Supreme Court to decide whether to ban sweet-flavored vapes
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Monday, Dec. 2, on whether to reinstate a federal ban on sweet-flavored vaping products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to regulate the products as another step in its effort to fight teen nicotine addiction.
Over the past few years, the FDA has denied more than a million applications to market candy- and fruit-flavored e-liquids after the agency said teen e-cigarette use saw an “epidemic level” surge in 2019.
While advocates say the FDA’s crackdown does appear to have played a big role in reducing youth nicotine use to its lowest level in a decade, concerns still remain over the availability of flavored products.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sweet-flavored products remain the most popular among the nearly 2 million American high schoolers who vape. That fact has the nonprofit concerned over what would happen if the Supreme Court rules against the FDA.
The case stems from a Dallas-based vaping company that said the FDA unfairly changed its approval requirements without warning, effectively setting its applications up for rejection. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, overturning the FDA’s decision and allowing the company to continue selling its products.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to federal rules requiring graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging and advertisements. The FDA issued the mandate in March 2020, but its implementation has been delayed due to ongoing legal challenges.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional
Louisiana’s controversial new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools will not be going into effect come January, after all. A federal judge temporarily blocked it Tuesday, Nov. 12, while the case — brought by a coalition of parents — plays out.
That judge called the law “unconstitutional” and barred the state from enforcing it. The law would have required a copy of the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school and university classrooms throughout the state.
Now, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office must notify all schools it’s been ruled unconstitutional.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she expects the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which last weighed in on the issue in 1980. The justices then ruled 5 to 4 that Kentucky’s posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional.
However, the makeup of the Supreme Court has changed since then. In 1980, it was split almost evenly between conservative and liberal justices with one centrist who usually ended up the swing vote. Now, conservatives hold a majority in the Supreme Court.
Supporters of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in public schools because they are historical and part of the foundation of United States law.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
From a new border czar to an EPA administrator to national security adviser, team Trump is taking shape. We’ve got a look at the latest names. And shareholders are suing a major restaurant chain accused of skimping on the portions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Trump fills more White House roles with Rubio, Noem among likely next picks
We are getting a clearer picture of what the incoming Trump administration will look like come January. After naming his chief of staff, border czar, and United Nations ambassador, the president-elect filled additional key roles on Monday, Nov. 11, as more names surface for other cabinet positions.
President-elect Trump tapped Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff of policy. Miller was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration and is a staunch supporter of deporting undocumented immigrants.
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin is Trump’s pick for Environmental Protection Agency administrator. He also ran for governor in 2022.
In a post on X, Zeldin wrote, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.
We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water. https://t.co/FQk9XPdgcw
Some of the other names who will reportedly be joining Trump’s White House include Florida Congressman and retired Army National Guard officer Mike Waltz as national security adviser. The war veteran would be responsible for briefing the president on important national security issues and coordinating with various agencies.
Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly in line for the position of secretary of state. Once formally announced, the Florida lawmaker would be the first Latino to serve as America’s top diplomat.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a porn actor who claimed she had sex with trump to keep quiet. Now, Judge Juan Merchan must decide whether to uphold the conviction, order a new trial or dismiss the indictment entirely.
In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts,” though they did not specify what those acts include. While Trump was a private citizen when the so-called “hush money” payment was made, he had taken office by the time his then-lawyer Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the payment.
The judge was set to make the ruling in September but put it off to “avoid any appearance” he was trying to sway this year’s election.
If the verdict is upheld sentencing is set for Nov. 26.
Republicans make more gains as control of the US House remains undecided
That makes 214 Republican seats to the Democrats’ 203 with 18 races yet to be called. The magic number for either party is 218.
Of those still undecided races, 11 are considered key to controlling the House. Republicans currently lead the vote count in eight of them.
That puts Republicans within striking distance of controlling both chambers of Congress after the GOP flipped the Senate in last week’s election.
Democrats did score a win in the Senate Monday, though, with Ruben Gallego defeating Trump ally Kari Lake to become Arizona’s first Latino senator.
The Senate race in Pennsylvania remains the only one uncalled, though Republican Dave McCormick does have the slight lead over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. McCormick declared victory, and some Republicans already said they’d to host him in Washington on Wednesday. Nov. 13, for orientation. Casey, however, said he wants every vote counted.
New Zealand’s leader apologizes to victims of state-run, faith-based abuse
New Zealand’s prime minister formally apologized to the country’s parliament Tuesday for the widespread abuse, torture and neglect of hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults in state, foster and faith-based care.
It comes after a scathing report released in July detailed seven decades of “unimaginable” abuse, which disproportionately impacted the Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people.
“Today, I stand before you as the representative of not only this government but of all the governments that have gone before us to offer a formal and unreserved apology for the abuse that you suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said. “For many of you it changed the course of your life, and for that, the government must take responsibility.”
The report on the six-year investigation called the findings a “national disgrace” and for the first time, New Zealand’s government acknowledged the issues. Luxon said his administration is working on more than two dozen of the 138 recommendations that came from that report.
Richard Allen found guilty in 2017 murders of 2 teenage girls
Allen was arrested in 2022, five years after investigators found 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German dead near a trail.
The jury spent 19 hours deliberating before coming to its verdict on Monday.
The Associated Press has reported Allen could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Dec. 20.
Shareholders sue Chipotle over damage from portion size controversy
Shareholders have sued the restaurant chain Chipotle after it failed to disclose the number of locations that were cutting portion sizes.
In the proposed class action suit filed in California Monday, shareholders claim the chain failed to disclose that customers were unhappy with the inconsistent portion sizes of its burritos and burrito bowls. It alleges once customers spoke out on social media and Chipotle had to correct the matter, it hurt margins causing the stock price to fall.
Shareholders are seeking unspecified damages for anyone who bought into the company between Feb. 8 and Oct. 29, 2024.
The suit was filed on the same day Chipotle named Interim Chief Executive Officer Scott Boatwright its permanent CEO.
As the most senior liberal voice on a conservative-majority Supreme Court, Sotomayor reportedly dismissed suggestions of stepping aside to allow President Joe Biden to nominate a successor.
“She’s in great health, and the court needs her now more than ever,” a close associate said.
Speculation about her future comes amid concerns from Democrats about a repeat of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s decision not to retire during President Barack Obama’s administration, a choice that ultimately allowed then-President Donald Trump to further shift the ideological balance of the court.
The biggest difference is age. Ginsburg was 80 in 2013 and Sotomayor is 70.
However, with Republicans set to take control of the Senate in January, it is unlikely there would be sufficient time to confirm a replacement.
Sotomayor, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, continues to be an active and vocal participant in the court’s proceedings. She has frequently spoken publicly about the emotional challenges of being in the minority on the court. Speaking at Harvard in May, Sotomayor admitted to moments of “deep sadness” over court decisions but emphasized the importance of resilience, saying she chooses to “get up and fight some more.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also weighed in, calling the idea of pressuring Sotomayor to retire “not sensible” during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Harris, Trump look to win the West with 4 days until Election Day
As the presidential campaign heads into the final weekend, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris swing through the western U.S. to sway undecided voters. And crews in Spain search for survivors after a year’s worth of rain fell in just hours. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with days until Election Day
With just four days to go until Election Day and more than 65 million ballots already cast, the candidates are making their final stops on the campaign trail. On Thursday, Oct. 31, both nominees visited the western United States to make their case.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke at campaign events in New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona, while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held rallies in Arizona and Nevada.
At an event in Glendale, Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump repeated his stance of there being “an enemy within” the United States — a comment Harris has criticized in her speeches.
“If you have a smart president, somebody that knows what’s happening, you’re going to be fine,” Trump said, “But we do have an enemy from within. We have some very bad people, and those people are also very dangerous. They would like to take down our country. They’d like to have our country be a nice communist country or a fascist in any way they can, and we have to be careful of that.”
In Henderson, Nevada, Trump said Harris would not be able to handle the presidency, calling her “a child” when it comes to understanding the economy. He also announced former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be working on “health and women’s health” if he’s reelected.
While in Reno, Nevada, Harris continued her warnings to supporters about another Trump presidency, calling trump “increasingly unstable” and “obsessed with revenge.”
“In less than 90 days, either he or I will be sitting in the Oval Office, and listen, here’s what we can imagine, right, we’ve all seen on TV — you’ve seen the Oval Office — just visually imagine what that day will be,” Harris said. “Because, if elected, Donald Trump on day one would walk into that office with an enemies list. When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list on behalf of you.”
The vice president told the crowd that people are “exhausted with Trump’s rhetoric.” She also appealed to female voters, criticizing Trump’s comments that he would “protect women” saying, “Trump does not respect the freedom of women.”
Harris’ Nevada rally was interrupted by protesters at times, but the vice president said it was “OK” and “we’re fighting for the right to be heard.”
Friday, Nov. 1, both candidates will hold rallies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the final weekend of the 2024 election cycle begins.
‘Avengers,’ LeBron endorse Harris; Jake Paul backs Trump
Some famous faces put their names behind their pick for president on Thursday. Members of the cast of Marvel’s “Avengers” film franchise assembled to show their support for Vice President Harris while YouTube star Jake Paul backed former president Trump.
Actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and others gathered together in a social media video supporting Harris. NBA superstar LeBron James also backed Harris in a post on X saying, “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. Vote Kamala Harris.”
Social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul put his endorsement behind the Republican nominee. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Paul laid out his reasons and asked his followers to do their own research.
“Regardless of your emotion, I’m just presenting you with facts,” he said. “Do I think Donald Trump is a perfect human being? No. I don’t think anybody on this planet is a perfect human being, myself included. To be frank, I’m not concerned with Donald Trump’s ‘character flaws’ or what he’s done in the past. What I’m concerned with is how good a president is he, because that is his job and that’s what’s going to affect the people of this nation.”
Why I Am Not Suspending My Campaign Let me be clear: Despite the immense pressures and intense assaults on my campaign and character, I intend to hold the torch and finish this race – to and after November 5th! The escalating corruption of the US political system and the… pic.twitter.com/CQrcOTX9vi
West accused the Pennsylvania secretary of state of improperly keeping him off the ballot for not filing all the required paperwork. The state’s top court agreed with the secretary of state, but a federal judge said while it does seem like Pennsylvania’s rules make it harder for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, it’s too close to Election Day to re-print ballots and re-test election machines without increasing the risk of error.
Flash floods claimed the lives of at least 158 people, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone. Spain’s minister for territorial policy said Thursday dozens of people are still missing but they don’t have an exact number of how many.
Army specialist charged in female soldier’s murder at Missouri base
Her body was found in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri last week. Rancy, who’s with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is also charged with obstruction.
The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, which is the primary federal law enforcement agency of the United States Army, is overseeing the probe.
The department has not specified a motive for the killing. It is also unclear if Rancy and Roque knew each other.
OpenAI adds search and summary function to ChatGPT
Google has some new competition. OpenAI has added a search function to its artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT.
Paying subscribers are now able to activate a mode on ChatGPT that makes it respond to queries by searching the internet for the latest information and summarizing what it finds. The search capabilities are powered by Microsoft’s Bing search engine and will draw information from articles by publishers OpenAI has deals with, including The Wall Street Journal owner News Corp. and the Associated Press.
While this function is only for paying subscribers for now, OpenAI said it plans to bring search to all users eventually.
Supreme Court ruling on VA voter purge spurs civil rights election concerns
A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court raised concerns among civil rights leaders and election watchdogs. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority blocked a lower court order that would have reinstated approximately 1,600 individuals who were purged from Virginia’s registered voter rolls.
These voters had been removed under an executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, which mandated daily purges of individuals who self-identified as noncitizens. The Justice Department, alongside civil rights and immigration groups, filed lawsuits, arguing that the policy was discriminatory.
Damon Hewitt of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights said these actions were “highly coordinated, with a specific aim in mind.” Others claimed the decision could set a precedent for broader post-election challenges in the future.
Youngkin praised the Supreme Court’s decision, saying that clean voter rolls are essential for ensuring fair elections. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares called it a “win for common sense,” adding that “Virginia residents should decide Virginia elections.”
In contrast, Anthony Ashton, associate general counsel for the NAACP, described the issue of noncitizens voting as “an absolute myth,” adding that claims of voter fraud often serve to undermine public confidence in democracy.
Concerns also surfaced about eligible voters being mistakenly purged. Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice warned that the Supreme Court ruling could lead to confusion as voters head to the polls, not only in Virginia but also across the nation.
In response to these concerns, Virginia voters have a new option. For the first time, they can register on the same day, through Election Day on Nov. 5. Gov. Youngkin highlighted this safeguard, stating that anyone removed mistakenly would still have the opportunity to vote by casting a provisional ballot
With six days until the election, former President Donald Trump stumped in Allentown, Pennsylvania as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her “closing argument.” We have what each said about what’s at stake next Tuesday. Also, details on what happened after a gunman opened fire from a hotel in Atlanta. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Harris gives closing argument as Trump addresses Biden’s comments
Some twists on the campaign trail with under a week to go now to Election Day and already more than 50 million ballots cast. Both presidential candidates gave dueling speeches Tuesday night, Oct. 29.
The Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what she described as her “closing argument” to the American people near the White House as the Republican nominee former President Donald Trump looked to court Latino voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
During her address at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the vice president emphasized its significance as the same site where former President Trump spoke to his supporters right before the riots on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“So tonight, I will speak to everyone about the choice and stakes in this election,” she said. “Look, we know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.”
The vice president also told voters she will seek common ground, saying she will give those who disagree with her a “seat at the table.”
“As Americans, we rise and fall together,” she said. “America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust. And it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms.”
In Pennsylvania, former President Trump reached out to voters during a rally in the majority Hispanic town of Allentown.
“I’m here today with a message of hope for all Americans,” he said. “With your vote this election — oh, do I look forward to this election. We — I’m going to say ‘we’ because we are going to do it as a group. We will end inflation. Wwe will stop the invasion of criminals into our country. And we will bring back the American dream. We’re doing it together, Pennsylvania.”
During his rally, the former president asked his supporters to vote and send in their mail-in ballots early, saying “they’ve already cheated” in the state — a reference to law enforcement in Lancaster County announcing they were investigating around 2,500 voter registration forms for alleged fraud.
Trump turned his attention to President Joe Biden after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio joined him on stage.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but I have breaking news for you Mr. President,” Rubio told Trump. “You may not have heard this: just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage, are garbage. He’s talking about the border patrol, he’s talking about nurses, he’s talking about teachers, he’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you Mr. President.”
“Remember Hillary [Clinton], she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable,’ right?” Trump responded. “But she said ‘deplorable.’ That didn’t work out. Garbage, I think, is worse right?”
What they were referring to were comments made by President Biden during a Voto Latino campaign call Tuesday night. Biden spoke about the comedian who made controversial jokes about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage,’” the president said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The White House issued a statement saying, “The president referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’” President Biden himself followed up on his comments with a post on X saying, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage…the comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump told host Sean Hannity nobody from his campaign vetted the comedian before the MSG rally.
As it pertains to the alleged voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told CNN there will be safe elections in the state and when asked about Biden’s “garbage” comment, Shapiro said, “It’s certainly not the words I would choose.”
Supreme Court rules RFK Jr. will remain on ballot in 2 swing states
It was unlikely the Supreme Court would have ruled in his favor, because voting is already underway in both states. Kennedy’s name also remains on the ballot in some other states, but he did not ask the Supreme Court to take it off anywhere but Wisconsin and Michigan in an apparent move to secure more voters for his ally Trump.
Steve Bannon spends first day out of prison stumping for Trump
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon wasted no time showing his support for the former president after being released from prison early Tuesday morning. Bannon just finished serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from Congress during its investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bannon’s first order of business was to resume his podcast “WarRoom.” He then held a news conference urging Republicans to turn out in droves to vote for Trump on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“I’ve been empowered by my four months at Danbury Federal Prison,” Bannon said during the news conference.
He added, “Obviously with seven days or six days left, you have to have a convergence of the get out the vote effort. I am not a huge believer in our ability to actually participate in rallies or do rallies because right now I think President Trump does great and he has people long there are going to do rallies in the different states. Our focus is one thing to make sure that we get as many American citizens, either early voting when they can or to the polls next Tuesday.”
He has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges. His trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.
Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life term on state charges
A judge sentenced the man who broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s northern California home and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
David DePape, 44, was already serving 30 years in federal prison for the attack when a San Francisco jury found him guilty of multiple state charges in June.
Both the prosecution and defense said the life without parole sentence will be served concurrently with DePape’s federal sentence. It has not yet been determined where he will serve his punishment.
Suspect in custody after shots fired at Atlanta Four Seasons
A police officer and a suspected shooter are recovering after gunfire broke out at a building that houses a Four Seasons Hotel and residences in Atlanta Tuesday. The Atlanta police chief said the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
UPDATE: Barricaded Gunman turned Active Shooter Situation Zone 5 at 75 14th Street Sound from Mayor Andre Dickens & Chief Darin Schierbaumhttps://t.co/TjSDcj3YTj
Authorities say the man fired at least once from the balcony of a residence on the 33rd floor of the 53-story high-rise building. They say he also shot through walls and doors, but no other injuries were reported.
Police said the suspect lives in the residential portion of the building and was not a guest at the Four Seasons hotel portion.
Yankees deny Dodgers a World Series sweep with Game 4 win
Despite another Freddie Freeman home run — becoming the first player to homer in games 1, 2, 3, and 4 — the Yankees crushed the Dodgers 11-4 in Game 4 Tuesday night in the Bronx, highlighted by three home runs including a grand slam by shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The game also featured an odd moment when Yankees fans tried to pry a foul ball out of the glove of Dodgers’ Mookie Betts. The fans were escorted from their seats by stadium security after that play.
The 11 runs were the most by the Yankees in a World Series game since Game 5 of the 1978 series when they scored 12 against the Dodgers.
Now the Yankees are hoping to do what no other team has done in Major League Baseball history: come back from being down 3-0 in the Fall Classic to win it all.
The Dodgers still just need one more win to claim the championship.
Presidential campaigns react to comedian’s controversial remarks
With exactly one week until Election Day, we’re hearing more of the fallout from a comedian’s controversial comments amid the big push by both presidential campaigns in key battleground states. And details on what happened during a U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Iran after Israeli air strikes over the weekend. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
Presidential campaigns react to comedian’s controversial remarks
The fallout from a comedian’s controversial comments about Puerto Rico at former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally continued Monday, Oct. 28. Despite a Trump campaign spokesperson distancing the former president from Tony Hinchcliffe, Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies centered their messages around the comedian’s remarks about Puerto Rico and their connection to Trump.
“So, the man holds this big rally at Madison Square Garden and the warm-up speakers were saying the most, were trotting out and pedaling the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes,” Obama said. “One guy called Puerto Rico quote ‘an island of garbage.’ These are fellow citizens he’s talking about.”
He added, “Here’s a good rule: if somebody does not respect you, if somebody does not see you as fellow citizens with equal claims to opportunity, to the pursuit of happiness, to the American dream, you should not vote for them.”
“It is just more of the same and maybe more vivid than usual,” she told reporters. “Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other, fans the fuel of hate and division, and that’s why people are exhausted with him. That’s why people who formerly have supported Donald Trump, have voted for him, are supporting me, voting for me. People are literally ready to turn the page. They’re tired of it.”
“I think a lot of Americans are sick of the distractions and sick of the BS. They want our candidates to talk about how they’re going to solve the people’s problems and that’s what we ought to do,” Vance said. “I haven’t seen the joke, maybe it’s a stupid, racist joke as you said, maybe it’s not, I haven’t seen it. I’m not going to comment on the specifics of the joke, but I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America. I’m so over it.”
At a rally in Atlanta Monday, former President Trump fired back at Democrats, including Harris — who has described Trump as a fascist — and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — who made comparisons between Trump’s MSG event and a Nazi rally held in the same arena in 1939.
“I’m running a campaign of solutions to save our country. Kamala is running a campaign of demonization and hate,” he said.
Trump went on, “Years ago, my father, I had a great father who’s a tough guy, he used to always say ‘never use the word Nazi, never use that word.’ He’d say ‘never use the word Hitler, don’t use that word. It’s like I didn’t even know why, ‘don’t use that word,’ and then I understood it and yet they use that word freely both words they use it, ‘he’s Hitler” and then they say, ‘he’s a Nazi.’ I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.”
Former President Trump will deliver remarks to the press at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida Tuesday morning, Oct. 29, before heading for a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Last week, the key battleground state’s supreme court ruled election officials must count provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected for being turned in without a secrecy envelope.
NEW: The RNC filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to undo a ruling by Pennsylvania's top court that allowed voters to cast provisional ballots in the event that they made errors on their mail-in ballots that would have precluded them from being counted. pic.twitter.com/P6My1I9fs7
Also on Tuesday, Virginia officials asked the Supreme Court to move forward with removing around 1,600 alleged non-citizens from its voter rolls.
A lower court blocked Virginia from continuing its systematic voter removal program that was launched in August, exactly 90 days before the election. A provision of the National Voter Registration Act requires states to complete purging ineligible voters from registration lists by 90 days before federal elections.
Jeff Bezos responds to backlash over Washington Post’s endorsement move
Now, the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, has spoken out over backlash on that decision. In an article published Monday by the Post, the Amazon founder wrote, “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election.”
He continued, “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”
The billionaire owner said he wished the decision was made earlier, adding neither campaign nor candidate were consulted or informed at any level.
Israel and Iran exchange threats at emergency U.N. Security Council meeting
Tensions continued to boil over between Israel and Iran as the countries exchanged threats during an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Monday. The meeting had been called with the goal of easing hostilities between the countries.
The latest exchange of attacks between Israel & Iran risks plunging the entire Middle East region into an all-out war, top @UNDPPA official warns the Security Council, stressing the need to return to the path of dialogue & diplomacy.https://t.co/KZTXDAwe3Jpic.twitter.com/QLzHWcsAfA
While Iran is not expected to act immediately, the country’s president has said it will respond “appropriately.”
During the Security Council meeting, the United States warned Iran of “severe consequences” if it makes any more aggressive moves toward Israel or U.S. personnel in the Middle East.
New iPhone update comes with Apple Intelligence capabilities
Apple users are getting their first taste of the company’s new Apple Intelligence software after iOS 18 launched Monday. The free upgrade comes more than a month after the company unveiled the iPhone 16, equipped with a specialized computer chip needed to power the AI features.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can also use the AI technology once the software update is installed, as can recent versions of the iPad and Mac computers.
However, this is only in the United States. Other countries won’t be getting the AI software for their iPhones until sometime next year.
Target serving up discount Thanksgiving meals
We might not have handed out Halloween candy yet, but it’s already time to talk to turkey. Target is joining the list of big-box stores looking to help you save on your Thanksgiving holiday meal.
The four-person meal includes brand-name turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and mushroom soup — everything you need to gobble up the perfect meal. You’ll also be able to get side dishes and desserts, like mac and cheese and pies, for under $5.
Walmart and Aldi announced similar lower-cost Thanksgiving meals last week.
Supreme Court upholds Texas emergency abortion law
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday, Oct. 7, to allow a ruling barring emergency abortions that violate Texas law to stand. The justices provided no reasoning for their decision, leaving questions about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, and state abortion bans, unaddressed.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act ensures patients, regardless of their ability to pay, are stabilized in the event of any emergency. Hospitals that do not comply can lose federal funding.
The high court’s ruling effectively blocks enforcement of federal guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions when maternal health is at risk.
The Biden administration argued that federal law mandates hospitals to perform abortions if a patient’s health or life is at risk, even if the procedure is banned in the state.
However, representatives for Texas argued that the state does have exceptions in place for the life of the mother and the health of the mother as well.
Texas’ abortion ban permits the procedure only when a woman’s life is at risk or if she faces “substantial impairment of a major bodily function,” but the law has created uncertainty for health care providers.
Emergency rooms across Texas reported an increase in cases of pregnant women in distress being turned away as health care providers grapple with the conflict between medical practices and legal compliance.
The Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces state authority in restricting abortions, potentially setting a precedent for other states with strict abortion laws.
Arizona sheriffs say they won’t enforce proposed immigration law
Sheriffs from at least four Arizona counties say they will not enforce a controversial immigration measure if voters approve it in November. Proposition 314, also known as the Secure the Border Act, would make it a state crime for migrants to cross illegally in the United States.
The law would lead to state and local law enforcement being responsible for carrying out the laws by arresting and prosecuting suspected violators.
Supporters say the measure will help reduce illegal immigration in the state.
Critics say it’s asking local police to do something that is entirely outside of their constitutional authority and enforce federal immigration law. The critics also claim it’s going to lead to racial profiling and budget issues.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told The Guardian the measure would increase expenses without funding from the state.
“I’m not going to allow my deputies on that border to arrest people, to book them in our jail when we have a federal government that has that responsibility. They should have solved it years ago,” Nanos said.
In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law making illegal immigration a state crime on top of a federal crime. The justices ruled immigration enforcement was a federal matter that preempted the state law and that Congress had not given states the latitude to regulate immigration.
Texas is currently facing legal battles over a similar law that allows local police and judges to arrest and deport those in the country illegally.