Kamala Harris has surged ahead in the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll, the first conducted by the group since the Democratic National Convention. The vice president has made big gains among key voting groups and holds a five-point lead nationally over Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the former president continues to face backlash over his recent visit to the Arlington National Cemetery after his campaign team filmed around the graves of fallen US soldiers for a TikTok video.
Further, Trump’s running mate JD Vance declared Kamala Harris should “go to hell” over the handling of the chaotic US withdrawals from Afghanistan in 2021 while on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
The Ohio Senator denied accusations that a Trump-Vance campaign member verbally abused and pushed aside a cemetery official during wreath-laying ceremony on Monday for 13 fallen military personnel who died in a suicide bombing in 2021.
Later, CNN will air the first interview with Harris and her running mate Tim Walz who will be quizzed by anchor Dana Bash in Georgia — the next major test in their bid for the White House.
The primetime interview will air at 9pm ET as the Walz-Harris campaign tour bus reaches its last stop in the Peach State.
Key Points
- Harris surges ahead of Trump in latest USA Today poll taken after DNC
- Trump faces fresh backlash as he posts TikTok video of Arlington cemetery incident
- Vance says Harris can ‘go to hell’ over Afghanistan servicemen deaths
- Harris and Walz to sit for unscripted CNN interview tonight
- Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaign: Today’s schedules
- Trump shares MAGA supporter’s disgusting remark about Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton
Harris surges ahead of Trump in latest USA Today poll taken after DNC
13:55
Oliver O'Connell
Kamala Harris has surged ahead of Donald Trump, 48 percent to 43 percent in a new USA Today/Suffolk University Poll that was conducted after the Democratic National Convention.
This is an eight-point turnaround in the presidential race from late June, when Trump led President Joe Biden in the survey by nearly four points.
Per USA Today:
The vice president’s small lead was fueled by big shifts among some key demographic groups traditionally crucial for Democrats, including Hispanic and Black voters and young people. Among those with annual incomes of less than $20,000, in the biggest change, a three-point Trump edge over Biden in June has become a 23-point Harris advantage over Trump in August.
The poll of 1,000 likely voters, taken by landline and cell phone Sunday through Wednesday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. With the election approaching, the survey is now measuring likely voters; previous polls were of registered voters.
Harris has succeeded in doing what Biden never could this year: Lead Trump.
David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said: “With the 'Brat Summer' of Kamala Harris emojis winding down, young people, persons of color, and low-income households have swung dramatically toward the vice president.”
He added: “These same demographics were emphasized and woven together by numerous speakers at the convention.”
Some of the biggest shifts since the June poll, which fall outside the poll's margin of error, include:
- Voters 18 to 34 years old previously supported Trump by 11 points and now back Harris by 13 points (49%-36%)
- Hispanic voters, who have been heavily courted by the Trump campaign, moved from supporting Trump by two points to supporting Harris by 16 points (53%-37%)
- Black voters, one of the Democrats’ traditional core constituencies, shifted from supporting Biden by a 47-point margin to supporting Harris by 64 points (76%-12%)
- Lower-income voters now support Harris by a margin of 23 points (58%-35%)
X’s AI tool Grok ‘lacks effective guardrails preventing election disinformation'
13:40
James Liddell
X’s artificial intelligence assistant Grok lacks “effective guardrails” that would stop users from creating “potentially misleading images” about 2024 candidates or election information, according to a new study.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) studied Grok’s ability to transform prompts about election fraud and candidates into images.
It found that the tool was able to churn out “convincing images” after being given prompts, including one AI image of Vice President Kamala Harris doing drugs and another of former president Donald Trumplooking sick in bed.
Kelly Rissman has the details.
Trump faces fresh backlash as he posts campaign video filmed at Arlington cemetery
13:20
James Liddell
Donald Trump is facing a fresh wave of backlash over his controversial incident at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, after he posted a campaign video on TikTok featuring footage from the visit.
This week, the former president has sparked fury from veterans, military groups, and soldiers’ families after he was, firstly, captured posing with his thumbs up and smiling at a soldier’s grave and, secondly, two of his campaign staffers were accused of verbally abusing and pushing a cemetery official.
Now, Trump is under fire for turning the anniversary of the deaths of fallen American servicemen into a campaign video with social media users branding it “disgusting.”
Myriam Page has the story.
Poll: Trump and Harris almost neck and neck across swing states
13:01
James Liddell
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are almost neck and neck as they thrash it out to secure swing state voters.
A new survey from Emerson College Polling andThe Hill highlights the narrow margins between the presidential rivals, who it says have secured three swing states apiece and tied in another.
The poll found Harris to lead trump in Georgia (49 per cent to 48 per cent), Michigan (50 per cent to 47 per cent) and Nevada (49 per cent to 48 per cent).
While Trump leads in Arizona (50 per cent to 47 per cent), North Carolina (49 per cent to 48 per cent) and Wisconsin (49 per cent to 48 per cent), according to the survey.
The pair are said to be tied at 48 per cent each in Pennsylvania.
An analysis of 141 polls byThe Hill shows that Harris leads Trump 49.5 per cent to 45.2 per cent nationally.
Exclusive: Dems target Trump in Michigan and Wisconsin with scathing ‘Project 2025’ billboard
12:40
James Liddell
When former president Donald Trump’s bespoke Boeing 757 lands in Michigan and Wisconsin on Wednesday, he will be met in both places with a series of billboards meant to highlight what Democrats are calling a potential $4,000 per family tax hike courtesy of his proposed tax policies.
The ex-president is set to visit both swing states for a pair of rallies as he and his running-mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, are fighting to regain momentum in their campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Andrew Feinberg has all the exclusive details below.
Walz shares photos of first day on Georgia bus tour as battleground blitz begins
12:20
James Liddell
On the road again with @KamalaHarris in Georgia.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 29, 2024
All I have to say is: Let’s roll. pic.twitter.com/K9K0sd0iMd
Trump calls for all Jan. 6 charges to be dropped after Pelosi video release
12:00
James Liddell
Donald Trump has called for all of his charges connected to the January 6, 2021 attacks to be “dropped immediately” after newly released video footage of Nancy Pelosi in the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riots.
The footage was handed over from HBO to congress earlier this week, with a clip shared by Trump showing the then-House speaker in the back on an SUV while being filmed by her daughter in the moments after the attack.
The video footage shared on the former president’s Truth Social captures the moment Pelosi says: “I can't believe the stupidity of this. And I take full responsibility.”
Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote alongside the video: “Based on Crazy Nancy Pelosi’s taped admission to her daughter, ALL J6 CASES SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED.”
The clip, however, stops short of Pelosi finishing her sentence: “...for not holding the security accountable for what could have happened”.
In other footage, the former house speaker refers to Trump as a “domestic enemy” and says she feels “sick about what he did to the Capitol and the country today”.
It comes as Trump plans to keep challenging the Jan 6 charges held against him, in light of Special Counsel Jack Smith filing a superseding indictment against the former president on Tuesday following the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling last month.
Watch: Jesse Watters attacks Harris for doing CNN interview with Walz – after interviewing Trump and Vance together
11:40
James Liddell
Watters, who interviewed Trump and Vance together, attacks Harris for doing an interview with Walz pic.twitter.com/44iN2Zfx93
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 29, 2024
Vance to speak at same Boston firefighters convention day after Walz
11:21
James Liddell
JD Vance is getting set to make an address at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) convention just 24-hours after his Democratic vice presidential rival Tim Walz spoke at the same event.
The Ohio senator will make remarks in front of members of one of the US’s largest firefighters unions in Boston this afternoon.
Both parties are battling for the endorsement of the IAFF, which represents almost 350,000 full-time firefighters.
Vance is said to be introduced by former paramedic firefighter and only firefighter elected into congress, Florida Representative Carlos Giménez, a source told Politico.
It comes just a day after Walz addressed the union, telling the crowd that “firefighters, police officers, construction trades, teachers and nurses and veterans,” built the country.
Where are the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaigns today?
11:01
James Liddell
Harris-Walz
Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a rally for voters in Savannah, Georgia, at 5.15 ET as her bus tour ends.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will travel to Ketchum, Idaho, to deliver remarks at a fundraising event.
CNN announced Harris and Walz will sit with Dana Bash for an interview Thursday that will air at 9pm ET, marking their first unscripted of the presidential campaign.
Trump-Vance
Former president Donald Trump will speak about the economy, inflation, and manufacturing in Potterville, Michigan, at 3.30pm ET.
Trump will visit La Crosse, Wisconsin, for a town hall moderated by former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard at 6pm CT.
Ohio Senator JD Vance will speak at the International Association of Firefighters Convention in Boston, 24-hours after his Democratic VP rival Tim Walz made an address at the same convention.
Obama marks 10th anniversary of tan suit controversy with ode to Harris
10:40
James Liddell
During a live 2014 press conference about the US military’s response to ISIS in Syria, then-president Barack Obama did something that shocked many Americans: he sported a tan suit.
Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs described Obama’s fashion statement at the time as “shocking to a lot of people”.
Now, the former president has marked 10 years since sporting his controversial clothing with an ode to Vice President Kamala Harris on X - who sported a similar tan suit at the Democratic National Convention last week.
See their side-by-side photo below:
How it started. How it's going.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 28, 2024
Ten years later, and it's still a good look! https://t.co/NKXRGNgJPv pic.twitter.com/KeI1gn7HSg
RFK Jr caused wife Cheryl Hines ‘a lot of discomfort’ by endorsing Trump
10:20
James Liddell
Robert F Kennedy Jr revealed that he caused his wife Cheryl Hines “a lot of discomfort” after he culled his independent presidential campaign and announced his endorsement for Republican candidate Donald Trump.
“I would say Cheryl’s reaction was the opposite of encouraging,” RFK Jr said of the Hollywood actress while speaking to TMZ on Tuesday.
“She is a lifelong Democrat and the idea of me supporting Donald Trump was, like I said, it was something she would have never imagined, something that she never wanted in her life.”
He continued: “I think it causes her a lot of discomfort and I’m very grateful to her for giving me support, but she was not somebody who was clamoring for this move. I would say the opposite is true.”
RFK Jr, who comes from a long lineage of Democrats including his uncle, former president John F Kennedy, pledged allegiance to the Republicans last week as he continued to plummet in the polls.
His endorsement of Trump stemmed from a belief that a “realistic path to electoral victory” was no longer possible, he announced in Arizona on Friday.
“My joining the Trump campaign will be a difficult sacrifice for my wife and children, but worthwhile if there's even a small chance of saving these kids,” he added.
Watch: Trump and Gabbard say they recognise ‘differences’ in stilted TikTok clip
10:00
James Liddell
Vance dubbed ‘savage’ after posting ‘Cats for Vance’ picture to social media
09:40
James Liddell
Ohio senator JD vance has faced backlash for posting a picture of a cat sporting a “Cats for Vance” neckerchief on X.
The Republican vice presidential nominee continues to face flak for his resurfaced sexist comments coining female Democrats as “childless cat ladies” who are “miserable at their own lives”.
Vance has staunchly defended his 2021 statement as a joke and merely sarcasm, telling NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that the “Democrats have wilfully misinterpreted” his comments.
Social media users, however, have been quick to call out Vance on his latest feline-based snipe.
“Yes, your cat knows that you're weird,” on X user wrote. “Absolute savagery,” another added.
A third scorned: “You can't do the funny. Just doesn't work. Sorry, JV.”
See his post below:
I wonder if this cat knows... pic.twitter.com/ZdxHWskovY
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 29, 2024
Just in: Trump staffers involved in Arlington cemetery incident ‘identified’
09:11
James Liddell
Two of Trump’s campaign team who were said to have been involved in an “altercation” with a cemetery official at the a wreath-laying event in Virginia earlier this week have allegedly been identified.
The New York Times has named the former president’s press secretary Steven Cheung and campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita as those involved in the incident that occurred at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday during a ceremony for 13 fallen Afghanistan veterans.
The pair have been accused of partaking in a physical and verbal altercation with a cemetery official after they were directed to not take photographs, NPR first reported. Cheung told Politico that an incident occurred but denied an altercation.
The Times identified the anonymous cemetery staff member as female.
LaCivita branded the individual as “despicable” for “physically trying to prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn disgrace,” he previously told Politico.
Cheung previously told the outlet that the unnamed individual was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode” in their decision to “block President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony”.
The Independent has reached out to Trump’s representatives for comment.
Walz laments loss of fire captain and ‘dear friend’ at the IAFF convention
09:10
James Liddell
Being here at the @IAFFofficial Convention is personal. Last year, Minnesota lost Fire Captain Chris Parsons in the line of duty, and I lost a dear friend.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 28, 2024
It’s a heartbreak no family or community should have to endure. To our firefighting heroes: We see your noble courage. https://t.co/r4qqyOvbYO
Trump faces furor over Arlington cemetery TikTok post amid ‘altercation’ allegations
08:51
James Liddell
Donald Trump has faced backlash after posting a TikTok video from his visit to the Arlington National Cemetery as his team is embroiled in controversy over allegations of their involvement in a “altercation” with Army staff.
The former president and his campaign team attended a wreath laying ceremony on Monday in honor of 13 fallen US military personnel killed during the US’s problematic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Along with an alleged incident between a Trump team member and cemetery official - which Trump’s campaign denies - the former president has also been accused of politicizing the ceremony and using clips of his visit as fodder for his TikTok profile.
One of the families of the fallen soldiers, the Marckesanos, allegedly did not give Trump’s team permission to film and take videos of the gravesite. Cemetery officials said that capturing the content for political gain violates federal law.
“Should never have happened,” Trump captioned the post.
“We lost 13 great, great people,” Trump says in the video over a montage of clips of him beside graves and interacting with families of the deceased.
“What a horrible day it was. We didn’t lose one person in 18 months and then they took over that disaster, the leaving of Afghanistan.”
It comes as the former president was photographed smiling and flashing a thumbs up during Monday’s ceremony, which has been widely condemned as insensitive.
Harris and Walz to sit for first unscripted campaign interview on CNN tonight
08:26
James Liddell
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will sit down for their first unscripted interview together since the pair stepped on the Democratic ticket.
Harris has been on the campaign trail for weeks and has yet to give a formal interview or press conference.
But tonight (August 29), the vice president and her running mate will make a primetime appearance as they are quizzed by Dana Bash.
The interview will be aired at 9pm ET from Georgia, as the Walz-Harris campaign tour bus ploughs throw the Peach State.
It marks the next major test in their bid for the White House as the pair ride high of the back of the Democratic National Convention last week and, separately, offers an opportunity to shut down dissenters.
The vice president has faced flak from a sea of Republicans - with lines of attack often spearheaded by former President Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance.
Earlier this month at a Wisconsin rally, the Ohio governor called it “disgraceful” that Harris “refuses to take a single question from the American media”.
Trump shares MAGA supporter’s disgusting remark about Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton
08:00
Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump continued his sexist attacks against Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris — this time by sharing an outrageous post from one of his supporters.
In his latest offensive against the vice president, who is leading in the polls, Trump reposted on Tuesday a comment suggesting that she slept her way into power by dating former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in the 1990s.
Full story from Kelly Rissman here:
Watch: Dr Phil’s full interview with RFK Jr
07:15
Mike Bedigan
WATCH: @RobertKennedyJr sits down with Dr. Phil to discuss endorsing President Trump and how this decision will impact the issues that matter most to his campaign. Watch this and more on MeritTV and the Merit+ app.
— Dr. Phil (@DrPhil) August 28, 2024
Brought to you in part by @PatriotMobile pic.twitter.com/5Ido3gIlBg
Watch: RFK Jr speaks highly of Trump despite recalling suing him 'a couple of times'
06:30
Mike Bedigan
RFK Jr says he’s overcome ‘abhorrence’ for Trump to support him as he recalls suing the former president
06:00
Mike Bedigan
Robert F Kennedy Jr says he has overcome feelings of “abhorrence” for Donald Trump in order to support his presidential campaign, as he recalled suing the former president “a couple of times.”
Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates
05:15
Mike Bedigan
Take a look at The Independent’s latest polling data:
Swing state won by Trump in 2020 is now in play for Harris, political forecaster says
04:30
Mike Bedigan
A crucial swing state could be in play for Democrats this year after voting for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, a new report reveals.
Find out which one, below:
Watch: RFK Jr says he’s overcome ‘abhorrence’ for Trump to support him
03:45
Mike Bedigan
Watch: Trump defense secretary calls for investigation into use of Arlington for political purposes
03:00
Mike Bedigan
Trump’s Former Sec. Def. Mark Esper: “There is no more hallowed ground in this nation than Arlington Cemetery…I think it should be investigated…no person or party on either side should ever use Arlington National Cemetery…for partisan political purposes.” pic.twitter.com/fMFhSAdgKj
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) August 28, 2024
Watch: JD Vance mistakenly refers to Abbey Gate as 'Abbey Road’
02:15
Mike Bedigan
Watch: JD Vance defends controversial Trump appearance at Arlington cemetery and tells Kamala Harris ‘go to hell’
01:30
Mike Bedigan
Senator JD Vance has defended Donald Trump’s controversial appearance at Arlington cemetery and told Vice President Kamala Harris to “go to hell”.
The Republican vice presidential nominee responded to a question about an "altercation" that reportedly took place at Arlington National Cemetery between Trump campaign and cemetery staff over video recordings, following a wreath-laying ceremony for the 13 servicemembers killed at Abbey Gate in Kabul three years ago.
Watch Vance’s comments here:
RFK Jr says he has thrown support behind Trump despite ‘abhorrence’ for him four years ago
01:05
Mike Bedigan
Robert F Kennedy Jr said he has thrown his support behind Donald Trump despite sharing feelings of “abhorrence” for the former president four years ago.
He acknowledged that he would be happier with November’s election going in favor of the GOP than the Democrats, “even though I grew up in the Democratic party and, you know... I had the same kind of orientation towards abhorrence for President Trump, as many Democrats maybe... four years ago.”
RFK Jr says it is ‘possible’ he has selected the next US president
Thursday 29 August 2024 00:58
Mike Bedigan
RFK Jr said that his decision to end his own presidential campaign has made it “possible” that he has selected the next president of the United States.
During his prime-time interview with Dr Phil he was asked about the impact of independent voters on November’s results.
He was asked: “If this comes down to independents... and you've given your support to the Trump candidacy, do you feel like you may very well be the one that selects the next President of the United States by your influence?”
“That's possible,” RFK Jr replied.
“But what we recognized from our polling is that if I stayed in the race, it would have almost certainly swung the race to Vice President Harris, who was trying to throw me off the ballot in all the states. Ironically, I thought that that would not be a good outcome, because I differ with her on all the issues.”
He added that his decision to drop out of the race made it “fair” but that now it was “much more likely” that Trump would win in November.
RFK Jr says that despite suing Trump ‘a couple of times’ they were still ‘friendly’
Thursday 29 August 2024 00:31
Mike Bedigan
Robert F Kennedy Jr says that despite that fact that he has sued Donald Trump “a couple of times,” he and the former president were always “friendly.”
The former independent presidential candidate sat down with TV host Dr Phil for an interview, shortly after he threw his support behind Trump.
“We’ve known each other for a long time, in fact I’ve litigated against him,” RFK said.
“I’ve sued him a couple of times on golf courses that he was building or he was trying to build up in the New York State reservoir... and I was suing to get them from being built.
“But even during that time when I was litigating against him, he ended up giving me a ride to Florida on his on his plane, so and we were friendly, and you know, we had a great time and a lot of laughs. He’s a very congenial annual interesting guy, very warm.”
Trump also sat down with Dr Phil, in an interview that was broadcast on Tuesday night. In the interview he described RFK as “a different kind of guy” and said they were “somewhat friendly” but remained cagey on whether he would be offering him a role in his administration.
RFK to follow Trump on Dr Phil – interview to broadcast at 8pm ET
Thursday 29 August 2024 00:00
Mike Bedigan
On Wednesday evening a pre-recorded Dr Phil interview, this time with Robert F Kennedy Jr will broadcast.
The former independent presidential candidate dropped out of the race on Friday, and threw his support behind Trump.
Speaking about RFK Jr’s endorsement during his own interview on Tuesday, Trump told Dr Phil: “I’m very honored. He’s a smart guy, a different kind of a guy, he loves our country. He has some very good views on a lot of things. I've known him for a long time, we’re somewhat friendly actually.
However, he remaiend cagey on whether Kennedy Jr would be given a job, adding: “I think he’s going to be a great asset. Will I have him in the administration? I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it. But he adds a lot to the election.”
RFK Jr’s interview is due to air at 8pm ET.
WEDNESDAY: Why did @RobertKennedyJr make the decision to endorse President Trump at this point in the race?#RFKJr #RFK #DrPhil #Primetime #MeritTV pic.twitter.com/Ijhu38D56r
— Dr. Phil (@DrPhil) August 27, 2024
Watch: Trump rants about nuclear weapons causing climate change
Wednesday 28 August 2024 23:30
Mike Bedigan
Vance admits campaign screwed up awkward donut shop visit: ‘I just felt terrible for that woman’
Wednesday 28 August 2024 23:00
Mike Bedigan
JD Vance has admitted that the Trump campaign screwed up an awkward visit to a donut shop in Valdosta, Georgia last week.
As the assembled media looked on, Vance struggled to make small talk while buying baked goods, with one of the employees asking to be kept off-camera. The moment has since gone viral.
Gustaf Kilander has the full story:
Vance says Harris can ‘go to hell’ over Afghanistan servicemen deaths
Wednesday 28 August 2024 22:15
Mike Bedigan
JD Vance blasted Kamala Harris, telling crowds the vice president could “go to hell” as he discussed her response to the deaths of 13 military servicemen in Afghanistan.
The Republican vice presidential nominee was asked about a recent altercation which allegedly occurred at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, between a cemetery staff member and a one of the Trump-Vance campaign team.
“Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she won’t even do an investigation into what happened and she wants to give Donald Trump because he showed up, she can go to hell!” he said.
There are, in fact, two ongoing investigations into the incident at Abbey Gate outside of Kabul Airport, where the servicemen were killed on August 26 2021.
.@JDVance: "Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she won't even do an investigation into what happened and she wants to give Donald Trump because he showed up, she can go to hell!" pic.twitter.com/hoUO0DRhQm
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 28, 2024
Politics Explained: Could Peter Mandelson make another comeback as Britain’s next ambassador to the United States?
Wednesday 28 August 2024 21:50
Oliver O'Connell
Sean O’Grady writes:
Who will be our next man – or woman – in Washington? The question has been obsessing the Westminster “bubble”, and some interested parties further afield. Much speculation has centred on Lord (Peter) Mandelson, a man who is close to the current prime minister as well as the last two Labour premiers. His reputation for practising the dark arts goes before him, and he’d be an interesting choice, but some reports suggest that he fancies being the next chancellor of the University of Oxford. Also, he has competition...
Continue reading...
Wednesday 28 August 2024 21:30
Oliver O'Connell
Harris-Walz CNN interview: Spokesperson notes 20 years of joint ticket appearances
Wednesday 28 August 2024 21:25
Oliver O'Connell
The joint ticket interview is an election year summer tradition going back 20 years. Kerry/Edwards, Obama/Biden, Romney/Ryan, Trump/Pence, Clinton/Kaine, Biden/Harris all did them. Almost always right around the conventions. Harris/Walz join this rich tradition on CNN tomorrow. https://t.co/6puWYyS8Rg
— Ian Sams (@IanSams) August 28, 2024
The interviews Harris bombed as VP — and why her CNN appearance might be different
Wednesday 28 August 2024 21:10
Oliver O'Connell
John Bowden writes:
On Thursday, Kamala Harris will sit down with CNN and her running mate, Tim Walz, for their first joint interview since the pair were officially nominated by their party.
It will be Harris’s first sit-down interview with a cable news outlet in months — and you better believe they’ll be watching at Mar-a-Lago.
Thursday’s interview presents the first post-convention challenge for the vice president, who already passed one hurdle with her selection of Walz as a running mate. That selection ended up wowing both progressives and centrists in her party; even anti-Trump conservatives who say they are voting for Harris this year seem to be on board.
But the interview is another ballgame.
Continue reading...
Harris and Walz begin tour of vital battleground
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:58
Oliver O'Connell
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have landed in Georgia to kick off a two-day swing through the southeast of the key battleground state.
Democrats carried Georgia in 2020 but likely face an uphill battle to win the traditionally conservative state again in November.
This bus tour is more like a massive rolling caravan. There’s about 35 vans, buses and SUVs all about to hit the road here in coastal Georgia. #gapol pic.twitter.com/8dvrxjpUk2
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) August 28, 2024
Former Trump lawyer predicts ex-president will serve six-to-nine years behind bars if convicted of Jan 6 charges
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:50
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s former White House lawyer anticipated that he would be sentenced to six to nine years if convicted for his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding indictment against the former president on Tuesday, keeping the same four criminal charges intact but trimming down some of the allegations in light of the Supreme Court’s immunity decision last month. In the wake of the new filing, Ty Cobb, an attorney in the Trump administration, discussed Trump’s chances of spending time behind bars on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront.
“It’s a forceful document…You can’t read this and not understand the crimes that Trump actually committed,” Cobb said.
Kelly Rissman has the story.
Watch: Vance dismisses Arlington cemetery altercation over forbidden conduct by campaign
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:37
Oliver O'Connell
No. It’s illegal to conduct political activities at Arlington. Vance was a Marine. He knows this. https://t.co/IM6cxGtf9P
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) August 28, 2024
Is it the “media creating a story” or ANC saying “We can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed” and Defense officials saying “some staff with the Trump campaign were unprofessional and were aggressive both verbally and physically towards the cemetery official.” https://t.co/ZoWLjXhdHt
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) August 28, 2024
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:30
Oliver O'Connell
New Jan 6 footage reveals Nancy Pelosi’s fury with Trump
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:10
Oliver O'Connell
New footage following the harrowing events of January 6 captures Nancy Pelosi’s anger at Donald Trump over the Capitol riot which saw a pro-MAGA mob temporarily halt the certifiying of the 2020 election results and left five people dead.
The previously unaired footage came from documentary maker Alexandra Pelosi, who was accompanying her mother in the early days of 2021 to make a film about her role as House Speaker. The film, Pelosi in the House, was released by HBO on December 13, 2022.
Some 50 minutes of footage was handed over by HBO to the House Administration Committee, headed by Republicans, this week.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Democrats launch PAC designed to help candidates fight GOP legal challenges to election results
Wednesday 28 August 2024 19:50
Oliver O'Connell
A team of Democratic strategists has launched a new political action committee to help candidates fight potential GOP legal challenges to election results this November.
The Democracy Defenders PAC has formed in anticipation of Republican legal challenges to Democratic wins this November, NBC News reports. This comes after a wave of election denialism at both the federal and state levels during the 2020 election.
The PAC will be led by former president Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina.
Katie Hawkinson has the story.
