We recap the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. And SpaceX launches four private citizens into space for one historic mission. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump go on the attack in presidential debate
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris met for their first — and potentially only — debate Tuesday night, Sept. 10. The two presidential candidates were asked questions about the economy, abortion, immigration, Jan. 6, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and more.
Following a handshake, the candidates went head-to-head for about 90 minutes in Philadelphia, trying to win over any voters who were left undecided less than two months away from Election Day.
On the economy, Harris said, “I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people. And that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy. Because here’s the thing: We know that we have a shortage of homes and housing, and the cost of housing is too expensive for far too many people. We know that young families need support to raise their children. And I intend on extending a tax cut for those families of $6,000, which is the largest child tax credit that we have given in a long time.”
Trump said, “Look, we’ve had a terrible economy because inflation has, which is really known as a country buster. It breaks up countries. We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before, probably the worst in our nation’s history. We were at 21%. But that’s being generous because many things are 50, 60, 70 and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago.”
On abortion, Trump said, “For 52 years, they’ve been trying to get Roe v. Wade into the states. And through the genius and heart and strength of six Supreme Court justices, we were able to do that. Now, I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. I believe strongly in it. Ronald Reagan did also.”
Harris responded, “The majority of Americans believe in a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. And that is why in every state where this issue has been on the ballot in red and blue states, both, the people of America have voted for freedom.”
But it wasn’t always policy that was the subject. Both candidates took jabs at one another throughout the debate, including on the attendance at rallies.
“And he’s going to talk about immigration a lot tonight, even when it’s not the subject that is being raised. And I’m going to actually do something really unusual and I’m going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trump’s rallies because it’s a really interesting thing to watch,” Harris said. “You will see during the course of his rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter. He will talk about windmills cause cancer. And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. And I will tell you, the one thing you will not hear him talk about is you. You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your- and your desires. And I’ll tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first. And I pledge to you that I will.”
“First, let me respond as to the rallies,” Trump said. “She said people start leaving. People don’t go to her rallies. There’s no reason to go. And the people that do go, she’s busing them in and paying them to be there and then showing them in a different light. So she can’t talk about that. People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics. That’s because people want to take their country back. Our country is being lost. We’re a failing nation. And it happened three and a half years ago.”
After the back and forth throughout the debate, the candidates each continued to make their case and claimed victory.
The Harris campaign posted on X the debate was “fun” and to “do it again in October.” While Trump posted on Truth Social saying he thought it was “my best debate ever– especially because it was three on-one,” in a reference to the two ABC News moderators.
Fox News has reportedly sent out an invite to both candidates inviting them for a second debate on their network.
Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris after watching debate
Right after the debate wrapped up, the Harris-Walz ticket received a major celebrity endorsement. Taylor Swift posted on social media her support for the Democratic ticket, saying Harris “fights for the rights and causes” she believes in.
Swift signed her post as “childless cat lady” a reference to comments made by Trump’s running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance years ago.
Swift has previously been vocal in her support for Democrats in elections at the local and presidential level. Swift encouraged her 280 million followers to do their research and that “the choice is theirs.”
Presidential candidates commemorate 9/11
It’s been 23 years since the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania killed nearly 3,000 people. Remembrance events are being held all across the country Wednesday, Sept. 11.
On the campaign trail, both presidential candidates will commemorate the tragic day in our nation’s history.
Vice President Harris and former President Trump are both scheduled to visit Ground Zero in New York Wednesday.
Harris, who will be paying her respects alongside President Joe Biden, will also visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.
After Trump visits Ground Zero, he’s set to visit a fire station in New York City before also traveling to Shanksville.
FAA investigating after Delta plane clips another aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Delta Air Lines plane clipped the tail of another aircraft at the world’s busiest airport Tuesday. Both plans were on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta taxiing for takeoff when it happened.
One of the planes had its wingtip severed from the aircraft in the incident. No one was hurt but both planes were damaged, and passengers had to get off.
Hurricane Francine expected to make landfall in Louisiana Wednesday
Louisiana residents are hunkering down as Hurricane Francine, now a Category 1 storm, is expected to make landfall there Wednesday. It’s expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds with it.
Meteorologists say the storm is still gaining strength and is likely to turn into a Category 2 before making landfall in Louisiana then moving north into Mississippi. However, they also expect Francine to weaken quickly as it moves inland.
SpaceX launches 4 astronauts to conduct first private spacewalk
SpaceX launched four astronauts into space on Tuesday for a historic mission. The Dragon capsule lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center carrying a billionaire entrepreneur — who financed the trip — along with a retired Air Force pilot, and two SpaceX engineers.
The foursome is set to conduct the first spacewalk by private citizens.
It took about nine and a half minutes for the capsule to reach orbit. A few minutes later, the capsule separated from its support trunk revealing a spectacular view of the Earth from the onboard cameras.
The spacewalk is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12 — day three of the five-day mission — and is expected to last about 20 minutes.
