Donald Trump repeated his familiar rhetoric and misinformation about immigration and the US–Mexico border and praised Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin at a rally in Austin, Texas.
“Putin and the whole group, Kim Jong Un, they’re tough guys out there. They’re tough and they’re smart and they’re street wise and they’re at the top of their game,” Trump told rallygoers.
The former president is known to praise dictators. Thirteen former Trump administration officials have issued an open letter expressing their agreement with ex-chief of staff John Kelly’s assessment of the former president as a fascist.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris will appear alongside pop superstar Beyonce in Houston, Texas, later today as she focuses on the future of reproductive rights.
The Democrat held a start-studded rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday where she was joined by Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry and Bruce Springsteen, the latter serenading her supporters and denouncing Trump as an “American tyrant”.
At his own rally in Las Vegas yesterday, Trump falsely claimed that Harris had “absolutely bombed” in Georgia, before spewing fresh bile about his opponent and immigrants.
He had earlier called America “a garbage can for the world” in Arizona.
Key Points
- Thirteen ex-Trump officials sign open letter backing up John Kelly’s ‘fascist’ criticism
- Beyonce to join Kamala Harris on campaign trail in Houston on Friday
- Harris joined by Obama, Springsteen and Jackson at star-studded Atlanta rally
- Trump calls America ‘garbage can for the world’
- Harris blames scheduling for missing out on Joe Rogan’s podcast
Leonardo DiCaprio shares presidential endorsement as 2024 election approaches
00:15
Mike Bedigan
Leonardo DiCaprio has endorsed Kamala Harris in next month’s presidential election, arguing that her rival Donald Trump “continues to deny the facts” and “deny the science” around climate change.
The Oscar-winning actor, 49, previously endorsed Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
Kevin EG Perry has the full story:
Chinese hackers reportedly targeted data on phones used by Trump and Vance
23:58
Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump and JD Vance may have been among a number of people targeted by Chinese hackers, who have gained access to US communications networks, according to a new report.
Investigators from national security agencies including the FBI are working to establish the scope of the data breach and determine whether the hackers could have gained access to text messages, or other comms sent through unencrypted channels.
Read more here:
Trump again pushes no taxes - for anyone!
23:30
Oliver O'Connell
Experts on both sides of the aisle have criticized his ideas as mathematically unworkable and damaging to the economy, The New York Times noted. Legislators are unlikely to end the income tax even if Republicans gain control of Congress, even as tariffs and tax cuts have been some of the top issues pushed by Trump.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
ICYMI: Ex-Trump administration officials sign open letter backing John Kelly’s claims
23:10
Oliver O'Connell
A group of former Trump administration officials has penned an open letter backing his former chief of staff John Kelly, after he warned that the former president meets the definition of “a fascist.”
In the explosive letter, the 13 former aides highlight the “danger” of a potential second Trump term, saying: “This is who Donald Trump is.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Former head of RNC claps back at Trump
23:00
Oliver O'Connell
Michael Steele, a Catholic and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, has responded to Donald Trump’s latest diatribe about Catholics who might vote for Kamala Harris.
Recently, the former president has repeated a bizarre accusation that Catholics are being persecuted by the Democrats, which is especially odd given President Joe Biden is a devout follower of the faith.
Today in Texas he began the same diatribe only to get distracted. Trump said: “Anybody that votes as a Catholic for this, this horrible candidate that can’t put two sentences together— she can’t speak. She can’t put two sentences together.”
Steele posted the clip on X, adding: “As a Catholic…I heard you speak…you couldn’t put one sentence together @DonaldTrump, so I voted for @KamalaHarris.”
As a Catholic…I heard you speak…you couldn’t put one sentence together @realDonaldTrump, so I voted for @KamalaHarris https://t.co/gRCPyNDkR6 https://t.co/bEJ0FR8LEW
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) October 25, 2024
He also linked to a post from yesterday in which he explained his vote, writing: “In 2020, I reminded my fellow citizens that the ballot was how we restore the soul of our nation.
“Today, we are asked once again to make a choice, between a darker version of ourselves, or a more hopeful future for our children and grandchildren.
“I choose the love of my country over my party. I choose the noble responsibility of my civic duty. I choose my conscience because it reminds me of what I value as a citizen. I choose to stand with my neighbors against those who would lie to them, undermine their freedoms, turn neighbor against neighbor for the sake of one man. I choose a leader who, despite our political differences, values us more than herself.
“Today I voted for @KamalaHarris, because I choose hope.”
In 2020, I reminded my fellow citizens that the ballot was how we restore the soul of our nation.
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) October 24, 2024
Today, we are asked once again to make a choice, between a darker version of ourselves, or a more hopeful future for our children and grandchildren.
I choose the love of my… pic.twitter.com/5ygJaWJxbm
Stephen A Smith spars with Fox News’ Hannity over Trump’s mental state
22:50
Oliver O'Connell
Stephen A Smith sparred with Sean Hannity live on air when the Fox News host launched into a strong defense of Donald Trump’s mental state.
The ESPN First Take host appeared on Fox News Hannity on Thursday evening soon after Trump made a campaign stop in Nevada, Las Vegas.
During the live segment, it wasn’t long before the two TV personalities exchanged barbs on the presidential candidates’ behalfs.
James Liddell has the story.
5th Circuit rules ballots must be received by Election Day per federal law
22:40
Oliver O'Connell
The 5th Circuit has ruled that ballots must be received by Election Day and state laws allowing them to arrive later are preempted by federal law. 18 states plus the District of Columbia count ballots received after that day. This decision would override those laws.
However, Kyle Cheney of Politico notes: “Though the circuit decision could theoretically impact this election cycle significantly, the panel left the decision on whether to apply it to this election cycle up to the district court judge who initially ruled the other way.”
IMPORTANT: Though the circuit decision *could* theoretically impact this election cycle significantly, the panel left the decision on whether to apply it to this election cycle up to the district court judge who initally ruled the other way. pic.twitter.com/fJCDPVgP7P
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 25, 2024
Watch: ‘Trump calls Kamala a fascist quite regularly ... so spare me’, says Fox News panelist
22:35
Oliver O'Connell
Jessica: Donald Trump calls Kamala a fascist quite regularly. Not only does he call her a fascist, he calls her a communist… So spare me pic.twitter.com/JqlTpSu64p
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2024
Brady Bunch actor claims reboot axed over her MAGA support
22:30
Oliver O'Connell
The Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen, who portrayed Cindy Brady in the beloved Seventies sitcom, has claimed a revival series was axed due to her controversial views and support for Donald Trump.
In a recent appearance on the Walk Away Campaign podcast, Olsen said a reboot of The Brady Bunch, which originally aired from 1969 to 1974, was in the works at CBS Studios. However, the revival series was scrapped, she claims, by the network over her past remarks on Covid-19 vaccines and the LGBTQ+ community.
Meredith Clark reports on what happened.
Chinese hackers targeted phones of Trump, Vance, people associated with Harris campaign
22:28
AP
Chinese hackers targeted cellphones used by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, his running mate, JD Vance, and people associated with the Democratic campaign of Kamala Harris, people familiar with the matter said Friday.
It was not immediately clear what data, if any, may have been accessed. U.S. officials are continuing to investigate, according to the people, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing inquiry and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
An FBI statement did not confirm that Trump and Vance were among the potential targets but said it was investigating “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.”
“Agencies across the U.S. Government are collaborating to aggressively mitigate this threat and are coordinating with our industry partners to strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector,” the FBI said.
U.S. officials believe the campaigns were among numerous targets of a larger cyberespionage operation launched by China, the people said. It was not immediately clear what information China may have hoped to glean, though Beijing has for years engaged in vast hacking campaigns aimed at collecting the private data of Americans and government workers, spying on technology and corporate secrets from major American companies and targeting U.S. infrastructure.
Watch: Trump calls Putin and Kim Jong-Un ‘smart and streetwise'
22:25
Oliver O'Connell
Harris to sir for interview with CBS News on Sunday
22:20
Oliver O'Connell
Kamala Harris will sit for an exclusive interview with Norah O’Donnell of CBS News on their Sunday morning politics show this week, CBS Sunday Mornings.
THIS SUNDAY: Watch @NorahODonnell's exclusive interview with VP Kamala Harris starting on @CBSSunday and across CBS News’ platforms and broadcasts.
— CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) October 25, 2024
Details ➡️ https://t.co/3xsrAJrPWf pic.twitter.com/EZHyO3ymcl
Full story: Harris slams Trump for ‘belittling’ Americans after he calls US the ‘garbage can of the world’
22:10
Oliver O'Connell
Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday clapped back at her Republican opponent’s description of the United States as a “dumping ground” for criminals after Donald Trump claimed the US is “like a garbage can for the world” in remarks the previous day.
Speaking to reporters in Houston, where she is set to appear alongside Beyonce at a rally Friday evening, Harris was asked to respond to the former president’s incendiary remarks at a Las Vegas event.
Harris called the racist tirade “another example of how he really belittles our country.”
Andrew Feinberg reports on the vice president’s full remarks.
Watch: Former Haley voter explains decision to vote for Harris
22:01
Oliver O'Connell
Former Haley Voter on her decision to vote for Kamala Harris: Sometimes you have say American first, Conservative second, Republican third pic.twitter.com/1ISAPMrtTS
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2024
Full story: McConnell and Johnson say calling Trump fascist encourages another assassin
21:50
Oliver O'Connell
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday warned that Vice President Kamala Harris is “inviting” another assassination attempt against Donald Trump by calling him a fascist.
“The man who was caught waiting in ambush in Florida left others with a chilling call to arms: ‘It is up to you now to finish the job’. Labeling a political opponent as a ‘fascist,’ risks inviting yet another would-be assassin to try robbing voters of their choice before Election Day,” the Republicans wrote in a joint statement.
Josh Marcus has the full story.
The ‘Black Insurrectionist’ was actually white. The deception did not stop there
21:40
Oliver O'Connell
“Black Insurrectionist,” the anonymous social media persona behind some of the most widely circulated conspiracy theories about the 2024 election, can be traced to a man from upstate New York. He’s white.
But wait, there’s more...
Bowen Yang says he struggled to play JD Vance on SNL — here’s why...
21:35
Oliver O'Connell
Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang has spoken about his initial resistance to performing as Ohio Senator JD Vance on the season 50 premiere of the NBC late-night sketch comedy.
On the September 28th episode, Yang, 33, made his debut as the mustachioed Vance.
However, in a recent interview with them, Yang revealed that up until the live show, he was positive he was the wrong choice to impersonate the Republican Vice Presidential nominee.
Inga Parkel has the story.
Watch: Big crowd forming for Harris event in Houston
21:34
Oliver O'Connell
Flores: Take a look behind me. There’s a lot of people here in line waiting to see Vice President Kamala Harris and Beyonce pic.twitter.com/gQQCA1epaa
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2024
Biden apologizes for Native American boarding school policy he calls ‘blot’ on US history
21:25
Oliver O'Connell
President Joe Biden on Friday offered a formal apology to Native Americans for the US government’s attempt to erase tribal culture via a system of boarding schools that separated native children from their parents for decades, calling the long-discarded policy “a sin on our soul.”
Andrew Feinberg reports on the president’s apology on behalf of the United States.
Harris endorsed by largest Teamsters union in Texas
21:22
Oliver O'Connell
The largest Teamsters union in Texas, Local 988, has endorsed Kamala Harris before her rally in Houston this evening.
The Hill obtained a letter in which the union, based in Houston, said it surveyed more than 8,000 members before endorsing the vice president.
It cited the Biden administration’s protection of union pensions and Harris’s pledge if elected to sign the PRO Act, pro-labor legislation.
“There’s no doubt that politics can get bitter, complicated, and confusing,” Local 988 president Robert Mele said in a statement. “But Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have a proven track record of supporting workers throughout their careers.”
“As organizing continues to gain momentum, the Teamsters need elected officials who will fight for us, not against us. Kamala Harris is that candidate,” he added.
Harris to warn Trump will ban abortion nationwide in Houston remarks
21:17
Oliver O'Connell
“In just four years as President, Donald Trump was able to erase half a century of hard-fought progress for women,” VP Harris will say tonight, per her campaign. “And now, he wants to go even further. Let us be clear: If Donald Trump wins again, he will ban abortion nationwide.”
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 25, 2024
Trump grumbles about Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize
21:16
Oliver O'Connell
With 11 days to go until Election Day, Donald Trump can’t stop obsessing about former President Barack Obama having been awarded a Nobel Prize in 2009, a little more than eight months after taking office.
At a campaign stop in Las Vegas on Thursday, the former president bombarded the audience with false claims about, among other things, hordes of undocumented “animals” entering the United States, widespread voter fraud, and the size of the crowd there to see him at the UNLV Thomas & Mack Center, insisting there were 29,000 people inside the 19,522-capacity arena.
Must’ve been cramped!
Justin Rohrlich reports.
Gaza, the voting gender gap, and whether Harris can really win over Republicans
20:58
Oliver O'Connell
John Bowden writes:
Will Kamala Harris lose Michigan because of her refusal to separate herself from Joe Biden on Gaza? Will she win enough Republicans elsewhere? Will women be Donald Trump’s downfall?
We’ll know the answers in two weeks. Welcome to the final stretch.
Read on...
Harris condemns Trump for calling America ‘the trash can of the world’
20:55
Oliver O'Connell
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for belittling the United States by calling it “the trash can of the world” saying Americans deserve better.
“It’s just another example of how he really belittles our country,” Harris said on Friday.
“This is someone who is a former president of the United States who has a bully pulpit, and this is how he uses it, to tell the rest of the world that somehow the United States of America is trash.”
“The President of the United States should be someone who elevates discourse and talks about the best of who we are and invests in the best of who we are, not someone like Donald Trump constantly demeaning and belittling who the American people are. America deserves better.”
COMMENT: This election, I’m keeping my vote a secret from my five kids. Here’s why
20:50
Oliver O'Connell
Megan Thompson writes:
When I hit the voting booths this November, I’ll have my five kids in tow. They may learn the importance of casting a vote, but if they ask who I’m voting for, I simply won’t tell them.
Continue reading...
Bill Clinton called Kari Lake ‘attractive’, here’s her savage comeback
20:46
Oliver O'Connell
Arizona US Senate candidate Kari Lake had a sharp response on Thursday after former president Bill Clinton called her an “attractive” but substance-free backer of Donald Trump.
Josh Marcus has the story.
Washington Post declines to endorse a candidate for president for first time in 36 years
20:40
Oliver O'Connell
The Washington Post editorial board will not be endorsing a candidate for president this year, nor will it do so in any future election, publisher and CEO Will Lewis announced on Friday.
The decision generated backlash from many who expected the Post to endorse Harris, who is locked in a statistical dead heat with Donald Trump, according to national polls — especially after its endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020 that called on voters to “expel the worst president of modern times.”
An endorsement of Harris was reportedly spiked by owner Jeff Bezos, as Justin Rohrlich reports.
Watch: Painful moment JD Vance begins shout out to scandal-tainted North Carolina Lt Gov
20:36
Oliver O'Connell
NEW >> JD Vance gives a shout out to Mark Robinson in North Carolina.
— Ammar Moussa (@ammarmufasa) October 25, 2024
"I want to give a shout out, you guys have a great Lieutenant Governor... *long pause* S-s-sorry. *pause* Sorry, Mark isn't here"
Uh oh. pic.twitter.com/U6dm6S8bIo
This is really, really, really awkward given the Trump campaign has been distancing itself from scandal-tainted Lt Gov Mark Robinson for weeks now.
If you can’t remember why, here’s a refresher:
Trump mocked for claiming 29,000 supporters flocked to see him work fryer at McDonald’s
20:30
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has been mocked for claiming 29,000 supporters flocked to see him work the fryer at McDonald’s during his campaign stunt last weekend.
“We had 29,000 people surrounding it. We weren’t sure if we were able to get out,” Trump boasted at a rally in Las Vegas on Thursday night.
Unfortunately, that number eclipses the population of the town in which the outlet was situated, as Rhian Lubin reports.
Harris addresses Trump calling America world’s ‘garbage can’
20:20
Oliver O'Connell
Kamala Harris has commented on Donald Trump’s latest trash-talking of America during one of his rallies on Thursday.
The vice president said: “I also do want to address the comment that Donald Trump made about America being the trash can of the world... it's just another example of how he really belittles our country.
“This is someone who is a former president of the United States who has a bully pulpit, and this is how he uses it, to tell the rest of the world that somehow the United States of America is is, it's trash.
“And I think again, the President of the United States should be someone who elevates discourse and talks about the best of who we are and invests in the best of who we are, not someone like Donald Trump, constantly demeaning and belittling who the American people are. America deserves better.
Trump says he’s ‘not supposed’ to tell supporters he’s winning in battleground states
20:10
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump claimed he’s winning in three key swing states - before telling supporters that he’s “not supposed to say that.”
The former president made the unfounded claims that he’s leading in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania at a Turning Point Action rally on Thursday night. The event was hosted by the political advocacy arm of Turning Point USA, an organization founded by far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.
“But I’m not supposed to say that,” Trump said. “Pretend it’s close, everybody has to. They’re afraid that if you hear that they’re not going to vote.”
Katie Hawkinson reports on yet another incident of the former president saying the quiet part out loud.
Watch: Trump wants to break Eisenhower’s record for deportations
20:05
Oliver O'Connell
Trump on Eisenhower: "He has the record for deportations because he couldn't stand people pouring into the country. And I think we'll break that record." pic.twitter.com/d9BwWTIm4u
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 25, 2024
Tucker Carlson and Trump to hold Halloween rally – after ‘creepy’ speech about ‘angry daddy’
19:50
Oliver O'Connell
Tucker Carlson is now set to join Donald Trump for a campaign rally on Halloween, after he raised eyebrows for his bizarre rally speech where he likened the former president to a “dad” coming home to give his “bad little girl” a “vigorous spanking.”
The former Fox News host is hosting an event, described as a hurricane relief benefit, in the battleground state of Arizona on October 31 – just five days before Election Day. Trump is one of the guests billed to join him at the event.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
Trump targets Texas voters with misinformation about migrants
19:42
Ariana Baio
Trump touted his familiar claims about immigration at a rally in Austin, Texas on Friday afternoon claiming there is “mass migrant crime” and other countries are “dumping” prisoners into the United States.
Trump in Texas: "The Congo -- that's a hot place right now ... It's not even believable actually when you think ... then you have the transgender operations all over the place." pic.twitter.com/thEnMCq6Dt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 25, 2024
COMMENT: No, young Black men aren’t to blame if Trump wins
19:30
Oliver O'Connell
Richard Addy and Luba Kassova write:
Several news outlets have reported that Black men and, more specifically, young Black men are increasingly likely to vote for Trump. And earlier in October, in his efforts to ramp up support for Kamala Harris, Barack Obama said at one high-profile Democratic campaigning event that he was disappointed to see less energy among them than during his own White House campaigns, prodding them to step up their game. His comments have proved controversial, with some Democrats angry with Obama for singling out men of color in this way.
Their anger is understandable. The evidence to back any of the claims for young Black men’s increased support for Trump is deeply flawed, perhaps even non-existent.
Continue reading...
Trump promises to give enemies ‘long term prison sentences’ if re-elected
19:16
Ariana Baio
Donald Trump repeated his promise to prosecute those he believes are corrupt, this time declaring “lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters and corrupt election officials” will be given “long term prison sentences.”
In a Truth Social post on Friday afternoon, Trump said “when” he is re-elected he will prosecute those people to the fullest extent of the law. With the Supreme Court’s recent presidential immunity ruling, Trump could use his executive power with no criminal implications to go after his opponents.
The former president said he would prosecute those people for “cheating” the election – a claim Trump waged in the last three presidential election cycles to use in the event he loses.
“WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again. We cannot let our Country further devolve into a Third World Nation, AND WE WON’T! Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.”
Trump appears to be setting himself up to once again claim the election was stolen from him unfairly if Vice President Kamala Harris wins.
Pennsylvania county says election workers flagged 2,500 possibly fraudulent voter registrations
19:10
AP
Officials in a Pennsylvania county said Friday an investigation has been launched because election workers identified about 2,500 voter registration forms that may be fraudulent.
“Board of Elections staff members identified and contained incidents of voter registration fraud,” the Lancaster County Elections Board said in a news release early Friday. “Elections staff and the district attorney’s office are currently assessing the nature and the volume of fraud.”
Pennsylvania is a pivotal swing state in the Nov. 5 election, where polls indicate the presidential contest is a close race and where 19 electoral votes are at stake.
Read more...
Trump and Harris remain deadlocked in latest poll
18:50
Oliver O'Connell
Other polls have reflected similar numbers that put Harris and Trump neck-and-neck, suggesting this election will be one of the closest in recent history.
Ariana Baio reports.