Early voting underway in Georgia as judge makes ruling about certification
Early voting gets underway in the battleground state of Georgia today. With just three weeks until the election, Georgia remains a big prize with 16 electoral votes.
Donald Trump will be in Atlanta on Tuesday night. He will be speaking at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
Georgia is a key state in the presidential election. Joe Biden won the state in 2020 by 12,670 votes. The result prompted then-President Donald Trump to unsuccessfully challenge the results in court.
In Georgia on Tuesday, a Fulton County judge ruled that certifying elections is a required duty of county election boards and they’re not allowed to refuse the results based on suspicion of miscounts or fraud.
Recent polling shows the race is a dead heat in Georgia with Trump favored in surveys when it comes to issues, such as the economy and immigration. Vice President Kamala Harris scores better on protecting democracy and abortion.
Harris is slated to be in Atlanta on Saturday for a campaign rally.
Walz walks back call to abolish Electoral College, lines up with Harris campaign
Minnesota Gov. and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, D, walked back his recent comments in support of abolishing the Electoral College. In a recent interview with ABC News, Walz clarified that his position is in line with Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, which does not support replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote system.
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Walz originally voiced his support for eliminating the Electoral College during a campaign event hosted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D. His remarks sparked controversy, leading to questions about whether his views were consistent with those of the Harris-Walz campaign.
In the interview, Walz stated that his earlier comments did not reflect the campaign’s official position.
“The campaign’s position is clear,” Walz said. “Their position, and my position, is to make sure that everybody understands their vote, no matter what state they’re in, matters.”
When asked directly if he and Harris disagreed on the issue, Walz said he had discussed the matter in the past but reiterated that he stands by the campaign’s position.
“She’s been very clear on this,” Walz said in the interview. “And the campaign’s position is my position.”
The clarification comes amid other moments on the campaign trail where Walz has had to walk back or clarify statements, including questions regarding his military tenure, family planning decisions and his past as a high school football coach.
Political observers suggest these missteps could be exploited by opponents as the race heats up. Some analysts note that Walz’s occasional stumbles could pose challenges for the Harris-Walz ticket as they head into the final stretch of the election season.
Despite national polling showing that 63% of Americans favor a popular vote system over the Electoral College, the Harris-Walz campaign remains focused on securing the necessary 270 electoral votes to win in November.
VP nominee Walz supports national popular vote over Electoral College
Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz recently expressed support for abolishing the Electoral College in favor of a national popular vote. Speaking at a fundraiser hosted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Walz emphasized that while many share this sentiment, the likelihood of seeing such a change in the current political landscape remains slim.
“I think all of us know the Electoral College needs to go,” Walz said. “We need a national popular vote, but that’s not the world we live in.”
The system, established by the framers of the Constitution as a compromise between electing the president by Congress or through a direct popular vote, produced controversial outcomes in recent elections.
In both the 2000 and 2016 elections, the Electoral College awarded the presidency to candidates who lost the popular vote, raising questions about the fairness and modern relevance of the system.
Critics argue that the Electoral College allows presidential candidates to focus their campaigns on a few key battleground states, neglecting large parts of the country where outcomes are considered predictable.
Meanwhile, defenders of the system said it ensures that smaller states, which could be overlooked in a national popular vote, have a voice in presidential elections.
A significant movement has gained traction in recent years to work around the Electoral College without changing the Constitution. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among a growing number of states to allocate their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of the state’s own outcome.
Currently, 17 states and the District of Columbia have signed on to the pact, but it will only go into effect once enough states have joined to represent at least 270 electoral votes, the number needed to win the presidency.
Public support for moving away from the Electoral College is strong. A Pew Research poll found that 63% of Americans favor a shift to the popular vote, though support varies significantly along party lines. Democrats are overwhelmingly in favor of the change, while Republicans are more divided on the issue, with some arguing that the Electoral College serves to balance the interests of smaller and rural states.
Since 1888, only two U.S. presidents have won the White House without securing the popular vote: George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump in 2016.
Despite the increasing push for reform, political analysts caution that significant changes to the Electoral College are unlikely to happen in the near future. For now, the Electoral College remains a deeply entrenched part of U.S. elections.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Despite Trump push, Nebraska will not be winner-take-all for 2024 election
Nebraska will remain a state that splits its Electoral College votes in the upcoming presidential election. An effort to change that system to a winner-take-all, appears to have failed in the state Legislature.
State Sen. Mike McDonnell, R-Omaha, released a statement saying he opposed the move within two months of the election and that now is not the right time to make such as change. Instead, McDonnell urged Nebraska’s governor and Legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution next year, which would give voters the final say on how their electoral votes are split.
McDonnell’s move is significant because, at the urging of former President Donald Trump, Republican leaders in Nebraska have been trying to change the way the state awards its five electoral college votes.
Right now, Nebraska awards two to the winner of the popular vote and the other three are divided based on the results in each congressional district. However, Republicans would have to muster up a two-thirds majority in the Legislature, in a special session, to change the state law and the Electoral College system within months of the election.
With polls showing the presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris extremely close, pundits are running various scenarios of what would happen if one candidate winds up winning 269 electoral votes and the other 268, with Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District hanging in the balance.
In that case, CD-2, as it is commonly referred to, could either determine who gets to the magic number of 270 and become president-elect or leave the Electoral College in a 269-to-269 tie. In that case, the final decision would go to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Republicans want to change how Nebraska awards electoral votes
Nebraska Republicans want to give all five of the state’s electoral votes to the winner of the state’s presidential popular vote this November. Currently, Nebraska is one of only two states that awards two electoral votes to the winner of the state-wide popular vote and the rest based on who wins in each congressional district.
Nebraska began splitting its votes in 1992. Since the change, the votes have been split twice, once in 2008 and again in 2020.
The state’s congressional delegation wrote a letter to Gov. Jim Pillen, R, and Assembly Speaker John Arch, R, urging them to return to the winner-take-all system.
It’s time to return Nebraska to winner-take-all. The Nebraska delegation stands with @TeamPillen and Speaker Arch.
“Senators and governors are elected by the state as a whole because they represent all of the people of Nebraska equally, and the state should speak with a united voice in presidential elections as well,” the all Republican delegation wrote.
KOLN TV in Lincoln reported Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., met with Nebraska’s governor and about two dozen Republican legislators in an attempt to convince them to make the change. When asked, Graham confirmed the meeting and said he was invited by Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and denied that he went at the behest of Donald Trump.
“I hope the people in Nebraska will understand this may come down to a single electoral vote. And I just don’t believe a Harris presidency is good for Nebraska. I don’t think it’s good for foreign policy interests of America,” Graham told reporters.
According to the Nebraska Examiner, Gov. Pillen would only call a special session if he had 33 or more firm votes in favor of the change, so they can overcome a promised filibuster. As of now, they are a few votes short and State Sen. Tom Brewer, R, told the outlet, “I think the chances are very remote.”
Lawmakers in Maine, the only other state with split electoral votes, are monitoring Nebraska, regardless of how remote the senator says those chances may be.
In 2020, four of Nebraska’s electoral votes went to Donald Trump, one went to Joe Biden. In Maine, it was the opposite; three went to Biden, one went to Trump.
So Maine’s House Majority Leader Maureen Terry, D, says her state would also switch to winner-takes-all if Nebraska does, to cancel out the expected additional electoral vote for Trump.
Terry said in a statement obtained by the Nebraska Examiner, “If Nebraska’s Republican governor and Republican-controlled Legislature were to change their electoral system this late in the cycle in order to unfairly award Donald Trump an additional electoral vote, I think the Maine Legislature would be compelled to act.”
Suspicious packages allegedly targeting election officials found in 6 states
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Postal Service (USPS) said that they are investigating why and who sent suspicious packages containing powder to election officials in at least six states on Monday, Sept. 16, which included Oklahoma, Tennessee, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. In most cases, the material appears to be harmless.
Oklahoma officials said the white powder sent to their offices contained flour. Meanwhile, Wyoming official said that the results of the type of substance sent to officials are still pending.
Suspicious mail also forced the evacuation of offices in Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. In Nebraska, a return address was listed as “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army.”
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said that the situation was resolved “thanks to the swift action taken by our staff members, law enforcement and other first responders.”
Evnen said he had notified the U.S. Elections Divisions to warn other states about any incoming suspicious mail.
The latest scares come less than two months before the November election. Last November, suspicious letters were sent to election officials and government buildings in a handful of states as well. Some letters reportedly contained fentanyl and delayed the counting of ballots in some elections.
This year, offices nationwide have increased security in the wake of threats following the 2020 election and false claims it was “rigged.” In Cobb County, Georgia, where a tight race is expected, sheriff’s deputies will be at early voting locations and panic buttons are installed at the election office.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana, Francine is on the move. We have the latest track. And the mother of the 14-year-old suspect in last week’s deadly school shooting in Georgia apologizes in an open letter to the victims’ families. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
Francine has weakened to a tropical storm, hours after it made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The storm is now trekking over Mississippi.
Power outages have left more than 350,000 Louisiana residents in the dark and flash flood warnings are still in effect in parts of the state, as the storm batters parts of Mississippi with 70mph winds.
In Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, the powerful storm brought down power lines, snapped trees, and caused flooding. Partial 911 outages were also reported in areas impacted by the storm. Wireless companies have said they’re working on the issue.
High winds and a potentially dangerous storm surge from a now weakened Francine are expected to also continue into Mississippi and Alabama Thursday, Sept. 12, with the potential for deadly tornadoes and flash flooding as well.
According to the National Weather Service, Francine is expected to continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, downgrading to a tropical cyclone by Friday, Sept. 13, as it moves across the south.
Mother of Georgia school shooting suspect apologizes to families in letter
One week after a school shooting in Georgia left two students and two teachers dead, the 14-year-old suspect’s mother has now come forward. She penned an open letter apologizing to victims’ families that was first obtained by CNN.
Marcee Gray is the mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been arrested and charged with murder in the Apalachee High School shooting. This week, we also learned she made a phone call to the school the morning of the shooting, just moments before the gunfire.
In her open letter, Marcee Gray said she is “sorry from the bottom of my heart” to the parents and families impacted. She also said if she could take the place of the two students who died she would “without a second thought.”
While offering her condolences, she also wrote that her son Colt is “not a monster. He is my oldest baby.” She asked the community for prayers while offering her own.
His mother’s letter comes after it was reported Colt sent her a text message the morning of the shooting, saying only three words: “I’m sorry, mom.”
Marcee Gray said she called the school to warn of “an extreme emergency” at 9:50 a.m. ET last Wednesday, Sept. 4, and asked school officials to go get her son. Thirty minutes later, police responded to reports of the school shooting.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin, has also been charged in connection with the deadly shooting. He faces two second-degree murder charges, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of child cruelty. The next court hearing for Colt and Colin Gray is set for Dec. 4.
Trump, Biden, Harris come together for 9/11 memorial event
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump all marked 23 years since 9/11 together. Trump and Harris could be seen shaking hands ahead of the annual memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York on Wednesday, just hours after their first debate.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was also in attendance.
After the Ground Zero ceremony, the candidates went their separate ways. Trump and Vance visited a New York City firehouse, and Biden and Harris went to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Trump also visited the memorial later in the day.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, marked the somber anniversary at a 9/11 volunteer event in his home state.
Secret Service to increase security for Jan. 6 electoral vote counting
As Election Day nears, the Secret Service has announced there will be increased security during Congress’ counting and certification of electoral votes. The beefed-up security is a precaution after the riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
The designation unlocks federal, state and local resources. The Secret Service will be leading the planning of the event.
The counting and certification of electoral votes will take place on Jan. 6, 2025.
67 million Americans watched Tuesday’s debate
More than 67 million Americans tuned in for the first debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris Tuesday. That was more viewers than the 51 million who watched the debate between Trump and President Biden in June.
However, it’s still far fewer people compared to modern general election debates, like the one in 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Trump that drew in 84 million viewers.
Tuesday’s debate marked the first time Americans got to see Harris and Trump go head-to-head. It’s still up in the air if there will be a second debate between the two.
Campbell Soup Company changing its name after 155 years
Campbell’s soup has been a staple in American kitchens for more than a hundred years. Now, after 155 years in business, the company is changing its name — slightly.
Its dropping “soup” from their official title and re-branding as The Campbell’s Company. That’s because instead of just soup, the company owns other iconic American eats like Goldfish, Cape Cod, and Pepperidge Farm.
Could the US see a Trump-Harris White House following the 2024 election?
The 2024 presidential race could lead to former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House if there is a tie in the Electoral College. Looking at a hypothetical scenario, battleground states and states without a “winner-take-all” electoral law could be the deciding factor — particularly Nebraska, a typically Republican state.
In 2020, President Joe Biden won swings states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia. If Arizona and Georgia switch to supporting Trump in the 2024 election, it brings the total electoral vote to 276 to 262 for Biden.
However, if Nevada switches to support Trump, where he is currently leading in several polls, it then it changes the vote to 270 to 268 — still for Biden.
This is where Nebraska becomes a key state. It is one of two states that doesn’t have a winner-take-all electoral law. It is generally a deep red state, but the district that houses Omaha went blue in 2020, leading to a 4-1 split of delegates. If there is no split in the 2024 election, with Trump getting all five delegates, that would lead to a 269 to 269 tie in the Electoral College.
The House of Representatives is then given the task of electing a president. Each state, no matter the amount of representatives, only gets one vote. Whoever reaches 26 votes wins the presidency. Republicans currently have a narrow majority in the House, but there is a chance the 2024 congressional elections could change that majority.
In this hypothetical scenario, if Republicans maintain their majority and vote in Trump, whoever he chose as vice president is not automatically given the position.
The Senate elects a vice president in the case of an electoral tie. Democrats would need to maintain their majority in the November elections, allowing them to elect Harris for the job, resulting in a Trump-Harris White House.
This shows just how close the 2024 election could be and sheds light on how impactful elections outside the presidential one are this year.
