Minnesota Democrats threaten to stay home to protect tie in state House
On Election Day, Minnesota voters split the state House evenly, with 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats winning their races. The two parties reached a power-sharing agreement to share committee control.
But with one Democratic legislator legally unable to take his seat, Republicans say they’re ready to use their majority and elect a Republican speaker. Democrats, in turn, are considering boycotting the session to prevent a speaker vote.
The issue stems from a judge’s ruling that Democratic Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson cannot take the seat he won in District 40B. The judge found Johnson did not meet the district’s residency requirements.
While either party would need a quorum of 68 seats to pass laws and hold a speaker vote once the legislature starts on Jan. 14, Republicans could appoint a speaker with the current 67-66 majority. And assuming Republicans hold together, Democrats could not remove the Republican speaker in a tied legislature.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, set a special election to fill the seat for Jan. 28. It’s a heavily Democratic district where both parties expect a Democrat to win.
However, as long as Republicans hold the majority, they can also take control of committees instead of collaborating as planned under the power-sharing agreement.
Democrats have options, but all of them come with potential risks.
Democrats are weighing a boycott to prevent Republicans from meeting the requisite quorum to elect a speaker and pass bills. However, Minnesota law would allow Republicans to compel Democrats to attend while also opening the door to recall petitions against Democratic lawmakers.
Another option, reported on by local news outlet the Minnesota Reformer, would be for Democrats to launch a two-week filibuster. Lawmakers would give speeches to eat up time in order to prevent a speaker vote.
Legislators fleeing to prevent a quorum is an increasingly common tactic. In recent years, both Texas Democrats and Oregon Republicans have boycotted sessions to try to hold up major bills.
Biden, Harris, Walz, Clooney: Dems point fingers after loss to Trump
Democrats are searching for answers after Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign collapsed on Election Night. President Joe Biden, Gov. Tim Walz and even actor George Clooney are all being blamed by some within the Democratic Party.
Some party members trace the loss back to when Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024. Several Harris campaign advisers told The Associated Press that Biden should have stepped aside earlier in the election cycle.
Andrew Yang, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, agreed.
“The biggest onus of this loss is on President Biden,” Yang said. “If he had stepped down in January instead of July, we may be in a very different place.”
David Plouffe, a top adviser to Harris’ campaign, called the loss “devastating.” He noted the campaign had to “dig itself out of a deep hole.” Plouffe deleted his social media accounts after his comment.
Many former Harris campaign staffers spoke anonymously to media outlets, some blaming Biden for the loss. They expressed frustration at the late timing of Biden’s exit.
“We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost,” one Harris aide told Politico.
The national campaign? Nothing. Zero. They had no respect, no coordination. I didn’t even have one conversation with the lady.
Bob Brady, Philadelphia Democrat Party Chairman
While those close to Harris blame Biden, other Democrats are pointing fingers at Harris herself. In Philadelphia, where the city’s Democratic National Committee Chair Bob Brady was outspoken. He criticized Harris’ campaign as “incompetent” and said it failed to support local Democratic leadership.
“The national campaign? Nothing. Zero. They had no respect, no coordination. I didn’t even have one conversation with the lady,” Brady said. “They didn’t even do the right thing by giving us the resources we need. And they want to blame us? And now I understand someone in her camp is blaming Joe Biden? Can you imagine blaming Joe Biden for her loss? She lost, he didn’t lose.”
“We knocked more than two million doors in the weekend leading up to Election Day, which is two million more doors than Bob Brady’s organization can claim to have knocked during his entire tenure as party chairman,” a senior adviser to the Harris campaign said.
Lindy Li, a Harris surrogate, also reflected on Harris’ choice of running mate. She questioned whether replacing Gov. Tim Walz with a more moderate option, such as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, would have changed the race.
“The blame game has started,” Li said. “One of the things that are top of mind is the choice of Tim Walz as vice presidential candidate. A lot of people are saying tonight that it should have been Josh Shapiro. Frankly, people have been saying that for months. I know a lot of people are probably wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket.”
As some Democrats argue that Biden waited too long to pass the torch, others are questioning whether he should have stepped aside at all.
Prominent figures, including George Clooney, are now being mocked online for their calls for Biden to exit the race. Clooney had written an op-ed in The New York Times, urging Biden to end his campaign and allow the party to nominate a new candidate.
Journalist Joshua Hartley shared a screenshot of Clooney’s piece on X, mocking the suggestion with the caption, “Thank you, George Clooney.”
Meanwhile, progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was re-elected in Vermont on Tuesday, Nov. 5, took to X to offer his own critique. In a post that responded to the infighting within the party, Sanders said the issue lay with the Democratic Party itself.
“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Sanders wrote. “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”
Vice President Kamala Harris concedes the election to former President Donald Trump. And President Joe Biden speaks to Trump to invite him to a meeting at the White House. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
Harris concedes presidential election to Trump
Donald Trump is once again president-elect, with more media outlets calling the election on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The former (and future) president not only won the Electoral College but the popular vote as well.
As of early Thursday morning, Nov. 7, Decision Desk HQ had Trump standing at 312 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris earned 226. Trump also led in the popular vote at close to 73 million, with Harris getting just over 68 million.
We heard from Trump celebrating his victory in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Harris chose not to speak at that time.
Instead, the vice president waited until the afternoon to address a crowd of supporters at Howard University, where she conceded the election.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said, “but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
Harris said she spoke with Trump on the phone to congratulate him. She also told her supporters it is important to accept the election results and engage in a peaceful transfer of power, calling it “a fundamental principle of American democracy.”
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our god,” she said. “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
Harris also told the crowd, they might “feel dark times are ahead” but she hopes that’s not the case and added that “sometimes the fight takes a while.”
Harris, as the sitting vice president, will be the one overseeing Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election in January.
Meanwhile, there is speculation Trump could soon begin announcing appointments to key positions in his cabinet, in just a matter of days. Some prospective nominees reportedly canceled their flights out of south Florida Wednesday after election night celebrations, in order to remain close to Trump.
Biden congratulates Trump on win, invites him to White House
President Joe Biden also reached out to President-elect Trump over the phone on Wednesday. During that call, he invited Trump to a meeting at the White House and offered his congratulations.
The White House released a statement saying, “President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson confirmed the call, and that Biden invited the president-elect to the White House to “ensure a smooth transition between the current administration and the incoming administration.” The Trump campaign said the White House meeting would take place shortly and Trump very much appreciated the call from Biden.
Biden also spoke to Vice President Harris on the phone Wednesday. He released a statement following her concession speech saying in part, “Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation.”
President Biden added that selecting Harris as his vice president was “the best decision” he made.
The president is expected to address the nation Thursday on the election and the transition of power.
This morning at 11 AM ET, I’ll address the nation to discuss the election results and the transition.
Special counsel, DOJ reportedly in talks to end Trump prosecutions
Now that former President Trump is once again president-elect, Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly in talks with Department of Justice leadership to figure out how to end the criminal cases against Trump. That’s what sources familiar with the matter have told several media outlets.
The DOJ has had a longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president and Justice Department regulations say a special counsel must consult DOJ leaders — possibly even Attorney General Merrick Garland — on major decisions in an investigation.
Last year, Smith charged Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Those latter charges were dismissed by a judge earlier this year, but Smith has appealed that ruling. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Biden admin rushing billions in assistance to Ukraine: Reports
The Biden administration plans to rush billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine before President Biden leaves office in January, according to multiple reports. The goal is to make sure Ukraine’s government is in a good place when President-elect Trump takes office.
Trump has been critical of the scale of the U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Vladimir Putin and Russia.
I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.
We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024
In April, the Republican-controlled House approved more aid for Ukraine, including an allocation for weapons. However, more than $6 billion in aid that has been set aside for Ukraine has not made it there yet.
Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly but has not specified how.
Cuba’s power grid collapses after Hurricane Rafael makes landfall
Hurricane Rafael weakened after making landfall in Cuba as a powerful Category 3 storm, but not before causing the island’s electrical grid to collapse.
While the storm is expected to stay in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, heavy rain will be seen in Florida and neighboring parts of the southeast. One to three inches of rain are expected for parts of the Florida Keys.
Rafael is the fifth major hurricane of the year in the Atlantic and the strongest to hit this late in the year since 2020.
Fox News wins election ratings, overall viewership falls from 2020
Fox News once again led the pack, getting the most viewers on election night. During primetime hours between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, 9.8 million viewers tuned into Fox News. However, that is down from the nearly 14 million viewers who watched in 2020.
On the broadcast side, ABC News came in No. 1 in primetime with 5.6 million viewers.
Overall, Nielsen said across 18 cable and broadcast networks, 42 .3 million people tuned into coverage. That’s down more than 25% from 2020, when election coverage drew nearly 57 million viewers.
*Corrections to Wednesday’s “Unbiased Updates”: We would like to correct that North Carolina did not ‘flip’ blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.And, in our final story, history was made in three states on Election Day as two of the elections we mentioned took place in Delaware.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next US president
Donald Trump is poised to win the presidency again. How Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania helped put him over the top. And while Republicans have picked up seats in the Senate, will they also take the House? A look at where things stand. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next U.S. president
Former President Donald Trump declared victory while addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, as his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris grew. He picked up critical wins in key battleground states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said. “Look what happened — is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”
Harris’ path to the 270 electoral votes has become less of a possibility, with most media outlets projecting Trump as the winner Wednesday morning. As of the time this article was published, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, a forecasting and analysis organization, have projected him to be the winner.
Donald Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback https://t.co/VGPT8X5I88
Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the campaign, was surrounded by family, Republican leaders, and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance as he addressed the crowd inside the Palm Beach Convention Center around 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he told supporters. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Vice President Harris, who picked up wins in California and New York, did not speak Tuesday night, Nov. 5, but earlier in the evening campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond spoke to supporters at Howard University. He said the vice president was not giving up the fight despite how the numbers were going.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” he said. ”She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address our supporters, but to address the nation.”
Multiple news networks have confirmed Harris is slated to speak Wednesday morning. However, it is worth noting there reportedly has been no concession call yet from Harris to Trump.
Ray Bogan recaps election night from Washington
Washington is going to look a lot different in January.
Donald Trump made an extraordinary comeback. He lost the electoral and popular votes in 2020 after stinging defeats in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. This time around Trump won back both Georgia and Pennsylvania. He also took Wisconsin.
Republicans also won a majority in the Senate, with key victories in Ohio and West Virginia pushing them over the top. This will give them a key advantage as they work to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks and judicial nominations.
It’s important to remember that the majorities in Congress are razor-thin and nowhere near filibuster-proof in the Senate. So passing legislation will require bipartisanship.
The big question now is – who will be the Senate majority leader? The three candidates are John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott from Florida.
Balance of power in Congress shifts, GOP retakes control of Senate
As Ray mentioned, the balance of power is shifting in Congress. Republicans will retake control of the Senate for the first time in four years.
The GOP flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio, giving Republicans at least a 51-seat majority in the Senate.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is slated to replace the outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucused with Democrats. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is projected by multiple outlets to defeat incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.
How the House of Representatives will play out remains to be seen. Republicans are hoping to retain control of the chamber.
They currently hold a slim majority, yet there are still over 100 races yet to be determined as of the time of publishing. Going into the night, Democrats needed to flip four seats to gain.
Stein wins in NC governor’s race, Republicans see victory in other states
Voters in 11 states also chose their next governors. While Republicans won big, Democrats did manage to retain power in several states.
North Carolina remained blue after the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, beat out controversial Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson — who made history as the first Black lieutenant governor in the state — was already trailing in the polls, but his numbers took a dive in mid-September after CNN released a report detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website message board more than a decade ago on race, gender and abortion.
Thank you, North Carolina! I am honored to serve as your next governor. Tonight, we came together to resoundingly embrace a vision that is optimistic, forward-looking, and welcoming. I couldn't have done this without each of you. pic.twitter.com/3eeGGTVHed
In Delaware, Democrat Matt Meyer wins the race for governor. Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone and will take over from two-term Democratic Gov. John Carney.
Washington state will stay blue after Attorney General Bob Ferguson beat out Republican challenger Dave Reichert for the job. The seat was up for grabs after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not be running again after serving three terms.
Indiana went from blue to red, with Republican Mike Braun defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick. McCormick is a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.
Meanwhile, Republican Missouri remained red. The state’s Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
North Dakota stayed red, as well. Kelly Armstrong is projected to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who also chose not to run again after serving three terms. It is possible Burgum will get a place in the Trump administration.
Republicans will now have governors in 27 states; Democrats in 23.
*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since our recording to correct that North Carolina did not flip blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.
Voters in four states chose whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. The measure did not pass in Florida, Nebraska or South Dakota, but did in Colorado and Nevada.
Nebraska voters actually had two abortion-related measures on their ballot. While the constitutional right to an abortion failed, the other measure, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, passed.
Five other states were deciding on the right to an abortion. The measures passed in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and New York and is expected to make it through in Montana.
3 newly elected senators, 1 congresswoman making history
History was made in three states on Election Day.
In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester — who already made history as the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in Congress — will now become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black candidate to represent her state in the Senate.
We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator. I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all. pic.twitter.com/qpuobm9Vf3
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim will become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate. At 42 years old, he’ll also be the Senate’s third youngest member.
Finally, Sarah McBride, who won Delaware’s only open House seat, will be the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.
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Republicans claim Senate majority, end Democrats’ four-year hold
Throughout this election season, there have been countless polls trying to predict how the results will turn out. Over the weekend, some of the last ones were released indicating just how tight this race seems to be.
According to ABC News’ latest poll, 49% of likely voters are supporting Vice President Harris, while 46% are for former President Trump. NBC News, meanwhile, showed an even closer race — with both Harris and Trump getting 49% of the vote.
In Iowa, the nationally recognized Des Moines Register poll showed Harris leading Trump 47% to 44% among likely voters.
The New York Times focused on the seven swing states, with the candidates neck and neck in all of them. The poll shows Trump leading Harris in Arizona with 49% to 45%. Whereas in Nevada, Harris narrowly leads Trump 49% to 46%.
According to The New York Times, Harris also has a slim lead in North Carolina and Wisconsin, and it was too close to call in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan. The New York Times said the results in all the battleground states were within the margin of sampling error, meaning it’s still anyone’s game.
Florida teen accused of threatening Democratic voters with machete
A Florida teen is facing aggravated assault charges after he allegedly wielded a machete to intimidate Democratic voters outside a polling place. Caleb Williams, 18, was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 29, outside a voting precinct in Neptune Beach — which is in the Jacksonville area.
Police said the registered Republican was among a group of teens accused of intimidating Democratic voters. Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key said the group approached people waving Harris-Walz signs and an argument ensued.
Investigators said Williams “brandished a machete in an aggressive, threatening posture over his head.”
“This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech,” Key said. “To say your piece is a First Amendment-protected right, but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner.”
Authorities say right now, none of the other members of the group are facing charges. They said their actions didn’t “cross the criminal threshold,” however, the investigation is ongoing.
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.
USA Today, Gannett papers won’t endorse 2024 presidential candidate
In a move marking a shift in the media’s approach to election coverage, Gannett’s USA TODAY Network announced it won’t endorse any presidential or national candidates for the 2024 election. USA TODAY and over 200 other Gannett-owned publications will instead focus on local issues, though editors at these local outlets can endorse state and local candidates or ballot issues.
Gannett’s approach aligns with recent decisions by other major publications that are also stepping away from direct candidate endorsements. The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times both announced they wouldn’t endorse a presidential candidate in 2024.
Historically, endorsements from influential papers like The New York Times and The Washington Post have shaped voter perceptions. However, with a growing public distrust in media impartiality, some outlets are reconsidering the impact of these endorsements.
Getty Images
The Washington Post reportedly experienced a notable decline in subscribers after its decision, possibly signaling the contentious nature of endorsements.
Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos released a public letter addressing the choice, stating that endorsements may create a “perception of bias” and that ending them was a “principled decision.”
Despite this shift, Gannett reassures readers that its outlets will continue to cover critical issues and offer insights at the state and local levels. The company’s focus, it asserts, remains on delivering news that empowers local communities.
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.
CNN alleges Fox edited Trump’s controversial barbershop remarks
CNN accused Fox News of selectively editing a recent segment featuring former President Donald Trump’s visit to a Bronx barbershop, where he interacted with patrons and answered questions. The network aired a condensed 15-minute version that omitted several of Trump’s controversial remarks, according to CNN.
CNN claims several exaggerated statements about immigration in Ohio, crime in Colorado and praise for Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The network also claimed the edits were aimed at presenting Trump in a more favorable light.
Getty Images
Fox News stated that all barbershop interviews are pre-taped and edited for time and clarity. Officials noted the Bronx segment ran nearly an hour in its original form. The network maintains that segments were edited to streamline Trump’s responses.
However, CNN contends that the edits altered the perception of Trump’s responses. The network cited a now-deleted Instagram video from an audience member that showed Trump taking longer, unedited pauses and answering repeated questions more indirectly.
CNN alleges that Fox condensed Trump’s answers to offer more straightforward sound bites that made him appear direct and on-topic. In one case, Fox cut Trump’s lengthy response about eliminating federal taxes.
The original video showed Trump discussing unrelated topics before finally answering the question after being prompted multiple times. The video has since been deleted by the audience member who posted it on Instagram.
AP Images
This controversy mirrors Trump’s recent accusation that CBS similarly edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes“. Trump claimed CBS cut certain responses to enhance Harris’ image. Trump demanded that CBS release the unedited footage, accusing the network of bias.
Critics, however, argue that the CBS edits were intended for promotional snippets. They said Fox’s approach removed portions from the primary segment, potentially misrepresenting Trump’s full dialogue with barbershop patrons.
Media analysts are now raising questions about how network editing choices might impact public perception of political figures. Fox’s cuts, they argue, could create a skewed narrative of Trump’s responses, while the incident underscores broader concerns over transparency in network television. Fox has yet to release the full unedited footage from Trump’s barbershop visit to clarify CNN’s claims.
