an essential role in getting communities the resources they need. Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate a fair wage for these essential workers while raking in record profits. My Administration will be monitoring for any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board.

It is time for USMX to negotiate a fair contract with the longshoremen that reflects the substantial contribution they’ve been making to our economic comeback.

Here’s what you need to know about the strike:

Dockworkers go on a strike that could reignite inflation and cause shortages in the holiday season

Jimmy Carter ‘can’t even talk on the phone,’ grandson says in heartbreaking birthday update

18:30 , Oliver O’Connell

As America celebrates its longest-lived former president Jimmy Carter on his 100th birthday, his grandson warned that he is “very limited in what he can do.”

The 39th president turned 100 years old on Tuesday. While he remains “excited” to vote for fellow Democrat Kamala Harris for president, he has trouble completing some daily tasks, like talking on the phone, his eldest grandson Jason Carter told CBS News.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Jimmy Carter ‘can’t even talk on the phone,’ grandson says in heartbreaking update

Biden and Harris monitoring Iranian attack on Israel from White House Situation Room

18:26 , Oliver O’Connell

White House National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett says President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are monitoring the Iranian attack against Israel from the White House Situation Room and re receiving regular updates from their national security team.

President Biden directed the US military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles targeting Israel.

After Iran launches missiles at Israel, Trump claims Harris and Biden are leading world to brink of WWIII

18:14 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has weighed in on the missile attack Iran launched at Israel on Tuesday, issuing a rambling, apocalyptic statement in which he declared the world “on fire and spiraling out of control.”

“We have no leadership, no one running the Country,” the former president posted, disingenuously, on his flagging Twitter clone, Truth Social. “We have a non-existent President in Joe Biden, and a completely absent Vice President, Kamala Harris, who is too busy fundraising in San Francisco, a City which she and Gavin Newscum totally destroyed, and staging fake photo ops. No one is in charge and it’s not even clear who is more confused: Biden or Kamala. Neither has any idea what is even going on.”

Trump went on, claiming, untruthfully, that when he was in office, “Iran was in total check.”

Justin Rohrlich reports.

Trump claims world at brink of WWIII after Iran launches missiles at Israel

Iran launches barrage of missiles against Israel

18:02 , Oliver O’Connell

Iran has launched an unknown number of missiles at Israel. Air raid sirens have sounded across the country, lights are visible in the skies over Tel Aviv and explosions can be heard.

Follow our full coverage here

Walz’s Trump-supporting brother is ‘100% opposed’ to his politics

18:00 , Oliver O’Connell

In 2016, Jeff Walz donated to Donald Trump’s campaign.

Now, eight years later, the 67-year-old’s brother Tim Walz is taking on the former president having joined Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket.

And Jeff appears to be far from happy with his sibling’s political aspirations.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Tim Walz’s brother donated to Trump and is ‘100% opposed’ to his sibling’s politics

Who are the moderators of tonight’s vice presidential debate?

17:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Tonight sees CBS News host the vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in New York.

It is the first and only meeting between the two vice presidential candidates. Voters in several states have already begun receiving their ballots for the election presidential election on November 5.

Moderating the debate will be Norah O’Donnell, anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, and Margaret Brennan, moderator of Face the Nation and chief foreign affairs correspondent. No audience will be present for the debate.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s moderators, per CBS News.

Norah O’Donnell

O’Donnell has earned multiple Emmy Awards over her nearly three decades of experience in journalism. She is covering her eighth presidential election and has interviewed every living president of the United States.

She has been anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News since 2019, leading CBS News’ flagship broadcast from Washington, DC. O’Donnell recently secured a historic interview with Pope Francis.

O’Donnell has conducted interviews with newsmakers in Washington and beyond for the CBS Evening News, including President Biden’s first interview since taking office; an exclusive sit-down with Vice President Mike Pence after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani; the first-ever interview with the four highest-ranking women in the US military; an exclusive interview with a former staffer for New York’s then-Governor Andrew Cuomo who alleged sexual harassment; and more.

She also contributes to 60 Minutes and is the host of CBS News 24/7’s Person to Person.

O’Donnell joined CBS News in 2011 as chief White House correspondent and was the co-anchor of CBS This Morning from 2012 to 2019.

She began her career as a print reporter for Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, before working for more than a decade at NBC News, where she covered the Pentagon, Congress and the White House. O’Donnell is a graduate of Georgetown University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Margaret Brennan

Brennan has been moderator of Face the Nation since 2018, when she became the second woman to host the prestigious Sunday morning public affairs program. She has interviewed world leaders like Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as congressional leaders including House Speakers Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi.

In 2023, Face the Nation was recognized with a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in TV Political Journalism, citing Brennan’s moderating approach as “measured, completely consistent, researched and prepared”.

Before becoming moderator of Face the Nation, she held several roles at CBS News, including State Department and White House correspondent. She remains the network’s chief foreign affairs correspondent.

She has covered historic moments such as the landmark nuclear deal with Iran; restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba; the standoff with North Korea; the conflict in Ukraine; and the accord to transfer control of Syria’s chemical weapons. She broke the news that members of Trump’s Cabinet were discussing invoking the 25th Amendment following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and her interview with Kevin McCarthy in 2023 played a role in his ouster as speaker just days later.

She began her career as a producer at CNBC and spent a decade covering global financial markets before joining CBS News in 2012. Brennan graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002.

Trump issues statemetn on Iran attack on Israel

17:48 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump issued the following statement on Iran’s imminent attack on Israel — currently underway.

“The World is on fire and spiraling out of control. We have no leadership, no one running the Country. We have a non-existent President in Joe Biden, and a completely absent Vice President, Kamala Harris, who is too busy fundraising in San Francisco, a City which she and Gavin Newscum totally destroyed, and staging fake photo ops. No one is in charge and it’s not even clear who is more confused: Biden or Kamala. Neither has any idea what is even going on.

When I was President, Iran was in total check. They were starved for cash, fully contained, and desperate to make a deal. Kamala flooded them with American cash and, ever since, they’ve been exporting terror all over, and unraveling the Middle East.

Under ‘President Trump,’ we had NO WAR in the Middle East, NO WAR in Europe, and Harmony in Asia, No Inflation, No Afghanistan Catastrophe. Instead, we had PEACE. Now, War or the threat of War, is raging everywhere, and the two Incompetents running this Country are leading us to the brink of World War III. You wouldn’t trust Joe or Kamala to run a lemonade stand, let alone lead the Free World.

It is no surprise that Iran desperately wants Kamala Harris to be President, because they know as long as she is in power, they can take advantage of America. That is why they have tried to target me.

If I was in charge, October 7th never happens, Russia/Ukraine never happens, Afghanistan Botched Withdrawal never happens, and Inflation never happens. If I win, we will have peace in the World again. If Kamala gets 4 more years, the World goes up in smoke.”

Harris and Biden are both in Washington, DC, and met with national security official this morning.

Biden and Harris met with national security team over Iran attack on Israel

17:45 , Oliver O’Connell

From the White House:

This morning, President Biden convened a meeting with Vice President Harris and their national security team to discuss Iranian plans to imminently launch a significant ballistic missile attack against Israel. They reviewed the status of US preparations to help Israel defend against these attacks and protect U.S. personnel in the region.

Is Team Trump doing enough to push voter turnout?

17:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Republican organizers in battleground states are worried that the Trump campaign isn’t doing enough to drive GOP turnout, as Kamala Harris maintains a roughly three per cent lead in national polls and similar margins in battleground states.

GOP operatives told Politico that the Trump campaign’s tactics to reach voters, relying heavily on super PACs and an army of “Trump Force 47” volunteers to knock on doors and get out the vote, hasn’t made as much of a dent as they would’ve wished in key toss-up states like Michigan and Nevada.

“There’s really no organization,” a Republican operative in Nevada told the outlet. “He comes out, they scramble to do a rally … but after that, there’s just really nothing else.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump’s volunteer army struggling to swing election – and it’s worrying Republicans

Watch: Kentucky governor reacts to Trump’s crude attacks on Walz

17:15 , Oliver O’Connell

The most important debate this week isn’t the VP debate. It’s for the Senate race in Montana

17:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Tuesday, Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will square off in New York for the only vice presidential debate of the election. Polling from Prolific exclusive to The Independent shows the debate has a chance to tip the scales.

But in truth, whoever wins the White House will not be able to do much if they do not control the Senate, which not only passes bills, but also ratifies treaties and most importantly confirms cabinet and judicial nominees.

That is why both Democrats and Republicans are pouring in money to determine Montana’s Senate race results.

Continue reading…

Forget the VP debate. Montana’s Senate debate is more important

Biden to receive Hurricane Helene update this afternoon

16:45 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden will receive an interagency briefing on the Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts at 2.30pm this afternoon in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

Follow the latest on the hurricane here:

Hurricane Helene latest: ‘Post-apocalyptic’ scenes in North Carolina, 600 missing

Prominent Republicans signs on to DNC lawsuit challenging Georgia election rule change

16:35 , Oliver O’Connell

A number of prominent Republicans have signed an amicus brief today supporting the lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee and the Georgia Democratic Party challenging the State Election Board’s rule changes, mandating a hand count of ballots.

Among those who have signed the brief is former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, a Republican supporter of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Vance’s past comments about running mate projected onto Trump Tower

16:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats have trolled JD Vance by projecting his past comments about Donald Trump directly onto Trump Tower ahead of the vice presidential debate on Tuesday evening.

The Democratic National Committee dug up historic remarks the Ohio senator has made about his running mate, including him branding the then-president an “idiot”.

James Liddell reports.

JD Vance’s past comments about Trump projected onto Trump Tower ahead of VP debate

Watch: GOP whip challenged over Vance’s terrible favorability polling numbers

16:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Jon Stewart busts myth around the ‘fictional’ Trump character MAGA supporters love

16:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Jon Stewart has busted the myth around the “fictional” Donald Trump character that his MAGA supporters love – saying that his whole persona bears “little resemblance” to who the former president really is.

On Monday night’s show, The Daily Show host picked apart the man who Trump’s fans claim him to be.

“The qualities and policies that people profess to be what they admire and love about former President Trump don’t seem to be an accurate reflection of said former president,” Stewart said.

James Liddell has the story.

Jon Stewart busts myth around the ‘fictional’ Trump character MAGA supporters love

Biden called upon to help end ports strike

15:51 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Hoplin, CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), issued a statement this morning calling on President Joe Biden to take action to end the strike and reopen the ports:

“The East and Gulf Coast port strike is putting our economy and national security at risk. This strike isn’t just about disrupting a few shipments; it’s about stopping the supply chain and bringing the flow of critical goods to a standstill.

“The damage could reach $5 billion a day, with small and mid-sized businesses at risk due to missed deliveries and empty shelves. The Biden administration must use its authority now to stop the strike before the impact becomes irreversible. This is not just about pay or a shipping delays—it’s about our global competitiveness. The ILA’s demands to ban automation in ports will cripple our ability to compete internationally, while ports in Europe and Asia embrace automation and technology to stay ahead.

“The administration must act decisively—end this strike, reopen the ports, and ensure the US remains a leader in global trade.”

Here’s what you need to know about the strike:

Dockworkers go on a strike that could reignite inflation and cause shortages in the holiday season

Watch: Biden wishes Jimmy Carter happy 100th birthday

15:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump campaign tries to temper expectations ahead of VP debate — former president has other ideas

15:41 , Oliver O’Connell

The Trump campaign is trying to manage expectations ahead of tonight’s vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but the former president doesn’t appear on message.

During a campaign call with reporters, senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said: “Walz is very good in debates. I want to repeat that: Tim Walz is very good in debates. Really good. He’s been a politician for nearly 20 years. He’ll be very well-prepared for tomorrow night.”

“He’s not going to be the wildly gesticulating, effeminate caricature we see at rallies, pointing to Kamala Harris and dancing about on the stage. Walz is going to be buttoned up. He’ll be ready to defend his own radical left record in Minnesota and in Washington.”

However, the former president struck a different tone, later telling Kellyanne Conway: “You’ll see it tomorrow with JD. It’ll be stacked. He’s going up against a moron. A total moron, how she picked him is unbelievable. And I think it’s a big factor. There’s something wrong with that guy. He’s sick.”

The Independent will be covering the debate live tonight at 9pm ET.

Iran preparing imminent ballistic missile attack on Israel, US official says

15:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack on Israel, a US official says, warning of “severe consequences” for Iran.

“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel. We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a White House official says.

Will ‘overly defensive’ and ‘manic’ Walz blow VP debate? Some Democrats are quietly worried

15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic insiders are said to be privately voicing concerns that Tim Walz could blow crucial vice presidential debate against JD Vance because of his tendency to be overly abrupt and defensive about his record in office and his occasionally “manic” speaking style.

Walz is due to square up to the Ohio GOP senator on stage at the CBS News debate in New York City on Tuesday night and – with no further debates in the pipeline – the contest could mark the final face-off between the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns before November’s election.

But allies of the Democratic vice presidential candidate have warned Politico that there are fears that Walz’s abrupt manner of shutting down conversations and runaway manner of speaking – which one anonymous insider described as “a bit manic” – could ultimately count against him.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Democrats quietly fear ‘overly defensive’ and ‘manic’ Walz will blow VP debate

Walz heading to New York for tonight’s debate

15:28 , Oliver O’Connell

Lincoln Project calls Vance ‘conniving liar’ who will ‘sane-wash … Trump’s crazy and dangerous positions’

15:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Anti-Trump conservative group The Lincoln Project has hit out at Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, calling him “a conniving liar who will sane-wash and make palatable all of Trump’s crazy and dangerous positions”.

“Vance is a misogynist who has twisted, dark plans for America to turn women’s rights back 100 years,” said Lincoln Project Chief of Staff Ryan Wiggins. She continued, “Tonight he will lie about Trump’s past, lie about his own support for Project 2025, and deny that he ever believed Trump was ‘America’s Hitler’. The only thing Vance can be counted on is to defend Trump and wear terrible makeup.”

Watch the group’s latest ad here:

Walz and Vance go head-to-head in VP debate tonight, but who will win – and what buzzwords will we hear?

15:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The bets are on ahead of tonight’s vice presidential debate, with bookies rounding up the odds on who will win the showdown: Democrat Tim Walz or Republican JD Vance?

Alicja Hagopian looks at the numbers.

Betting odds as Walz and Vance go head to head in VP debate

14:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump claims US election debates against Harris and Walz are ‘rigged’

McMaster ‘doesn’t buy’ Trump’s claims that he can end Ukraine war

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s former military guru has pooh-poohed the former president’s campaign trail refrain that he could broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia “in one day”.

“I don’t really buy it,” said HR McMaster, who was appointed as a national security adviser by Trump in 2017 and was forced out in 2018, in an interview with CBS News anchor Robert Costa.

“I think it’s a real myth, a real misunderstanding of war, to assume that you can get a favourable political outcome without a favourable military outcome. That’s never really happened in war.

“And so I think the right course of action, if you want to accelerate progress toward a settlement, is to convince [Vladimir] Putin that he’s losing the war. I think that’s the only way you get a favourable settlement.

“How do you do that? You demonstrate our resolve to continue to support the Ukrainians as they defend themselves against this continued onslaught by the Russians.”

Io Dodds has more.

Trump’s fired military guru says he doubts the Republican nominee can end Ukraine war

Walz’s debate spin room surrogates announced

14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

According to the Harris-Walz campaign, these are the Democrats that will be stumping for Tim Walz in the spin room at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City tonight:

• Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

• Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona

• Governor Jared Polis of Colorado

• Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois

• US Representative Jasmine Crockett

• Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison

• Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico

And here’s your reminder of who is in Vance’s corner:

• Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller

• Donald Trump Jr

• Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas

• Senator Katie Britt of Alabama

• US Representative Elise Stefanik

• US Representative Byron Donalds

• Howard Lutnick

Trump GoFundMe for Hurricane Helene victims raises $1.8m

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

As part of his frankly opportunistic attacks on Biden and Harris over the federal response to the deadly storm that has claimed at least 133 lives in America’s southeastern states, the Republican presidential nominee has set up a GoFundMe page that is already well past its $1m goal.

This gentleman raises a valid point, however.

Trump’s volunteer army struggling to swing election in their candidate’s favour

13:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Republican organizers in battleground states are worried that the Trump campaign isn’t doing enough to drive GOP turnout, as Kamala Harris maintains a roughly three per cent lead in national polls and similar margins in battleground states.

GOP operatives told Politico that the Trump campaign’s tactics to reach voters, relying heavily on super PACs and an army of “Trump Force 47” volunteers to knock on doors and get out the vote, hasn’t made as much of a dent as they would’ve wished in key toss-up states like Michigan and Nevada.

“There’s really no organization,” a Republican operative in Nevada told the outlet.

“He comes out, they scramble to do a rally… but after that, there’s just really nothing else.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump’s volunteer army struggling to swing election – and it’s worrying Republicans

Republicans condemn Trump’s false claims on Harris’ mental fitness

12:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Several prominent GOP members have sought to distance themselves from “insulting” comments made by Trump in which he claimed Kamala Harris is “mentally disabled.”

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

During a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday, Trump claimed Harris was “mentally disabled” and “mentally impaired.”

Here’s more from Mike Bedigan.

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

Harris plotting ad blitz attacking Trump’s ‘concepts of a plan’ on healthcare

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s how Kamala is plotting to take the fight to her rival over his inability to offer a coherent policy on one of the most fundamental concerns of American voters.

VP debate could change the course of the election, according to the data

12:10 , Joe Sommerlad

As Republicans and Democrats gear up for the vice presidential debate tonight, exclusive polling reveals the upcoming encounter between Walz and Vance has the potential to change everything.

Two-thirds of Democrats believe the VP candidate has a significant impact on the overall presidential ticket, according to polling from Prolific for The Independent, and three in four Americans say they will be tuning in.

Alicja Hagopian has the details.

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

Jimmy Carter makes history as first former president to turn 100

11:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Joe Biden is among those sending birthday wishes to the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, who became America’s 39th commander-in-chief as he hits his centenary today, a truly remarkable feat.

I guess this account has no more worlds left to conquer…

Kelly Rissman reports.

Biden celebrates Jimmy Carter a day before his 100th birthday

DNC projects Vance critiques onto Trump Tower ahead of debate: ‘What an idiot!’

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Democratic National Committee has been trolling the Republican ticket ahead of tonight’s face-off between Walz and Vance in the Big Apple by projecting anti-Trump slogans onto the exterior of the nominee’s signature building, including his own running mate’s October 2016 verdict that he is, in fact, an idiot.

Watch: Jon Stewart roasts former president’s ‘Bizarro Trump’ alter ego

11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest from last night’s Daily Show…

…and here’s James Liddell with a full report.

Jon Stewart busts myth around the ‘fictional’ Trump character MAGA supporters love

Trump mocked for ‘absolutely pointless’ brick wall at hurricane site

10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

This was utterly ridiculous from The Donald in Georgia yesterday – and a rather unwise visual reminder of the last wall he left unfinished.

Trump already claiming debate is rigged against Vance

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Republicans like Minnesota congressman Tom Emmer have been bragging ahead of tonight’s showdown that JD Vance will “wipe the floor with Tim Walz”, calling his state governor “a total fraud” who will try to deploy his “Minnesota nice” persona to fend off attacks about Kamala Harris’s “open-border and soft-on-crime” policy positions.

Big talk, but rather at odds with what Trump himself had to say to Kellyanne Conway on Fox Nation yesterday…

Here’s more on the GOP nominee getting his excuses in early from Rhian Lubin.

Trump is already teeing up an excuse for Vance losing VP debate

Caroline Giuliani says Trump ‘destroys everything he touches’

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Rudy Giuliani’s daughter has issued a stark warning about a second Donald Trump presidency, using her own father’s “implosion” as an example of what happens when someone is caught up in the former president’s “destructive trail”.

Giuliani has gone from a revered prosecutor and New York mayor that led the city through the devastation of the 9/11 attacks to a bankrupt and disbarred attorney since becoming one of Trump’s staunchest allies.

This fall from grace exemplifies how Trump “destroys everything he touches”, according to Caroline Giuliani.

“Watching my dad’s life crumble since he joined forces with Trump has been extraordinarily painful, both on a personal level and because his demise feels linked to a dark force that threatens to once again consume America,” the 35-year-old wrote inVanity Fair on Monday.

Family members of prominent Republicans including Dick Cheney, John McCain and Trump himself have also endorsed Kamala Harris or warned against the prospect of another Trump turn in the White House.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Giuliani’s daughter says she ‘lost her dad’ to Trump, begs people to vote for Harris

When is the VP debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance?

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Harris’s running mate will square up to Trump’s vice presidential pick on the debate stage on Tuesday evening in what promises to be a hugely consequential and fiery encounter in New York.

Vance has previously attacked Walz’s military record, claiming the Minnesota Governor dodged deployment to Iraq, while the latter has questioned his rival’s background, pointing out that the Ohio Senator is a Yale graduate who palled around with “Silicon Valley billionaires” while writing a bestseller about his “hillbilly” roots.

The 90-minute debate will begin at 9pm (Eastern time) on CBS on October 1.

It will be moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan.

Here’s everything else you need to know from Kelly Rissman.

What are the rules and when to tune in for the VP debate between Vance and Walz

Trump continues to attack Biden administration over Hurricane Helene reponse

09:25 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump has continued to try to attack Harris and Joe Biden over the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which has wrought havoc in states like Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, having visited Valdosta in the Peach State on Monday and accused the Vice President of “staging” photos of herself liaising with governors by phone on disaster relief efforts.

He has since posted the following on Truth Social, pledging to get his new pal Elon Musk on the case.

President Biden has meanwhile angrily hit back at Trump’s false accusation on Monday that he and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper have been ignoring the devastation wrought by the storm, which has killed over 100 people and left hundreds missing and unaccounted for in the Tar Heel state.

The Republican presidential nominee had told his followers on social media yesterday that he “[didn’t] like the reports” he was allegedly getting about the federal and state governments “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas” hit by the hurricane.

Asked to respond as he addressed reporters after receiving a briefing from Cooper and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell in the Oval Office, Biden interjected, cutting off a question from The Independent to denounce Trump’s baseless statements.

Andrew Feinberg and Julia Musto report.

‘He’s lying’: Biden hits back at Trump on Helene as he announces plans to visit

Trump narrows Harris’s lead among Latino voters in new poll

09:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump has eaten into Kamala Harris’s lead among Latino voters as the presidential election campaigning season enters its final month, according to a new national poll from NBC News/Telemundo/CNBC.

The Democrat still has a 14-percentage point advantage over her conservative rival, on 54 percent to 40 percent, but the difference is down to its lowest level for four presidential cycles, with voters citing the economy and the high cost of living as reasons for preferring the Republican ticket.

By contrast, Hillary Clinton picked up 69 percent of Latino support to Trump’s 19 percent in 2016.

Here’s our data correspondent Alicja Hagopian on all the latest election polling.

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

Unmarried? Childless? Running for Congress? This GOP candidate has found a workaround

08:30 , Oliver O’Connell

A Republican congressional candidate posed for a photo with a woman and three young girls in an image that could be mistaken for a family holiday card.

But the picture — posted on the National Republican Campaign Committee website to promote Derrick Anderson’s campaign, and included in a video on his campaign’s YouTube account — is not a family photo at all.

Alex Woodward has the bizarre story.

Child-free Republican candidate borrows friend’s wife and children for campaign photo

VP debate: Who will be working the spin room for JD Vance?

08:00 , Oliver O’Connell

NOTUS reports that the following Republican Party and Trump World figures will be working the spin room tomorrow for Senator JD Vance after he faces off against Governor Tim Walz in the vice presidential debate.

• Jason Miller

• Donald Trump Jr.

• Tom Cotton

• Katie Britt

• Elise Stefanik

• Byron Donalds

• Howard Lutnick

Both Cotton and Britt are two of Vance’s closest allies in Congress, and Don Jr pushed his father to pick Vance as his running mate.

43ft nude Trump statue erected along Las Vegas highway

07:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has made his mark on Las Vegas — in the form of a 43ft, nude statue.

A naked statue of the former president, titled “Crooked and Obscene”, was erected in a fenced-in lot next to Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 28.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

What about crowd size? 43ft nude Trump statue erected along Las Vegas highway

Ohio business owner who defended Haitians deluged with death threats

06:30 , Josh Marcus

A business owner in Springfield, Ohio and his family have received graphic death threats after defending his Haitian employees from Donald Trump’s racist smears.

Jamie McGregor, 48, who employs about 30 legal Haitian immigrants at his vehicle parts factory, had spoken out in September after Trump and his allies began spreading false claims that Haitians in Ohio were eating people’s pets.

“They come to work every day. They don’t cause drama. They’re on time,” McGregor told The New York Times, saying that the migrants had taken up crucial positions that he’d been struggling to fill after expanding his business.

Now the Times reports that strangers have been threatening McGregor and his family in the most lurid terms, as well as putting up posters near the factory that declared him a “traitor”.

Io Dodds has the story.

A Springfield businessman defended Haitians. Now neo-Nazis are threatening his family

Trump is trying to have it both ways with mail-in voting

06:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Richard Hall reports from Indiana, Pennsylvania, on how MAGA activists are trying to flip the state for Trump by encouraging Republicans to vote by mail — despite messaging from the former president about its dangers.

Trump is trying to have it both ways with mail-in voting

Michigan man accused of attacking Black postal worker with knife over Kamala Harris election mailers

05:30 , Josh Marcus

A Michigan man is accused of attacking a Black postal worker with a knife because he was furious about receiving political mail adverts for Kamala Harris.

Prosecutors in Farmington Hills, a suburb of Detroit, charged 61-year-old Russell Frank Valleau on Friday with assault and ethnic intimidation, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Valleau was reportedly arrested the previous evening after hurling racial abuse at a US Postal Service mail carrier and “lunging” at her with a blade, forcing her to fend him off with her service-issued pepper spray.

Io Dodds reports.

Michigan man accused of attacking Black postal worker over Kamala Harris election ads

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

05:00 , 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

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

04:00 , Oliver O’Connell

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

03:00 , 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.”

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

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

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

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

01:30 , Oliver O’Connell

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

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

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

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

Giuliani’s daughter says she ‘lost her dad’ to Trump and begs people to vote for Harris

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Rudy Giuliani’s daughter issued a stark warning about a second Trump presidency, using her father’s “implosion” as an example of what happens when someone is caught up in the former president’s “destructive trail”.

Giuliani has gone from a revered prosecutor and New York mayor that led the city through the devastation of the 9/11 attacks to a bankrupt and disbarred attorney since becoming one of Trump’s staunchest allies.

This fall from grace exemplifies how Donald Trump “destroys everything he touches”, according to Caroline Giuliani.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Giuliani’s daughter says she ‘lost her dad’ to Trump, begs people to vote for Harris

Trump’s nine weirdest nicknames for his political rivals

Tuesday 1 October 2024 00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

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

Trump claims Biden and Harris forced him to hold rally at 750-seat theater

Monday 30 September 2024 23:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is claiming that he could only campaign in a 750-seat theatre because Vice President Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are using Secret Service assets to protect the President of Iran, who he claims is “doing everything possible to kill me.”

In a Truth Social post that Trump made on Monday, he claimed that Harris and Biden were “going out of their way to make it difficult for me to Campaign.”

Graig Graziosi reports.

Trump says Biden, Harris forced him to hold rally in 750 seat theater

Biden administration doubles down on tough asylum restrictions at border

Monday 30 September 2024 23:15 , AP

The Biden administration said Monday it is making asylum restrictions at the southern border even tougher, as it’s increasingly eager to show voters uneasy over immigration that it is taking a hard stance on border security.

The new rules, which toughen restrictions announced in June, bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed.

Under the previous rules, the U.S. could restrict asylum access when the number of migrants trying to enter the country between the official border crossings hit 2,500 per day. The daily numbers had to average below 1,500 per day for a week in order for the restrictions to be lifted.

The version rolled out Monday says the daily numbers will have to be below 1,500 for nearly a month before the restrictions can be lifted. And the administration is now counting all children toward that number, whereas previously only migrant children from Mexico were counted.

These changes, which go into effect on Tuesday, will make it much more difficult to lift the restrictions and allow people entering the country between the official border crossings eventually to apply for asylum in the U.S.

But the restrictions implemented in June have never been lifted because the numbers of border encounters have never gotten low enough for long enough, raising the question of why the administration felt the need to make them even tougher now. The seven-day average has gotten down to about 1,800 migrant encounters per day, the Department of Homeland Security said.

A senior administration official said Monday that the longer timeline was necessary to make sure that drops in immigration are sustained and not due to a one-time event. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to brief reporters about the tighter restrictions before they were made public.

Immigration advocates already had harshly criticized the restrictions announced in June, saying the administration was slashing away at vital protections for people fleeing persecution.

Biden hits back at Trump on storm Helene as he announces plans for surveying damage

Monday 30 September 2024 23:09 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden on Monday angrily hit back at Donald Trump’s false accusations of neglect and malfeasance after the former president and Republican presidential nominee leveled a baseless claim about the federal response to Hurricane Helene on his social media platform.

Andrew Feinberg and Julia Musto report.

‘He’s lying’: Biden hits back at Trump on Helene as he announces plans to visit

Worrying news for Ted Cruz as Texas Senate race tightens

Monday 30 September 2024 23:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Ted Cruz’s chances of winning reelection to the Senate are narrowing, with a pair of recent polls showing that his Democratic challenger Colin Allred holds a chance of defeating the Republican incumbent in a tighter-than-expected race.

A recent survey of Texas voters, from Public Policy Polling/Clean and Prosperous America, shows Allred leading with 47 percent to Cruz’s 46 percent, after an August poll showed Cruz leading Allred by two points.

Those results have a margin of error of 3.5 percent, putting the candidates in a virtual tie.

Alex Woodward reports.

Ted Cruz gets worrying news in latest polls as Texas senate race tightens

Texas man smashes ‘autographed’ Taylor Swift guitar with hammer after paying $4,000 for it at auction

Monday 30 September 2024 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A man in Texas paid $4,000 for what was described as an “autographed” Taylor Swift guitar, only to immediately smash it to pieces with a hammer.

Footage of the incident at the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner in Waxahachie, Texas has since gone viral.

Kevin E G Perry reports.

Texas man pays $4,000 for ‘autographed’ Taylor Swift guitar then hammers it to pieces

Monday 30 September 2024 22:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Whoopi Goldberg calls Donald Trump a moron and claims former president is unhinged

Biden says Trump lying about Hurricane response

Monday 30 September 2024 22:41 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg asked President Joe Biden about Donald Trump’s accusation that his administration was ignoring Republican areas hit by Hurricane Helene.

Fed chair says the US economy in ‘solid shape’, more rate cuts coming

Monday 30 September 2024 22:30 , AP

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled Monday that more interest rate cuts are in the pipeline, though their size and speed would depend on the evolution of the economy.

Wall Street investors and economists are weighing whether the Fed will follow its larger-than-usual half-point cut made earlier this month with another hefty reduction at either of its upcoming meetings in November or December. At their meeting Sept. 18, Fed officials penciled in two more quarter-point rate cuts at those final meetings this year.

In remarks before the National Association for Business Economics in Nashville, Tennessee, Powell said the U.S. economy and hiring are largely healthy and emphasized that the Fed is “recalibrating” its key interest rate, which is now at about 4.8%.

Continue reading…

Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in ‘solid shape’ with more rate cuts coming

Watch: Harris says she will visit Hurricane impacted areas soon without disrupting emergency response

Monday 30 September 2024 22:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats have a plan for Florida and Texas. Is that a sign they’re worried about Montana?

Monday 30 September 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell

While Vice President Kamala Harris’s replacement of President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket has given the party a chance at beating Donald Trump and they increasingly look likely to flip the House of Representatives, they face one problem: they still look likely to lose the Senate.

Eric Garia takes a look at what’s happening in the fight to keep hold of the upper chamber.

Democrats have a plan for Florida and Texas. Is that a sign they’re worried?

Tim Walz’s brother donated to Trump in 2016 and is ‘100% opposed’ to his sibling’s political ideology

Monday 30 September 2024 22:00 , Oliver O’Connell

In 2016, Jeff Walz donated to Donald Trump’s campaign.

Now, eight years later, the 67-year-old’s brother Tim Walz is taking on the former president having joined Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democraticparty’s 2024 ticket.

And Jeff Walz appears to be far from happy with his sibling’s political aspirations.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Tim Walz’s brother donated to Trump and is ‘100% opposed’ to his sibling’s politics

Watch LIVE: Harris receives Hurricane response briefing from FEMA

Monday 30 September 2024 21:57 , Oliver O’Connell

Judge invokes The Handmaid’s Tale in order striking down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban

Monday 30 September 2024 21:52 , Oliver O’Connell

A state judge in Georgia has blocked the state from enforcing a ban on abortion at roughly six weeks of pregnancy, finding that state law criminalizing care is unconstitutional.

The 26-page opinion from Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ordered that abortion access must be regulated as it was before Georgia lawmakers passed the state’s anti-abortion in 2019.

That ban under the state’s “LIFE Act” was effectively blocked under Roe v Wade, which the Supreme Court struck down three years later in 2022.

Monday’s ruling will allow Georgia abortion patients to seek care past six weeks of pregnancy, for now, potentially turning the state into a crucial refuge for abortion access across the deep south, where every state has outlawed most forms of abortion care at any point in a pregnancy.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Georgia judge invokes Handmaid’s Tale in order striking down six-week abortion ban

Watch: White House spokesperson uses Fox News interview to slam Vance on healthcare

Monday 30 September 2024 21:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden hails ‘historic declines’ in crime in 2024

Monday 30 September 2024 21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden has hailed the “historic declines” in crime this year according to preliminary data submitted to the FBI.

He released the following statement:

This year, the homicide and violent crime rates have continued their rapid decline from their peaks during the last administration. According to new preliminary data submitted to the FBI, in the first half of this year, the homicide rate continued to fall at record speed, declining by 22.7%, while the violent crime rate fell by 10.3% to its lowest level since 1969. These record decreases follow the historic declines in crime in 2023, including the largest-ever decrease in the homicide rate. Communities across our country are safer now than when I took office.

Under the previous administration, we saw the biggest increase in murder rates on record. Vice President Harris and I moved swiftly to turn it around. We passed the American Rescue Plan – despite every Republican in Congress voting against it – which has helped deliver over $15 billion in public safety funding that enabled over 1,000 state, city, and county governments to avoid cuts to police budgets, invest in community violence interventions, and keep communities safe. And we have taken more action to get illegal guns off of our streets and out of dangerous hands than any Administration, including by signing into law the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years which has expanded background checks and cracked down on gun traffickers. Last year, I established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris, to accelerate this work.

Even among these historic declines, we can and must do more. That’s why, just this past week, Vice President Harris and I announced additional actions to combat machinegun conversion devices, improve school-based active shooter drills, and take other steps to reduce gun crime and save lives. I’ll continue to urge Congress pass my plan to fund 100,000 additional police officers, invest in community violence intervention programs, and make commonsense gun safety reforms, including banning assault weapons.

‘A moral force’: Biden celebrates Jimmy Carter a day before his 100th birthday

Monday 30 September 2024 21:30 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden has sent a heartfelt birthday message to Jimmy Carter, one day ahead of his 100th birthday.

“Put simply, Mr President, I admire you so darn much,” Biden wrote.

Carter, the longest-lived president in the country’s history, hits the milestone on October 1. The 39th president has recently started “talking about politics again” after Kamala Harris took over the Democratic ticket and he plans to vote for her, according to his eldest grandson Jason.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Biden celebrates Jimmy Carter a day before his 100th birthday

Democrats sue Georgia election board over new hand-counting ballots rule

Monday 30 September 2024 21:26 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats have sued the Georgia State Election Board over its new requirement for counties to hand-count ballots cast on Election Day. They argue that the last-minute change in the rules is unlawful and could cause “chaos” across what is a highly-contested state in the presidential election.

The board voted 3-2 earlier this month passing the new rule which Democrats argue “changes the rules of the game in the ninth inning”.

The suit was filed by the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Georgia. Kamala Harris’s campaign has also given its support to the suit

“In sum, the Hand Count Rule is contrary to the Election Code, exceeds the Board’s rulemaking authority” and “violates foundational limits on agencies that are intended to avoid precisely the scenario here — an unelected body unilaterally making significant changes to the law without notice or explanation,” the suit says.

“To protect the sanctity of the state’s laws and to prevent election night chaos, this Court should declare that the Hand Count Rule exceeds SEB’s statutory authority and enjoin that rule from going into effect,” it adds.

Donald Trump praised the three board members who voted in favor of the new rule. However, there is also opposition from other Republicans, including Georgia’s secretary of state and attorney general. They question the legality of the rule.

Election workers are now required to count the number of ballots cast on Election Day but not every vote on the ballot. The ballots are then delivered to the county for counting and tabulation. The main concern is that there could be an unnecessary delay in reporting results.

Watch: Trump challenged over baseless claim aid being denied to Republican parts of Georgia

Monday 30 September 2024 21:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Unmarried? Childless? Running for Congress? This GOP candidate has found a workaround

Monday 30 September 2024 21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A Republican congressional candidate posed for a photo with a woman and three young girls in an image that could be mistaken for a family holiday card.

But the picture — posted on the National Republican Campaign Committee website to promote Derrick Anderson’s campaign, and included in a video on his campaign’s YouTube account — is not a family photo at all.

Alex Woodward has the bizarre story.

Child-free Republican candidate borrows friend’s wife and children for campaign photo

Watch: Fulton County judge strikes down Georgia six-week abortion ban

Monday 30 September 2024 20:52 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump claims Harris photo of call with FEMA is ‘FAKE’ and ‘STAGED’

Monday 30 September 2024 19:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has lashed out at Kamala Harris accusing her of faking a photo of a call with FEMA director Deanne Criswell.

The former president wrote:

Another FAKE and STAGED photo from someone who has no clue what she is doing. You have to plug the cord into the phone for it to work! Biden and Harris abandoned Americans in Afghanistan. They sacrificed Americans to an Open Border, and now, they have left Americans to drown in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and elsewhere in the South. Under this Administration, Americans always come last, because we have “leaders” who have no idea how to lead!

The former president made the post on Truth Social as he headed down to Valdosta, Georgia, to make remarks at a campaign event in city that was hit hard by Hurricane Helene.