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Obama hits campaign trail as Trump spins migrant caravan comments – live Obama hits campaign trail as Trump spins migrant caravan comments – live
(35 minutes later)
Fascinating map of what themes TV viewers are seeing in political ads - note health care plays prominently pic.twitter.com/PKw8p5HLv5
Earlier this afternoon Trump tweeted a photoshopped image of himself with the slogan “sanctions are coming”. The tweet used typography from the HBO series Game of Thrones, playing on the show’s repeated refrain: “winter is coming”.
Stars of the show have started to respond. Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark on the series, tweeted a snarky “Not today” in response. Her co-star and on-screen sister Sophie Turner simply said: “Ew.”
How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?
HBO have requested that their imagery “not be misappropriated for political purposes.” In a tweet from their official account, they joked: “How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?”
Bloomberg has this wrap up of candidates twisting and bending their positions, and taking unexpected shots and opponents, at the eve of the election.
“The attempted role reversals in this campaign are just bonkers,” said Jack Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California. “Kind of like Bonnie and Clyde portraying themselves as champions of bank security.”
There’s the Republican candidate arguing that his Democratic opponent won’t stand up to President Donald Trump. An ad by the party aligned with the fossil fuel industry tells voters that a candidate of the party that’s antagonistic to coal is weak on climate change. A Democrat promises to back tougher immigration enforcement while several Republicans depict themselves as defenders of Obamacare rules.
Scrapping for every vote in intensely competitive races, candidates are shading, twisting and recasting their own records and those of their opponents, aligning with causes popular in their district or state and distancing themselves from stances that aren’t. It’s a common tactic for candidates, but it’s reached unusual levels this year.
Law enforcement officials intercepted a second suspicious package addressed to California billionaire Tom Steyer Thursday at a mailing facility in Burlingame just south of San Francisco.Law enforcement officials intercepted a second suspicious package addressed to California billionaire Tom Steyer Thursday at a mailing facility in Burlingame just south of San Francisco.
Authorities said the latest package appeared to be of the same variety as the more than one dozen packages sent to prominent Democratic politicians, funders and celebrities in recent weeks culminating with the arrest of Cesar Sayoc.Authorities said the latest package appeared to be of the same variety as the more than one dozen packages sent to prominent Democratic politicians, funders and celebrities in recent weeks culminating with the arrest of Cesar Sayoc.
Politco has this dispatch from midwestern soybean country, where despite the fact that his tariffs are hurting their wallets, farmers are still behind Trump.Politco has this dispatch from midwestern soybean country, where despite the fact that his tariffs are hurting their wallets, farmers are still behind Trump.
Sitting atop his combine harvester on a clear fall day, Garrett Hawkins can add up just how much President Donald Trump’s tariffs are hitting his bottom line, from the lower price he’ll get for his soybean crop to the steeper prices he’ll pay for metal grain bins and other equipment.Sitting atop his combine harvester on a clear fall day, Garrett Hawkins can add up just how much President Donald Trump’s tariffs are hitting his bottom line, from the lower price he’ll get for his soybean crop to the steeper prices he’ll pay for metal grain bins and other equipment.
But like many of his fellow farmers in southern Illinois’ sprawling 12th Congressional District, Hawkins, 37, is still planning to vote Republican on Election Day.But like many of his fellow farmers in southern Illinois’ sprawling 12th Congressional District, Hawkins, 37, is still planning to vote Republican on Election Day.
Democrats pinpointed the district this year as one of their most likely opportunities to pick up a House seat, betting, in part, that farmers would abandon the GOP as Trump’s global trade war hits the Midwest. The district went for Obama in 2012, though Trump carried it by 15 points in 2016. But the race is turning into a showcase for how that economic argument alone may not be enough to prevail among voters, even in swing districts.Democrats pinpointed the district this year as one of their most likely opportunities to pick up a House seat, betting, in part, that farmers would abandon the GOP as Trump’s global trade war hits the Midwest. The district went for Obama in 2012, though Trump carried it by 15 points in 2016. But the race is turning into a showcase for how that economic argument alone may not be enough to prevail among voters, even in swing districts.
After running neck-and-neck with his Democratic challenger for months, incumbent Mike Bost began to pull ahead after the divisive September Senate hearings to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.After running neck-and-neck with his Democratic challenger for months, incumbent Mike Bost began to pull ahead after the divisive September Senate hearings to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
There’s a disconnect between the negative effect of Trump’s policies on his voters in farm country and their unwavering support for him. That could limit the size of the Democratic majority widely expected to take control of the House next year and give Trump cover to prolong his aggressive moves against U.S. trading partners.There’s a disconnect between the negative effect of Trump’s policies on his voters in farm country and their unwavering support for him. That could limit the size of the Democratic majority widely expected to take control of the House next year and give Trump cover to prolong his aggressive moves against U.S. trading partners.
The Toronto Star’s Washington correspondent Daniel Dale is usually a live fact checking machine anytime Trump is speaking and today in West Virginia is no different.The Toronto Star’s Washington correspondent Daniel Dale is usually a live fact checking machine anytime Trump is speaking and today in West Virginia is no different.
Trump repeats his regular lie that San Diego was begging him for the wall. Its city council passed a formal resolution of opposition to the wall. Even the Republican mayor is opposed.Trump repeats his regular lie that San Diego was begging him for the wall. Its city council passed a formal resolution of opposition to the wall. Even the Republican mayor is opposed.
Trump lies of the wall: "San Diego, we're just about finishing it up." They are not building his wall in San Diego.Trump lies of the wall: "San Diego, we're just about finishing it up." They are not building his wall in San Diego.
Trump repeats his regular claim, which no expert agrees with, that the U.S. steel industry would have quickly vanished if not for his tariffs.Trump repeats his regular claim, which no expert agrees with, that the U.S. steel industry would have quickly vanished if not for his tariffs.
Trump lies that U.S. Steel is "building seven new plants." It has made significant new investments in two existing plants. Trump sometimes claims it is six plants, sometimes seven, sometimes eight, once "eight or nine."Trump lies that U.S. Steel is "building seven new plants." It has made significant new investments in two existing plants. Trump sometimes claims it is six plants, sometimes seven, sometimes eight, once "eight or nine."
From the Associated Press:From the Associated Press:
Nine months after 17 classmates and teachers were gunned down at their Florida school, Parkland students are finally facing the moment they’ve been leading up to with marches, school walkouts and voter-registration events throughout the country: their first Election Day.Nine months after 17 classmates and teachers were gunned down at their Florida school, Parkland students are finally facing the moment they’ve been leading up to with marches, school walkouts and voter-registration events throughout the country: their first Election Day.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student activists set their sights on the 4 million US citizens turning 18 this year. They’re hoping to counteract the voter apathy that’s especially prevalent among the youth during midterm elections. Many of the activists, now household names like David Hogg, postponed college plans to mobilize young voters. Many of them support gun reform, in the name of their fallen classmates.The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student activists set their sights on the 4 million US citizens turning 18 this year. They’re hoping to counteract the voter apathy that’s especially prevalent among the youth during midterm elections. Many of the activists, now household names like David Hogg, postponed college plans to mobilize young voters. Many of them support gun reform, in the name of their fallen classmates.
“It is kind of the culmination of everything we’ve been working for,” said senior Jaclyn Corin, one of the founders of the March For Our Lives group. “This is truly the moment that young people are going to make the difference in this country.” Corin, who voted along with her dad at an early polling site on her 18th birthday, visited a half-dozen cities in just a handful of days last week, getting up at 3 a.m. to board planes.“It is kind of the culmination of everything we’ve been working for,” said senior Jaclyn Corin, one of the founders of the March For Our Lives group. “This is truly the moment that young people are going to make the difference in this country.” Corin, who voted along with her dad at an early polling site on her 18th birthday, visited a half-dozen cities in just a handful of days last week, getting up at 3 a.m. to board planes.
It has been a whirlwind for the students, with celebrity support from Oprah to Kim Kardashian, a Time magazine cover, late night TV spots and book deals but all of it misses their main target unless it motivates students to cast ballots by the end of Tuesday.It has been a whirlwind for the students, with celebrity support from Oprah to Kim Kardashian, a Time magazine cover, late night TV spots and book deals but all of it misses their main target unless it motivates students to cast ballots by the end of Tuesday.
At a University of Central Florida event during the final week of election campaigning, Stoneman Douglas graduate and current UCF student Bradley Thornton escorted fellow students to the campus’ early voting site. UCF student Tiffany McKelton said she wouldn’t have voted if the Parkland activists hadn’t shown up on campus.At a University of Central Florida event during the final week of election campaigning, Stoneman Douglas graduate and current UCF student Bradley Thornton escorted fellow students to the campus’ early voting site. UCF student Tiffany McKelton said she wouldn’t have voted if the Parkland activists hadn’t shown up on campus.
“I’ve never voted in a primary election. I actually did it because of them,” said McKelton, a psychology major from West Palm Beach.“I’ve never voted in a primary election. I actually did it because of them,” said McKelton, a psychology major from West Palm Beach.
In West Virginia Trump concedes Democrats might win control of the house and says the ensuing political battle “will be ridiculous frankly, it will be bad for our country”.In West Virginia Trump concedes Democrats might win control of the house and says the ensuing political battle “will be ridiculous frankly, it will be bad for our country”.
Pres. Trump says Democrats taking power in midterm elections "could happen.""You know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? 'Don't worry about it, I'll just figure it out." https://t.co/CFdzczE0fE pic.twitter.com/2oRP8AUEIKPres. Trump says Democrats taking power in midterm elections "could happen.""You know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? 'Don't worry about it, I'll just figure it out." https://t.co/CFdzczE0fE pic.twitter.com/2oRP8AUEIK
Former president Barack Obama was in Florida stumping for gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum Friday afternoon, serving up a buffet of the kind of aspirational, “hopey, changey” rhetoric that put him on the political map in 2004 and won him the White House in 2008.Former president Barack Obama was in Florida stumping for gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum Friday afternoon, serving up a buffet of the kind of aspirational, “hopey, changey” rhetoric that put him on the political map in 2004 and won him the White House in 2008.
“We have seen rhetoric designed to divide us,” Obama said. “In four days, you can be a check on that kind of behavior.”“We have seen rhetoric designed to divide us,” Obama said. “In four days, you can be a check on that kind of behavior.”
Obama’s speech broadly embraced themes of inclusivity and social justice. “You can choose a more generous vision of America... where love and hope conquer hate,” he said, sounding almost anachronistic in the Trump-era.Obama’s speech broadly embraced themes of inclusivity and social justice. “You can choose a more generous vision of America... where love and hope conquer hate,” he said, sounding almost anachronistic in the Trump-era.
Obama also spoke more directly to the GOP and Trump specifically with remarks like these:Obama also spoke more directly to the GOP and Trump specifically with remarks like these:
“When truth doesn’t matter, when people can just lie with abandon, democracy can’t work ... And that’s what’s happening at the highest levels. And the only check on that behavior is you. The only check on that behavior is you and your vote.”“When truth doesn’t matter, when people can just lie with abandon, democracy can’t work ... And that’s what’s happening at the highest levels. And the only check on that behavior is you. The only check on that behavior is you and your vote.”
“They’re telling you the existential threat to America is a bunch of poor refugees 1,000 miles away. They’re even taking our brave troops away from their families for a political stunt at the border. The men and women of our military deserve better than that.”“They’re telling you the existential threat to America is a bunch of poor refugees 1,000 miles away. They’re even taking our brave troops away from their families for a political stunt at the border. The men and women of our military deserve better than that.”
“Suddenly Republicans are saying they’re gonna protect your pre-existing conditions when they’ve literally been doing the opposite. That’s some kind of gall. That’s some kind of chutzpah. Let’s call it what it is: it’s a lie. They’re lying to you.”“Suddenly Republicans are saying they’re gonna protect your pre-existing conditions when they’ve literally been doing the opposite. That’s some kind of gall. That’s some kind of chutzpah. Let’s call it what it is: it’s a lie. They’re lying to you.”
Obama: "While you're distracted with all this stuff they're making up, they're also robbing you blind ... They will absolutely take health care away from millions the first chance they get while you are distracted with stuff that is not true." (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/ETwt2MxqfiObama: "While you're distracted with all this stuff they're making up, they're also robbing you blind ... They will absolutely take health care away from millions the first chance they get while you are distracted with stuff that is not true." (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/ETwt2Mxqfi
From Reuters:From Reuters:
Twitter deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s U.S. election and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company.Twitter deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s U.S. election and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company.
“We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” Twitter Inc spokesman Ian Plunkett said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October“We took action on relevant accounts and activity on Twitter,” Twitter Inc spokesman Ian Plunkett said in an email. The removals took place in late September and early October
Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state congresswoman, is one of hundreds of Democrats now running on single-payer healthcare, a monumental shift to the left for the party which – even when it controlled Congress and the White House in 2009 – passed a health policy overhaul which buttressed the private insurance system for almost a decade – Obamacare.
“We did a poll in swing districts,” said Jayapal, “The numbers were off the charts.” Not only did the Pac’s survey find liberals supported Medicare for All, she said, but “independents responded incredibly well.”
A recent survey by the union National Nurses United found 225 Democratic candidates in the House running explicitly on single-payer healthcare.
“It is a very, very popular policy, and it’s popular out of necessity,” said Jayapal. “People see what we have just doesn’t work. It’s costing way too much.”
“Medicare for All” refers to the popular public health insurance program for the elderly, called Medicare. Passed in 1965 with Medicaid, its sister program for the impoverished and disabled, the single-payer program covers all Americans older than 65, and many more who are disabled.
Along with other public health insurance programs, such as for veterans, the military and Native Americans, the US already provides health insurance for nearly 100 million people, said Chris Sloan, a director at the health consulting company Avalere.
“Public opinion has shifted,” he said. “That is why [healthcare has] become more of a defensive issue for Republicans and an offensive issue for Democrats”.
Trump walked back his (illegal) suggestion that the military treat migrants who throw rocks as if they are armed with rifles on the White House south lawn today.
Trump walks back remarks from yesterday that US would treat throwing rocks by migrants the same as using a firearm. “They don’t have to fire. ... If they do that with us, there are going to be problems... They are going to be arrested for a long time.”
He also accused the media of “creating violence” by the act of asking him a question.
A reporter says to Trump on the WHSL that some Americans say he's encouraging politically motivated violence the way you speaks. Trump responds, "No, no, you know what? You're creating violence by your question. You are creating. You."
Democrat Andrew Gillum is bidding to become Florida’s first black governor. Ron DeSantis is a Trump-style Republican. And the topic of race has been impossible to ignore as their race pulls in to the final stretch.
Our Sabrina Siddiqui has more from the ground in Florida.
New from the Associated Press:
The supreme court says new justice Brett Kavanaugh won’t take the traditional walk down the courthouse steps after his ceremonial installation on the court because of security concerns.
Kavanaugh’s investiture ceremony is scheduled for Thursday morning in the courtroom. It is customary for a new justice to walk down the 44 marble steps in front of the building, accompanied by the chief justice. The moment provides a chance for news organizations to photograph the justice, since the courtroom event is closed to cameras.
Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Friday that the change is being made “out of an abundance of caution due to security concerns”.
Kavanaugh was confirmed 6 October by a 50-48 Senate vote following an allegation he sexually assaulted a woman decades ago. He denied any wrongdoing.
Donald Trump famously said that if he were to stand on Fifth Avenue and shoot someone on he still wouldn’t lose any votes.
Well, it turns out that Teflon status doesn’t quite extend to his leading impersonator, Alec Baldwin. After allegedly punching a man over a parking spot in New York on Friday Baldwin didn’t lose any votes of course – but he was arrested.
NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Baldwin has been arrested for allegedly punching someone during a dispute over a New York City parking spot.
File this one under: “Too little too late” and “Tell us something we don’t know!”
Donald Trump’s recently convicted former lawyer, and increasingly disloyal one-time confidant Michael Cohen told Vanity Fair that Trump “repeatedly used racist language before his presidency”.
Some of the highlights (lowlights)?
“[Trump] said to me: ‘Name one country run by a black person that’s not a shithole,’ and then he added: ‘Name one city,’” Cohen recalled, a statement that echoed the president’s alleged comments about African nations earlier this year.
“I told Trump that the rally looked vanilla on television. Trump responded: ‘That’s because black people are too stupid to vote for me.’”
“We were going from the airport to the hotel, and we drove through what looked like a rougher neighborhood. Trump made a comment to me, saying that only the blacks could live like this.”
Regarding a contestant on his show The Apprentice: “He said: ‘There’s no way I can let this black f-g win.’”
Donald Trump’s effort to thwart a lawsuit against him over possible violations of the emoluments clause of the constitution was quashed by a federal judge Friday. Suit will continue.
BREAKING: Federal judge denies @realDonaldTrump's attempt to stop discovery process in "Emoluments Clause" lawsuit by DC/MD A.G.'s. Will allow AGs to get documents showing foreign-government customers at Trump Hotel D.C. Story coming soon...
One interesting part: @realDonaldTrump had argued that a lawsuit would distract him from his duties as POTUS. But judge notes that, while in office, Trump has found time to threatened lawsuits against Bannon, Stormy, Michael Wolff.. https://t.co/zScwMfSxBa
Reacting to Trump’s playful tweet about reinstating sanctions on Iran, Ahmad Ghavideh, the head of Iran’s hemophilia society, which is an NGO, told the Guardian by phone from Tehran that the lives of at least 12,000 patients with bleeding disorders in Iran will be put at immediate risk when the country’s supply runs out.
We believe that sanctions are in fact worse than waging a classic war, because when you’re in the war situation at least civilian buildings, and targets are supposed to be spared, while with sanctions in this scale, a whole nation has been targeted.
There’s no doubt that the lives of thousands of patients will be at risk. Any delay in supply of medicine, particularly in the sector I work in, will have catastrophic consequences. My worry is not for today, but in six month’s time when our supply runs out. They claim that the imports of medicines are exempted from sanctions but in practice, because of banking restrictions we don’t have access to medicine or ingredients needed to make them internally.
We’ve been here before in 2012 when a 15-year-old boy in the city of Dezful died.
Women having their period and suffering from bleeding disorders who have not access to their medicine might experience 15 to 18 days bleeding in a single month. We’re not talking about a simple matter here.
Senior US officials have warned that Washington will next week reimpose all sanctions on Iran that were lifted by the Obama administration after the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Donald Trump, since breaking that deal in May, has vowed to cut off Iranian oil revenue completely, and oil exporters and tankers will be among 700 companies, individuals, vessels and aircraft that will be added to a US sanctions blacklist on Monday.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said that eight “jurisdictions” would be granted temporary waivers after Monday’s sanctions deadline, but only on the understanding that they would stop or drastically reduce oil imports in the coming weeks.
Pompeo did not name the countries to be exempted, except to say that the European Union was not among them. He did not say whether individual European countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain might be granted waivers.
Trump announced the move by tweeting a parody of a poster for the HBO series Game of Thrones featuring himself.
It’s full speed ahead for the Trump administration’s aggressive mobilization at the southern border. From the Daily Beast, former Guardian US reporter Spencer Ackerman has this report:
The Pentagon expects to soon receive a long-delayed formal request from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to host detention facilities for thousands of migrant families, The Daily Beast has learned.
Discussions are ongoing between the two departments, already collaborating with each other on a massive military mobilization at the southern border, officials said. It’s an effort that has prompted outrage and fears of troops firing on unarmed asylum seekers. Under discussion are the terms under which two military bases in Texas, the Army’s Fort Bliss and Goodfellow Air Force Base, will become detention sites for thousands of families.