Trump to rally in Butler at assassination attempt site as Harris visits North Carolina to survey Helene damage: Live

Donald Trump is heading back to the venue in Butler, Pennsylvania where he survived an assassination attempt just three months ago.

Billionaire and ardent Trump supporter Elon Musk will be in attendance, marking the first time the Tesla CEO will publicly appear at a campaign event for the former president since he endorsed Trump in July right after the harrowing July 13 incident.

The family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was killed in the attack, will also attend Saturday’s Butler rally, ABC News reported.

The rally will come one day after Kamala Harris hammered Trump’s labor record during a Michigan rally, trying to keep up the momentum after scoring high-profile endorsements from Liz Cheney and Bruce Springsteen.

“Donald Trump is no friend of labor,” the vice president told the crowd, arguing Trump didn’t do enough to help the auto industry or support United Auto Workers who went on strike, like Joe Biden did.

This week’s robust jobs report showing the US economy added 254,000 jobs in September is also likely to help Harris as Trump tries to blame the Biden-Harris administration for inflation.

Still, the political rivals remain in a deadlock in swing states, polls show.

Key Points

• Trump is heading to Butler, Pennsylvania to hold a rally at the site of his first assassination attempt

• New jobs numbers are very good news for Harris and Biden

• Polls: Who’s ahead in Georgia and Michigan as Trump and Harris visit key states?

• Elon Musk to join Donald Trump as he returns to scene of assassination attempt in Pennsylvania

• Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates

• Trump is returning to the scene of his assassination attempt — a lot has changed since then

Florida is nearing toss-up status: poll

19:29 , Kelly Rissman

Donald Trump’s lead in his home state of Florida has dwindled, putting it in play for Kamala Harris, a poll suggests.

The former president leads the vice president by just two percentage points in the Sunshine State, where he has his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to a Thursday survey by Napolitan News Service conducted by RMG Research, which has historically favored Republicans.

There appeared to be stark age and race divides in the poll’s findings.

Read the full story…

Florida is nearing toss-up status as poll shows Trump’s lead nearly vanished

WATCH: Megyn Kelly baffled how Harris’s messaging on economy is ‘somehow getting through’

18:45 , Kelly Rissman

Trump is returning to the scene of his assassination attempt — a lot has changed since then

18:14 , Kelly Rissman

Donald Trump is heading back to the Butler, Pennsylvania venue where he survived an assassination attempt three months ago — but the 2024 race has dramatically changed since then.

July 13 — the day that a lone gunman opened fire at the Butler rally, killing one, and injuring others, including the former president — marked a pivotal moment in the highly contested race.

Since then, President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, a heavily scrutinized Secret Service identified its failures and underwent sweeping changes, Trump picked JD Vance as his running mate, enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris grew and Trump lost his lead in the polls, and yet another assassination attempt against Trump unfolded on September 15 at his golf course.

Read the full story…

Trump is returning to the scene of his assassination attempt. What’s changed?

Who is ahead in swing states?

17:45 , Kelly Rissman

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in most swing states, polls show.

The vice president is up by less than a point in Pennsylvania ahead of when Trump is set to return to the site of his assassination attempt on Saturday. Barack Obama is expected to make an appearance at a Harris campaign stop in Pittsburgh next week, which could lend her a boost in the must-win state.

Also on Saturday, Harris is heading to North Carolina to survey the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Trump currently has a narrow lead — less than one percentage point — in the battleground state, polls show.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, Trump leads by 1.4 per cent as of October 4, according to FiveThirtyEight. The state recently saw a victory for abortion rights, as a judge ruled that the state’s harsh six-week ban on abortions was unconstitutional. State officials have already appealed the ruling. The decision comes days after it was revealed that two women died in Georgia due to delays in care caused by law’s confusing language.

July 13 shooting victims to be honored at the rally

17:15 , Kelly Rissman

Elon Musk and Dave McCormick are expected to attend Trump’s rally in Butler on Saturday evening.

JD Vance will also join Trump.

Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief killed in the harrowing incident, and other victims of the shooting will reportedly be honored at the campaign event.

A reporter posted a photo of the event venue, showing seats reserved for Comperatore’s family, who are expected to be in attendance.

ICYMI: Trump breaks silence over abortion rift with Melania

16:45 , Kelly Rissman

Trump is returning to site of assassination attempt

16:07 , Kelly Rissman

On Saturday, the former president is set to head back to the Butler, Pennsylvania venue where a 20-year-old gunman tried to take his life.

One supporter was killed and two others were injured. Trump left with an ear wound — and a vow to return to the venue in the swing state soon.

His rally will see enhanced security and a cameo from billionaire Elon Musk.

Trump promised to pick up where he left off on July 13. He told a crowd in Erie, Pennsylvania earlier this week: “I think I’ll start the speech by saying, ‘As I was saying.’”

Who’s leading in the polls?

16:00 , Alicja Hagopian

In less than 32 days, Vice President Kamala Harris will go head-to-head with Donald Trump as Americans cast their votes in the 2024 election.

In a polling twist, Republican JD Vance has ridden the wave of success from the vice presidential debate against Tim Walz to see a significant boost in his favorability; which was previously at record-low levels.

Meanwhile, Harris maintains a narrow lead over Trump, but a new poll suggests that a growing number of Republicans may vote Democrat next month.

Just 1 percent of voters have said the debate changed their minds about how they will vote. So how will Harris and Trump fare in November?

Here’s the latest.

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

Another day, another fake celebrity endorsement

15:30 , Kelly Rissman

Donald Trump once again shared a false endorsement from a prominent figure on his Truth Social account.

Some may remember how the former president previously posted photos suggesting Taylor Swift had endorsed him.

Now, Trump’s account shared a message saying JPMorgan ChaseCEO Jamie Dimon has endorsed him.

Graig Graziosi has the full story.

After Taylor Swift fiasco, Trump again shares fake celebrity endorsement

Marjorie Taylor Greene says ‘they’ control the weather

15:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Is this the sequel to “Jewish Space Lasers”?

Controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that a mysterious “they” can control the weather after Hurricane Helene killed more than two dozen people in her state and a total of 200 across the US.

Greene, a Republican from Georgia, made the post on X late Thursday night: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

She did not elaborate on who “they” are.

Katie Hawkinson has the story.

Marjorie Taylor Greene says ‘they’ control the weather after Hurricane Helene

Watch: Liz Cheney mocks Trump’s fake tan

14:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Republican Liz Cheney mocks Donald Trump’s fake tan

Nude Trump statue appears again in new city after vanishing in Vegas

14:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A 43-foot tall nude effigy of Donald Trump has reportedly reappeared behind a marijuana dispensary in Arizona, after disappearing last week from beside a highway near Las Vegas.

Josh Marcus has the story of Trump on tour…

Nude Trump on tour: Naked statue appears again in new city after vanishing in Vegas

Coming up today: Elon Musk to join Trump at Butler campaign rally

13:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk has announced he will join Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday as the Republican presidential candidate returns to the scene of the July assassination attempt for the very first time.

The controversial tech billionaire turned staunch Trump ally announced his attendance in a post on X in the early hours of Friday morning.

“I will be there to support!” he wrote in response to a post from the former president promoting the “historic” event on Saturday.

Joe Sommerlad has the story.

Elon Musk to join Trump as he returns to scene of Butler assassination attempt

Trump refuses to release medical records

12:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Since Donald Trump first emerged on the scene of American politics in 2015, he has refused to provide a glimpse into his medical records.

If Trump, 78, succeeds in November, he will become the oldest person ever to serve as president, ousting the current record-holder, Joe Biden. When his potential second term ends, he will be 82 years old.

Despite his advanced age, Trump has refused to provide any glimpse into his records. When asked about his health in 2015, he provided a four-paragraph letter from his doctor, who claimed he would be the “healthiest person ever elected to the presidency.”

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Trump refuses to release medical records as he approaches 80

ICYMI: Liz Cheney dubs Trump ‘petty, vindictive and cruel’ as she campaigns with Harris

11:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday stood alongside former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney — one of the most conservative women to ever serve in Congress — to accept her endorsement in this year’s presidential election and warn of the dire consequences of re-electing Donald Trump to the White House.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Liz Cheney dubs Trump ‘petty, vindictive and cruel’ as she campaigns with Harris

10:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Bruce Springsteen claims Trump ‘most dangerous president candidate in a lifetime’

Citing Trump, Biden says he can’t guarantee election will be peaceful

09:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Citing his predecessor’s history of inciting violence, President Joe Biden on Friday warned that he could not guarantee that the coming presidential election and transition period would be a peaceful, as he made his first appearance in the White House press briefing room since taking office 1,353 days ago.

Asked if he has confidence that the 2024 election would be both free and fair as well as peaceful, Biden told reporters he has confidence that the November 5 election will be “free and fair” but he demurred on the latter, citing previous actions by his predecessor, former president Donald Trump.

“The things that Trump has said and the things that he said last time out when he didn’t like the outcome of the election were very dangerous,” Biden said.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Biden makes first appearance in White House briefing room as president

Democrats fear Netanyahu pushing Middle East war to influence US election

08:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats fear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating tensions in the Middle East in order to influence the outcome of the U.S. election.

This past week, Israel has increased its attack on Lebanon, targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, and vowed to make Iran “pay” for its recent missile attack.

Though the United States supports Israel and provides military aid, the recent escalation appears to be a defiant move against Democratic President Joe Biden who has long desired a ceasefire deal.

Ariana Baio reports.

Democrats fear Netanyahu is pushing his Middle East war to influence the US election

Why this week’s jobs numbers are very good news for Harris and Biden

07:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The US economy added 254,000 jobs in September, blowing past expectations after the Federal Reserve’s announcement that it would slash interest rates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number exceeded expectations from economists. Earlier in the week, ADP projected that the economy added 143,000 jobs in September.

The numbers are a boost to President Joe Biden, who is not seeking re-election. Biden touted the positive numbers in a statement on Friday.

Eric Garcia reports.

US jobs numbers blow past expectations as US economy adds 254,000 jobs

Retired New Jersey State Police trooper who stormed Capitol is sentenced to probation

06:30 , AP

A retired New Jersey State Police trooper who stormed the U.S. Capitol with a mob of Donald Trump supporters was sentenced to probation instead of prison on Friday, as the federal courts reached a milestone in the punishment of Capitol rioters.

Videos captured Michael Daniele, 61, yelling and flashing a middle finger near police officers guarding the Capitol before he entered the building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Read on…

Retired New Jersey State Police trooper who stormed Capitol is sentenced to probation

Republicans in Congress leave Helene victims hanging

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Thursday evening, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia tweeted: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

This is wholly unsurprising for Greene, the right-wing firebrand and conspiracymonger who once mused about the possibility of Jews controlling space lasers for the purpose of starting wildfires. The more surprising aspect is that it reflects the approach the Republican Party is taking generally to Hurricane Helene: rather than doing its job and offering concrete aid to people suffering from the devastation, GOP lawmakers are devolving into conspiracy theories and, like everything else, fearmongering about undocumented immigrants.

Continue reading…

Republicans in Congress leave Helene victims hanging

Nude Trump statue appears again in new city after vanishing in Vegas

03:30 , Oliver O’Connell

A 43-foot tall nude effigy of Donald Trump has reportedly reappeared behind a marijuana dispensary in Arizona, after disappearing last week from beside a highway near Las Vegas.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Nude Trump on tour: Naked statue appears again in new city after vanishing in Vegas

MAGA congressman seen in photo wearing blackface

02:30 , Oliver O’Connell

MAGA lawmaker Mike Lawler has been forced to apologize after a photo emerged of him wearing blackface at a Halloween college party.

The photo of the 38-year-old rising House star, published by The New YorkTimes, shows Lawler dressed as Michael Jackson at a party at Manhattan College in October 2006.

In the image, Lawler, who is in a close-run race to hold onto his seat, is sporting a red leather Thriller jacket and striking one of Jackson’s signature poses. His face has been visibly darkened.

James Liddell has the story.

MAGA rep in photo wearing blackface as part of Michael Jackson Halloween costume

Trump says he’ll set up an anti-woke task force in US military to monitor generals

02:04 , Josh Marcus

During a campaign event on Friday in North Carolina, Donald Trump said he would create a task force to monitor “woke generals” and eliminate diversity trainings in the military.

“They’re gone,” Trump told the crowd, referring to the generals.

The proposal came in response to a question from Matthew Lohmeier, a former F-15 pilot who was relieved of his command in Trump’s Space Force in 2021 after criticizing diversity and inclusion training on a conservative podcast.

More details in our full story.

Trump says he’ll set up an anti-woke task force in US military to monitor generals

Alyssa Farah Griffin gets emotional over Liz Cheney ‘speaking out’ against Trump

01:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Donald Trump aide-turned-TV presenter, has praised longtime Republican Liz Cheney for putting aside her “ambition” and “career” to endorse Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

On the latest episode of The View, co-host Griffin appeared to get emotional as she spoke out in awe of Cheney, who on Thursday (October 3) pledged her support of Vice President Harris.

“Liz Cheney is one of the people I admire most,” the former Pentagon Press Secretary, 35, said on the latest episode of the ABC talk show.

Inga Parkel has the story.

Alyssa Farah Griffin gets emotional over Liz Cheney ‘speaking out’ against Trump

Trump campaign encourages early voting again, even though it also hates that

01:00 , Josh Marcus

The Trump campaign is once again encouraging its supporters to vote early, despite Donald Trump’s regular attacks on mail-in voting.

This time, it was RNC co-chair Lara Trump who closed today’s North Carolina rally with a call for early votes.

So what does Trump actually think about early voting? Well, it depends on the day.

Trump is all over the place on ‘stupid’ early voting

JD Vance praises Marjorie Taylor Greene hours after she suggested Hurricane Helene was man-made

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:45 , Josh Marcus

Senator JD Vance had kind words for Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — just hours after she suggested that a mysterious “they” can control the weather and inflicted Hurricane Helene on Republican voters in Georgia and North Carolina.

Greene is well known for repeating nonsense conspiracy theories. She’s voiced her belief in “Jewish space lasers”and has been cozy with QAnon ideas both before and during her time in office.

She made her latest bizarre claim on X, this time concerning the weather.

“Yes, they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done,” Greene wrote.

Graig Graziosi reports.

JD Vance praises MTG hours after she suggested Hurricane Helene was man-made

Trump falsely claims he gave military the biggest pay raise

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:40 , Josh Marcus

During his North Carolina town hall on Friday, Donald Trump just claimed he gave the military the largest pay raise in its history.

In fact, in late 2023, it was Joe Biden who gave the military its largest basic pay raise in decades.

Trump and Anna Paulina Luna slam Harris on Hurricane Helene response

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:37 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump and Representative Anna Paulina Luna are both tearing into the Biden-Harris administration’s response to Hurricane Helene.

Trump claimed the response was the worst disaster response since Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, while Representative Luna baselessly accused federal officials of cutting off aid because conservative communities were among those that got hit by the storm.

In fact, Asheville, one of the cities facing the most storm destruction, is highly Democratic, and sits in a county that went for Joe Biden in 2020.

Stephen Colbert points out ‘weird word choice’ in Trump court filing

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Stephen Colbert has pointed out a “weird word choice” in special counsel Jack Smith’s latest court filing regarding Donald Trump in the federal election interference case.

The 165-page dossier, which was unsealed by a federal judge in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, alleges that Trump intentionally lied to voters, election officials, and even his vice president in a “desperate” effort to cling to power. It marks the most detailed case laid out by prosecutors to date, coming after the Supreme Court ruling granted him some immunity from criminal prosecution.

Kevin E G Perry reports on what word caught Colbert’s eye.

Stephen Colbert points out ‘weird word choice’ in Trump court filing

Did Kamala Harris really ‘lose’ thousands of migrant kids?

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:29 , Josh Marcus

Trump just brought up the now-familiar Republican claim that Kamala Harris lost hundreds of thousands of migrant kids on her watch.

As usual for the Trump campaign, the comment is related to a kernel of actual fact and a whole lot exagerration.

“300,000 children are missing during the Biden reign,” Trump said.

“Many of them are dead. Many of them are in sex slavery. Many of them are in slavery, period,” Trump continued.

Here’s the actual news that spawned this GOP smear, an inspector general report that found that hundreds of thousands of migrant children hadn’t appeared in removal proceedings because they hadn’t been immediately served with notices to appear.

Department of Homeland Security may have lost track of thousands of child migrants

Trump takes the stage in Fayetteville

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:22 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump is campaigning in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at the moment, an important appearance in a state still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene.

We’ll be following the latest live.

Why JD Vance kept making that face during the debate

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:16 , Josh Marcus

Vice Presidential contender JD Vance is opening up about that viral debate look in his first interview since he went head-to-head with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday.

Vance, the junior Republican senator from Ohio, and Walz, Democratic governor of Minnesota, debated each other in what is likely to be the last match-off before election day. Poll watchers declared the event essentially a tie. According to a CBS News poll, 42 percent of debate watchers said Vance won the debate, while 41 percent thought Walz emerged as the winner.

During a recent podcast recording, Vance addressed a snapshot of him from the event that’s now gone viral. In one moment, he’s seen looking into the TV cameras in what social media has called a Jim Halpert from The Office look.

Michelle Del Rey explains.

JD Vance talks viral debate reaction compared to meme from The Office

Cheney dubs Trump ‘petty, vindictive and cruel’ as she campaigns with Harris

Saturday 5 October 2024 00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday stood alongside former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney — one of the most conservative women to ever serve in Congress — to accept her endorsement in this year’s presidential election and warn of the dire consequences of re-electing Donald Trump to the White House.

In an unprecedented joint appearance with the former House GOP conference chair in Ripon, Wisconsin — the place where the Republican Party was first formed more than 150 years ago — Harris said upholding the US Constitution should be a “basic requirement” for seeking and holding the highest office in the United States.

Andrew Feinberg filed this report after last night’s event.

Liz Cheney dubs Trump ‘petty, vindictive and cruel’ as she campaigns with Harris

Harris campaign still keeping Uncommitted Movement at arm’s length

Friday 4 October 2024 23:55 , Josh Marcus

The Uncommitted Movement, a group which has pushed the Harris campaign and Biden administration to cut off military aid to Israel, appears to still not be finding purchase with the vice president.

That’s even as she visits Michigan, which is home to a large population of Palestinian-Americans, with reports Harris plans to meet with Arab-American leaders.

Here’s what Uncommitted leader Abbas Alawieh had to say about the situation this afternoon.

We’re hearing @VP will be meeting w/ Arab+Muslim groups supportive of her campaign. @uncommittedmvmt, though not invited, is glad our pressure is helping yield more engagement. What we need right now is for the @VP to specifically say that as president she will respect international humanitarian and U.S. law and stop sending the Israeli military weapons for war crimes. And we reiterate our longstanding request: meet with Palestinian & Lebanese American families whose loved ones have been killed using U.S. bombs this admin is sending Netanyahu.

Uncommitted lobbied the Democrats to feature a Palestinian-American at the DNC, a push that was ultimately unsuccessful.

Uncommitted delegates demand DNC give Palestinian speakers stage time

She escaped the religious sect she grew up in. Now she says Trump’s MAGA movement is eerily similar

Friday 4 October 2024 23:50 , Oliver O’Connell

A woman has drawn similarities between Donald Trump’s MAGA movement and the apocalyptic, religious sect she escaped from.

In the autumn of 1974, as former president Richard Nixon resigned and the US was still entrenched in the Vietnam War, Cyd Chartier and her parents were introduced to the fundamentalist religious organization The Move of God.

The Move was founded by Sam Fife after he was allegedly booted from the Baptist church for adultery.

As the sect’s enigmatic and autocratic leader – up until his death in 1979 – Fife wrote a Divine Order doctrine in 1974 in which he claimed God had put The Move in place as a “many-membered manchild to govern the world.”

Now, five decades after she joined the religious sect as a child, Chartier has spoken out about the eerie resemblances between the group and Trump’s loyal fanbase setting out to “make America great again.”

James Liddell has the story.

Woman compares religious sect she escaped to Trump’s MAGA movement

Why are people leaving Donald Trump’s rallies as he is still on stage?

Friday 4 October 2024 23:47 , Josh Marcus

One of Donald Trump’s favorite and most frequent boasts is about his rallies, and the size of the crowds he pulls in to see him speak.

Over the past months the former president has seemingly become more and more obsessed with attendance, as well as his ratings and other optics – so much so that it has become a target of jabs and jokes by the Democratic party.

However despite his claim that “nobody” leaves his rallies, made at a recent town hall event in Flint, Michigan, it seems that that is not quite true. In fact, scores of punters have been known, and seen on live broadcasts, to be leaving the events early.

Trump has appeared to become more frustrated and fixated with crowd size ever since Kamala Harris needled him over it during their presidential debate, when she suggested people leave early out of “exhaustion and boredom.”

Mike Bedigan has the story.

The real reason why people are leaving Donald Trump’s rallies as he is still on stage

The debate remark that keeps coming back to bite Trump

Friday 4 October 2024 23:35 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump gets away with saying a lot that most other politicians wouldn’t dream of, but there’s one comment that he can’t seem to get away from.

During the presidential debate with Kamala Harris, Trump said he has “concepts of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act, the signature Obama administration policy he spent years trying to repeal while in office.

Since then, the Harris campaign hasn’t let voters forget Trump is willing to axe a law that contains popular provisions like protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

“He said he quote has ‘concepts of a plan,’” Harris told the crowd today at her rally in Flint. “Concepts! Now you know I have said that I do believe he is an unserious man, and the consequences of him being president again are absolutely, critically serious.”

The audience loudly booed.

“Think about it,” Harris continued, “even on healthcare, he has concepts of a plan, so he’s going to threaten the health insurance of 45 million people in our country based on a concept? To take us back? Do you remember that, when insurance companies could deny people with pre-existing conditions?”

The Harris campaign has repeatedly attacked Trump over his vague stance on Obamacare.

Harris campaign launches ad blitz attacking Trump’s ‘concepts of a plan’

Harris dings Trump’s ‘concept of a plan’ evasion during campaign event with Oprah

As expected, Harris goes after Trump on labor issues

Friday 4 October 2024 23:19 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris is using her Flint, Michigan, rally today to go after Donald Trump on his labor record.

“When it came to building the cars of the future, Donald Trump sat on the sidelines and let China dominate,” she told the crowd. “Then he talk down to American workers, saying we can’t compete with Chinese workers.

“And make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend of labor,” the vice president continued. “He encouraged automakers to move their plants out of Michigan so they could pay their workers less. When the UAW [United Auto Workers union] went on strike to demand higher wages that they deserved, Donald trump webnt to a non-union shop, don’t you forget.”

Here’s the story she’s talking about.

Did Trump fake union turnout at his Michigan rally?

Both candidates have been visiting Michigan to try to prove their pro-labor, auto industry bona fides, with Harris touting the Biden administration’s support for EVs.

Watch LIVE: Kamala Harris speaks in Flint, Michigan

Friday 4 October 2024 22:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump falsely claimed he was endorsed by Jamie Dimon — then didn’t seem to know anything about it

Friday 4 October 2024 22:50 , Oliver O’Connell

At 1.56pm ET today a post was made on Donald Trump’s Truth Social proclaiming that Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, had endorse him for president.

NBC News did some digging on X:

A search of X showed what appeared to be the earliest post from someone falsely claiming the Dimon endorsement, published from a verified account at 12:33 p.m. ET. That message was quickly echoed by other verified pro-Trump accounts, including some with large followings.

Dimon spokesman Joe Evangelisti quickly pushed back on the claim, telling CNBC: “Jamie Dimon has not endorsed anyone. He has not endorsed a candidate.”

Jake Traylor of NBC News was out on the campaign trail with the former president and asked about the alleged endorsement, to which the president replied: “I don’t know anything about it.”

He added: “Somebody put it up — no, I don’t know.”

Here’s that moment:

The question remains — who put it up? And why is it still almost four hours later?

Trump has thoughts on Cheney’s endorsement of Harris

Friday 4 October 2024 22:45 , Oliver O’Connell

And they’re pretty much what you were probably expecting.

Here’s the latest from Truth Social:

Has Liz Cheney, one of the dumber people in politics, ever looked at the horrible statements she’s made about Lyin’ Kamala Harris? Every view and policy is the exact opposite of what Cheney and her equally ridiculous father, who got us into the never ending Wars in the Middle East, have stated over the years. They’re being posted all over the internet, and Cheney looks even dumber than I thought she was – But I still say Kamala is worse!

Watch: Harris campaign launches new ad highlight Republican support

Friday 4 October 2024 22:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Cheney trolls Trump’s fake tan habit as she campaigns with Harris

Friday 4 October 2024 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Liz Cheney mocked Donald Trump’s use of bronzer on Thursday during a campaign appearance with Kamala Harris in Wisconsin, where the vice president formally accepted last month’s surprise endorsement from the Republican.

“I was a Republican even before Donald Trump started spray tanning,” Cheney told the crowd.

Josh Marcus reports.

Liz Cheney trolls Trump’s fake tan as she campaigns with Harris at birthplace of GOP

Trump dismisses jobs report, pushes tariffs, and says US being ‘poisoned’ by migrants

Friday 4 October 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell

In an interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, Donald Trump dismissed today’s strong jobs report, claiming illegal immigrants are getting the jobs.

Yet again making the case for his proposed high tariffs policy that economists have warned will mean higher prices for US consumers, Trump argued: “Our country was the richest when we were doing tariffs. This was in the 1880s and ’90 … McKinley was actually a great president. He was assassinated. Do you know why he was assassinated? Because he was charging all these countries money, probably.”

He appeared so enamored with McKinley he talked about him twice and again claimed that the US is on the verge of a 1929-style depression (which he has said before). The stock market is currently at record highs.

Trump went on to say the country is being “poisoned” by migrants and pushed the conspiracy theory that “they’re trying to get those people to vote” — it is illegal for non-citizens to vote.

Elon Musk has been donating to GOP-aligned groups for years

Friday 4 October 2024 22:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk was reportedly giving tens of millions of dollars to conservative political causes years before he made headlines this summer for creating a pro-Trump political action committee.

Beginning in 2022, the X billionaire funneled an estimated $60m to groups affiliated with former Trump adviser Stephen Miller and 2024 candidate and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Independent has contacted Musk, DeSantis, and Miller’s legal advocacy group for comment.

Josh Marcus reports.

Elon Musk has been sending millions of dollars to GOP-aligned groups for years

‘It’s a big scam’: The View’s Joy Behar accuses Melania Trump of lying about pro-abortion stance

Friday 4 October 2024 21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

The View hosts are not convinced by Melania Trump’s support for abortion rights put forth in the former First Lady’s new memoir.

Melania, 54, the wife of former president Donald Trump, made headlines this week after an excerpt from her forthcoming book was published by The Guardian.

“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” she writes in Melania. “A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”

Her pro-choice stance stands in stark contrast to her husband’s history of dismantling abortion protections. On The View on Thursday, co-host Joy Behar suggested it was all “a big scam.”

Inga Parkel reports.

The View’s Joy Behar accuses Melania Trump of lying about pro-abortion stance

Watch: Trump admits he lost Georgia in 2020 and hopes election will be ‘free and fair’

Friday 4 October 2024 21:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Magic Johnson to appear with Harris at Flint rally, report says

Friday 4 October 2024 21:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Washington correspondent for NBC News Yamiche Alcindor is reporting that NBA legend Magic Johnson will be at Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally in Flint, Michigan, this evening.

Watch: Trump perpetuates lie about Biden hurricane response and FEMA money

Friday 4 October 2024 21:12 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking in Evans, Georgia, Donald Trump baselessly claims there has been a terrible response to the hurricane from the White House and that there is money missing from FEMA that he falsely claims has been spent on migrants.

The White House response to those reports is included below.

Trump and Kemp share handshake in hurricane hit Georgia

Friday 4 October 2024 21:04 , Oliver O’Connell

Oklahoma’s school chief required Bibles in class but one seemed to meet his criteria…

Friday 4 October 2024 21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Over the summer, Oklahoma ordered its public schools to begin teaching the Bible in every classroom. Now the state is being criticized for seeking to buy potentially millions of dollars worth of Bibles, with requirements that only seem to match Bibles endorsed by members of the Trump family.

Josh Marcus reports on what can surely only be a coincidence… right?

Trump-endorsed Bibles seem to be only ones that fit new Oklahoma curriculum mandate

Watch: Vance says ‘bless your heart’ in response to 2020 election rigging question

Friday 4 October 2024 20:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Republicans in Congress leave Helene victims hanging

Friday 4 October 2024 20:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

On Thursday evening, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia tweeted: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

This is wholly unsurprising for Greene, the right-wing firebrand and conspiracymonger who once mused about the possibility of Jews controlling space lasers for the purpose of starting wildfires. The more surprising aspect is that it reflects the approach the Republican Party is taking generally to Hurricane Helene: rather than doing its job and offering concrete aid to people suffering from the devastation, GOP lawmakers are devolving into conspiracy theories and, like everything else, fearmongering about undocumented immigrants.

Continue reading…

Republicans in Congress leave Helene victims hanging

Trump and Kemp receive joint briefing on hurricane damage in Georgia

Friday 4 October 2024 20:37 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Fox News guest says not a single red flag in today’s jobs report

Friday 4 October 2024 20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Is Netanyahu is pushing his Middle East war to influence US election? Democrats fear so

Friday 4 October 2024 20:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats fear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating tensions in the Middle East in order to influence the U.S. election.

This past week, Israel has increased its attack on Lebanon, targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, and vowed to make Iran “pay” for its recent missile attack.

Democratic Senator Christ Murphy, of Connecticut told CNN he fears Netanyahu is being strategic in launching attacks right before the November election.

Ariana Baio reports.

Democrats fear Netanyahu is pushing his Middle East war to influence the US election

Watch: JD Vance responds to Melania Trump backing abortion rights

Friday 4 October 2024 20:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Biden says he can’t guarantee election will be peaceful

Friday 4 October 2024 20:05 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden on Friday warned that he could not guarantee that the coming presidential election and transition period would be a peaceful one during his first appearance in the White House press briefing room since taking office 1,353 days ago.

Asked if he has confidence that the 2024 election would be both free and fair as well as peaceful, Biden told reporters he has confidence that the November 5 election will be “free and fair” but he demurred on the latter, citing previous actions by his predecessor, former president Donald Trump.

“The things that Trump has said and the things that he said last time out when he didn’t like the outcome of the election were very dangerous,” Biden said.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Biden makes first appearance in White House briefing room as president

Watch: Biden jokes about being back in race

Friday 4 October 2024 19:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden asked whether Netanyahu is delaying diplomatic agreement to influence US election

Friday 4 October 2024 19:27 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden was asked in the White House briefing room whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was delaying a diplomatic agreement in the Gaza conflict to influence the US election.

The president responded: “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. … And whether [Netanyahu is] trying to influence the election or not, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on that.”