More than 200 people who previously worked for President George W. Bush and Senators Mitt Romney and John McCain have signed a letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, the New York Times reports.
RFK Jr. Asked to Join Trump’s Transition Team
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in an interview that ran tonight that he had been asked to join the Trump campaign’s presidential transition team to “help pick the people who will be running the government,” the New York Times reports.
Judge Pauses Biden Program for Undocumented Spouses
“A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked on Monday a Biden administration program that could offer a path to citizenship for up to half a million undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens, ruling in favor of 16 Republican-led states that sued the administration,” the New York Times reports.
“Judge J. Campbell Barker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued an administrative stay to effectively halt the program, which started accepting applications last week, while the court considers the merits of the case.”
Lindsey Graham Grovels After Trump Criticism
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) vowed to stand by former President Donald Trump despite Trump saying he “doesn’t care” what Graham thinks, CNN reports.
Inside the Last Weeks of RFK Jr.’s Campaign
Time: “As his poll numbers sagged— in a recent CBS News poll, Kennedy drew 2%—and his campaign ran out of cash, Kennedy blamed his lack of momentum on a multi-front war against his campaign. But he particularly blamed Democrats, saying his campaign was under siege by shadowy DNC operatives… Kennedy said his campaign had been infiltrated and sabotaged by undercover Democratic operatives trying to ‘gut it from within.’ At every level, he said, ‘we’re seeing a lot of dirty tricks being used against the campaign.'”
At that time, Kennedy was withering in his appraisal of Trump: “I don’t think President Trump has a high interest in actually governing. I think he had a very high interest in campaigning.”
His running mate, Nicole Shanahan was equally disparaging: “I don’t like his style. It’s very brutish.”
50 Megadonors Pump $1.5 Billion Into Presidential Race
“The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election,” according to the Washington Post.
Special Counsel Seeks to Revive Classified Docs Case
“U.S. prosecutors are seeking to reinstate the criminal case charging Donald Trump with mishandling classified documents and obstruction, arguing a Florida judge was wrong to toss out the indictment this summer,” Bloomberg reports.
“Less than three months before US voters decide if Trump should win a second term as president, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office on Monday asked an appeals court to reverse US District Judge Aileen Cannon’s July order. Prosecutors say Cannon erred in finding Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.”
Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Trump
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) formally endorsed Donald Trump in Detroit, the New York Times reports.
Jill Stein to Remain on Wisconsin Ballot
“Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein will remain on the ballot in the crucial swing state of Wisconsin after the state Supreme Court decided on Monday not to hear a Democratic challenge seeking to oust her,” the AP reports.
Trump Shifts Abortion Messaging Yet Again
“Donald Trump has said abortion is an issue best left to the states, complained about Republican messaging and avoided mentioning it in a speech accepting his party’s nomination,” Bloomberg reports.
“The GOP presidential nominee is now taking a new tack: Positioning himself as a leader on women’s reproductive rights, much to the outrage of Democrats — who say the pivot is an insincere ploy to win over voters — and some of his allies who think he’s abandoned them.”
“Trump’s comments come as the Republican ticket struggles with how to talk about the reproductive rights restrictions they’ve championed for years, without turning off the key swing state voters they’ll need in November. Earlier this month, Trump said he was open to restricting access to mifepristone, a pill used in medical abortions.”
Trump Undercuts His Campaign on Debate Rules
“Donald Trump appeared to undercut his campaign’s efforts to keep the same rules in place for his debate against Vice President Kamala Harris next month,” CNN reports.
“Trump’s team would like for the microphones to be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak, as was the case during the first debate with President Joe Biden.”
“But while Trump took aim at what he called the ‘biased’ network Sunday evening – complaining about reporter Jonathan Karl and a panel of ‘Trump Haters’ on his Truth Social platform – he said Monday that he would prefer the mics to stay on.”
Robert Reich: How will team Trump tell him he should be muted during his debate with Harris?
Trump Clemency Recipient Could Be Sent Back to Prison
“A New York federal judge ordered U.S. probation officials to investigate the recent arrest of a convicted drug dealer who was released from prison in early 2021 after his 10-year sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump,” CNBC reports.
“The order raises the possibility that the drug dealer, Jonathan Braun, could be sent back to prison.”
Harris Stands by Decision to Leave Afghanistan
“Vice President Kamala Harris said that she stands behind President Joe Biden’s decision to leave Afghanistan, as the Democratic nominee came under attack from Donald Trump on the third anniversary of the botched U.S. withdrawal,” USA Today reports.
Said Harris: “Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones. I will never hesitate to take whatever action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people and the homeland.”
Democrats Have Finally Found Trump’s Achilles’ Heel
Michael Tomasky: “Harris’s campaign so far has been a work of genius on several levels, but maybe the most ingenious stroke of all has been the decision to mock Trump—to present him not only as someone to fear but also to ridicule. Harris perfectly encapsulated this two-pronged attack in these memorable lines from her acceptance speech: ‘In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences—but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.… Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.’”
“But the emphasis has been on ridicule (Tim Walz’s “weird” comment, Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s jab at Trump’s bone spurs, Barack Obama’s hilarious hand gesture when he was talking about Trump’s obsession with crowd size). It’s great on three levels. The first is that it must drive Trump nuts, and when he goes nuts, he says especially nutty things. Second, it’s arguably more persuasive to swing voters than calling Trump a fascist. Trump is a fascist, make no mistake. But he’s also ridiculous. Mocking him over his Hannibal Lecter obsession will stick in apolitical people’s minds far more strongly than warning about his plans to wreck the Justice Department, and in its way, it’s just as disqualifying.”
Cornel West Courts Anti-Vax Voters
“Cornel West seems to see an opening in the field after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped his bid for the office this past week,” the Daily Beast reports.
“In what appeared to be a blatant play for RFK Jr.’s supporters—who Donald Trump is hoping will go to him after getting that candidate’s endorsement—West posted a video on social media Sunday that co-opted the anti-vaccine message that had been central to Kennedy’s campaign.”
Said West: “I want to speak to my brothers and sisters of all colors who are concerned, not just about the vaccine but the role of the pharmaceutical companies in shaping public policy.”
Colorado Republicans Oust Their Leader
Colorado Republicans voted to oust state party chairman Dave Williams from his leadership position, Colorado Public Radio reports.
“Williams dismissed the meeting as ‘illegal’, possibly setting up a legal showdown over the leadership of the party.”
“It’s the most tumultuous chapter yet in the endlessly controversial tenure of Williams, who took the helm of the state GOP in 2023, and has angered many in the party for his hard right stances and willingness to attack other Republicans.”
RFK Jr. Says Trump Will Announce Democratic Defections
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that Donald Trump will make a “series of announcements about other Democrats who are joining his 2024 campaign,” Newsweek reports.
Giuliani Claims Steve Bannon Is Being ‘Tortured’ In Prison
Rudy Giuliani said that Steve Bannon is being “tortured” by not having access to television in prison, the HuffPost reports.
Said Giuliani: “Steve Bannon is not being treated the way other prisoners are being treated. His case has been moved from the Bureau of Prisons to crooked attorney general Garland’s office, and they’re calling the shots because contacts that I have in the Bureau of Prisons have told me they’ve been taken outta the case.”
He added: “Boy, this election is about a fascist regime. And Steve Bannon is prime number one victim.”
