Beltway NewslettersPunchbowl News: Some Republicans admit they haven’t achieved enough legislatively to campaign on. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, said he’s telling candidates to strike a personal tone and focus on achievements that impacted their districts. “What have you done for the people that you represent, not what we’ve done — because that’d be a very, very short conversation,” he said. Playbook: Two elected officials on the ground in storm-devastated North Carolina advised politicians should stay away for the time being. “The people in my district really don’t want to see politicians,” said Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards. “They want to see water. Food. Cell towers and power restored, and the ability to contact their loved ones. Photo ops are not what’s needed.” WaPo: DSCC chair Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., expects abortion ballot measures to lift up Democrats in tight Senate races in Arizona, Montana, and Nevada. Axios: Donald Trump has attacked Kamala Harris as a flip flopper, but he’s also changed his tune on several policies, including banning TikTok and capping state and local tax deductions. White House- President Biden said he will visit communities impacted by Hurricane Helene when it won’t disrupt emergency response efforts. Vice President Harris is set to receive a briefing from FEMA this evening.
- Biden is delivering a speech celebrating the 2024 US Olympic and Paralympic teams later this morning.
CongressCourts- The Justice Department charged three members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps accused of hacking Donald Trump’s campaign.
Polls- Kamala Harris’ edge over Donald Trump among Latino voters is the smallest Democrats have seen in the past four presidential cycles, according to a new NBC/Telemundo/CNBC poll.
On the Trail- Some Republicans distanced themselves from Donald Trump following his comment about Kamala Harris being “mentally disabled.”
- Harris raised $55 million in California fundraisers over the weekend.
- Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania suggested a “one rough hour” to allow police to handle crime during which officers would be under fewer restrictions, drawing comparisons to “The Purge” film series.
- The group Republican voters Against Trump is launching a final $15 million advertisement campaign targeting swing states that features direct-to-camera spots with former Trump voters who say they are now supporting Harris.
Foreign Policy- The US is sending more troops to the Middle East, putting others on standby, and keeping an aircraft carrier in the region.
- The White House said President Biden has approved $567 million in defense support for Taiwan.
Technology- California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have set requirements for advanced AI model developers to create protocols to prevent catastrophes.
Media- Ex-NBC News anchor Brian Williams is in “late-stage discussions” about hosting an Election Night show on Amazon Prime Video. — Variety
- Saturday Night Live returned for its 50th season with a cold open featuring Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris, James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Bowen Yang as JD Vance, Andy Samburg as Doug Emhoff, and Dana Carvey as President Biden.
Big Read- Shigeru Ishiba may be a more disruptive prime minister than the Japanese and American establishments may like, Politico’s Matthew Kaminski writes. He has called for the agreement for the deployment of US military forces in the country to be revised, as well as the pacifism provisions in the Japanese constitution to be amended. And he has discussed an Asian version of NATO, making Japan a peer to the US. “He could be a problem for the U.S.,” said Gerry Curtis, a retired Columbia scholar of Japan. “He thinks the deal with the U.S. is outdated, has an occupation stink to it.”
BlindspotStories that are being largely ignored by either left-leaning or right-leaning outlets, curated with help from our partners at Ground News. What the Left isn’t reading: More American adults identify as Republican or lean toward the Republican Party than identify as or lean towards Democrats, according to a new Gallup analysis of recent polling. What the Right isn’t reading: JD Vance attended an event in Pennsylvania with an evangelical leader who said Kamala Harris used “witchcraft.” Principals TeamEditors: Benjy Sarlin, Elana Schor, Morgan Chalfant Reporters: Burgess Everett, Kadia Goba, Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Shelby Talcott, David Weigel |