Harris questions if Trump is fit for ‘the toughest job’ after campaign reports he’s exhausted: Live

Donald Trump found himself confronted by a collection of friends and foes as he attended the Al Smith Memorial Dinner on Thursday, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Attorney General Letitia James among his enemies in attendance.

Accompanied by his wife Melania Trump, the Republican presidential nominee was roasted by host Jim Gaffigan before delivering the Catholic charity gala’s keynote speech, in which he derided election rival Kamala Harris, former president Barack Obama, and Schumer, and commiserated with city mayor Eric Adams on his recent indictment.

While Trump complained about Harris’s absence, the vice president did send in a short comedic video in lieu of appearing, featuring comic Molly Shannon.

Harris spent her evening rallying supporters in Green Bay, Wisconsin, remarking: “When you listen to Donald Trump talk, it becomes increasingly clear, he has no idea what he’s talking about.”

She also declared that “the American people are exhausted with his gaslighting” and sent two MAGA activists out when they heckled her.

Meanwhile, Fox News host Bret Baier admitted to a mistake with a video clip during his interview with Harris this week — something that she was able to play to her advantage.

Both candidates will be in battleground Michigan on Friday.

Key Points

• Harris comments on ‘exhausted’ Trump insulting Michigan and auto workers

• Obamas set to join Harris on campaign trail

• Campaigns focus on Michigan with Harris in Grand Rapids and Trump in Detroit

• Judge unseals appendix to special counsel immunity brief in Trump’s federal Jan 6 case

• Latest poll updates: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

Bret Baier says he made a ‘mistake’ with clip in Harris interview but a former Fox colleague isn’t buying it

21:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News host Bret Baier has said he made a “mistake” during his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris this week by showing the incorrect clip of Donald Trump speaking about “the enemy from within”.

At the bottom of his show Special Report, on Thursday, Baier explained to viewers that a particularly heated moment between him and the vice president arose after a clip was played of Trump defending himself for denigrating leftist Americans during a town hall.

“I made a mistake and I want to say that I did make a mistake,” Baier told viewers.

Gretchen Carlson isn’t impressed by his explanation as Ariana Baio reports.

Bret Baier says he made ‘mistake’ in Harris interview – a former colleague disagrees

Trump calls judge ‘most evil person’ as she releases 1,889 heavily redacted pages of evidence in Jan 6 case

20:43 , Oliver O’Connell

Alex Woodward reports:

The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election interference case in Washington, DC unsealed nearly 2,000 heavily redacted pages of evidence submitted by the special counsel’s office, with only handfuls of readable pages across four massive filings that trace the history of the former president’s election denialism.

The filings published on Friday included transcripts of Trump’s remarks, social media posts, interviews from the House select committee that investigated the January 6 attack, campaign emails, the so-called “coup memo” outlining the legally dubious attempt to reject the electoral college certification, and excerpts from Mike Pence’s book and his statement refusing to reject election results.

Trump called Judge Tanya Chutkan “the most evil person” and labeled special counsel Jack Smith a “sick puppy” as he lashed out at the criminal case against him during a podcast on Friday.

Continue reading…

Trump calls judge ‘evil’ as she releases 1,889 pages of evidence in Jan. 6 case

NBC exec apologizes for creating a ‘monster’ by embellishing Trump’s business success

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

A former NBC executive has apologized to Americans for creating a “monster” in Donald Trump via the hit show The Apprentice.

“I want to apologize to America. I helped create a monster,” John D. Miller penned in an op-ed for US & News and World Report.

Miller spent 25 years running marketing for NBC and NBCUniversal and promoted the reality show that pushed Trump into superstardom.

Alex Lang has the story.

NBC exec apologizes for creating a ‘monster’ in Trump

Trump mad at claims he’s exhuated as campaign pushes back

20:21 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is not happy with the claims that he is exhausted that has been repeated by Kamala Harris.

The campaign is pushing back on a report by Politico that the former president is suffering from exhaustion — an explanation as to why he has dropped out of planned interviews.

Trump calls Jan 6 case judge ‘most evil person’

20:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump called the judge overseeing the January 6 election interference federal criminal case against him “the most evil person”

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan has already faced threats from his supporters after being assigned the case in 2023. Trump also called special counsel Jack Smith “a sick puppy”.

The former president made the remarks during an appearance on Dan Bongino’s rightwing podcast on Friday.

Judge Chutkan raised Trump’s ire by releasing almost 1,900 pages of heavily redacted documents today that Smith had submitted to argue against Trump’s motion to dismiss the case.

Much of the information released was already in the public domain, including transcripts of public statements and interviews with the House selection committee that investigated January 6 throughout 2022.

Trump called the release of the documents “election interference” during Bongino’s podcast an called it “a terrible thing, what’s happening. And the judges, this judge is the most evil person.”

He continued: “They all said, ‘Well, make sure you don’t get Chutkan.’ And who did I get? I got Chutkan.”

How Trump and Harris revealed F1’s true value as presidential race nears finish line

20:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Kieran Jackson writes:

For a sport that struggled for the best part of 70 years to find a home across the Atlantic, Formula One’s presence in the United States has reached unprecedented heights this year. And that’s not just a nod to the three US races, in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas, nor to the boom in popularity stateside – a result of Liberty Media’s 2017 takeover and Netflix’s Drive to Survive fever.

Rather it has been, ahead of the highly charged US presidential election on 5 November, the surprising arena for the two nominees to appear, promote and present themselves in a unique and increasingly attractive way to the electorate.

Read on…

How Trump and Harris revealed F1’s true value amid US presidential race

Harris comments on ‘exhausted’ Trump insulting Michigan and auto workers

19:53 , Oliver O’Connell

Ahead of her remarks in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kamala Harris spoke with reporters about Donald Trump insulting Michiganders:

“Again, we have a situation where the former president is insulting the people of this state, saying that auto workers, that their important and good and highly skilled work could be performed by a child, which is just further evidence that Donald Trump comes from a place where he really just doesn’t appreciate or understand how most people in this country work very hard for all that they have and there is great dignity in their work.”

As in the earlier video post, she also commented on reports that the former president is suffering from “exhaustion” as his campaign reportedly told the team at The Shade Room podcast.

“His team is saying that he is suffering from exhaustion, that’s the excuse for … not doing …interviews, not doing the CNN town hall … (or) another debate. You know, look, being president of the United States is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world, and so we really do need to ask ourselves if he’s exhausted from being on the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job?”

Trump spills details about Barron’s dating life

19:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has spilled details about his youngest son Barron’s dating life just one month after the 18-year-old political scion began his college life at New York University.

The former president appeared on the PBD Podcast with MAGA-aligned interviewer Patrick Bet-David on Thursday where the pair gushed over Barron’s brains and good looks.

James Liddell has the story.

Trump spills details about Barron’s love life

Watch: Harris questions if Trump fit to be president if he’s exhausted by campaign

19:37 , Oliver O’Connell

ICYMI: Harris shuts down rally hecklers in Wisconsin

19:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris hit back at hecklers with a blistering two-sentence response after the vice president was interrupted while speaking on abortion rights.

The vice president made a campaign stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin – her second rally in the critical swing state in one day and third overall on Thursday as campaign activity hots-up 18-days away from Election Day.

Harris delivered remarks to a crowd at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Recreational Eagle Center where she accused Donald Trump of gaslighting women over reproductive rights.

James Liddell has the story.

Harris shuts down rally hecklers with two-sentence Trump jab

Watch LIVE: Harris campaigns in Grand Rapids, Michigan

19:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Arizona: Ruben Gallego divorce records unsealed but reveal little about Democratic Senate candidate

19:10 , AP

Divorce records for Arizona Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego and his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, were made public Thursday after an Arizona court unsealed most of the seven-year-old case file.

The records offer little insight into the high-profile marriage or the reasons it fell apart. There are no allegations of abuse or infidelity that could have upended Arizona’s closely watched Senate race, one of a handful that will determine control of the upper chamber of Congress.

Continue reading…

Ruben Gallego divorce records unsealed but reveal little about Democratic Senate candidate

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

18:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden responsible for the Russia–Ukraine war in an interview — but made no reference to Vladimir Putin.

Two and a half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump pinned the blame squarely on Zelensky and Biden for the conflict during an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which aired Thursday.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Now is the opportunity to seek peace in Gaza, Biden tells Netanyahu

18:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Joe Biden has told Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an “opportunity to seek a path to peace” in Gaza.

The US president – who is Mr Netanyahu’s closest international ally – described the assassination of Israel’s most wanted man as “a moment of justice” which raises the prospect of a deal to agree on a ceasefire and the return of the hostages still held in Gaza, as their families issued fresh demands for a release deal.

Andy Gregory reports.

Biden tells Netanyahu: Now is the opportunity to seek peace in Gaza

Watch: Harris joined by former SNL star for Al Smith dinner skit

18:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Four mystery accounts forked out $30m of crypto on bets on Trump winning in November

17:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Four mysterious accounts have reportedly bet $30 million on Trump to win the presidency in November.

Bettors on Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, have increased their wagers that the Republican nominee would win the election in recent weeks.

While National polling averages by FiveThirtyEight show Harris with a 2.5-point lead over Trump, on Friday, Trump had 60 per cent betting odds on Polymarket compared to Harris’ 39 per cent.

Kelly Rissman took a look at what’s happening.

Four accounts put $30 million of crypto on bets that Trump will win White House

Lizzo and Usher to join Harris at Saturday campaign events

17:36 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports that Kamala Harris will be joined by Lizzo in Detroit on Saturday for a get-out-the-vote event. Later that day Usher will be on hand for her rally in Atlanta rally.

Eric Trump claims his dad was ‘locked in’ for rambling Bloomberg interview. The internet disagrees

17:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Trump has claimed his father Donald Trump has “never been better than he is right now” and insisted the Republican presidential nominee is “locked in” as the race for the White House enters its final weeks – an assessment that invited a storm of derision on social media.

The younger Trump appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show following the former president’s rambling interview with Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago on Tuesday.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Eric Trump claims dad was ‘locked in’ for Bloomberg interview. The internet disagrees

81-year-old woman goes viral after voting for first time — her reason is really something…

17:15 , Oliver O’Connell

One 81-year-old woman became a first-time voter after years spent obeying her late husband, who didn’t want her to vote.

Kaleigh Werner has the story.

81-year-old woman votes for first time because late husband wouldn’t let her

Watch: Harris reacts to hecklers at rally

17:04 , Oliver O’Connell

Judge unseals appendix to special counsel immunity brief in Trump’s election inteference case

16:51 , Alex Woodward

Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Donald Trump’s election interference case in Washington, DC, agreed to unseal nearly 2,000 pages of heavily redacted pages of evidence submitted by the special counsel’s office, with handfuls of pages across four massive filings tracing the history of the former president’s election denialism.

The filings included transcripts of his remarks, interviews from the House select committee that investigated the January 6 attack, campaign emails, and the so-called “coup memo” outlining the legally dubious attempt to reject the electoral college certification — most of which was previously made public. But the documents are baked into roughly 1,800 pages of appendices to bolster Jack Smith’s case against the former president.

Trump says he will consider religious exemptions to covering IVF

16:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has indicated he would consider religious exemptions to his IVF mandate that would require insurance companies to cover the costs of the fertility treatment.

“It sounds, to me, like a pretty good idea, frankly,” Trump told the Catholic news channel EWTN on Thursday evening while attending the annual Al Smith dinner in New York City.

“Certainly if there’s a religious problem I think people should go with that. I really think they should be able to do that but we’ll look at that,” Trump said.

Ariana Baio reports.

‘Father of IVF’ Trump will consider religious exemptions to covering procedure

Democratic governors on parade for Harris in western Michigan

16:39 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: The Daily Show mocks Trump for audience reactions to his Univision town hall answers

16:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Latest poll updates: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

16:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Alicja Hagopian looks at the latest data.

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates from the 2024 election

Why does Trump keep ducking interviews?

16:16 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump may have appeared on Fox & Friends this morning — a safe space for the former president — but something of a trend has emerged in recent weeks. He’s dropped out of interviews with NBC in Philadelphia, CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes, and continues to refuse a second debate.

There was also the bizarre “town hall” dance party with Kristi Noem in which he appeared to give up on the format after just four questions.

So why does this keep happening?

Eugene Daniels at Politico reports that talks between the Trump team and The Shade Room, a site that attracts a mostly young, Black audience, failed to finalize an interview, having hosted one with Kamala Harris last week.

When they pressed the Trump people as to why that might be, and adviser said that the former president was “exhausted and refusing [some] interviews but that could change” at any time. Politico cites two people familiar with the conversations.

Trump-supporting rapper Waka Flocka Flame was offered up as an alternative, those two people say.

The Trump campaign has pushed back with national press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the idea that he is exhausted “unequivocally false” and noting that he has done media interviews every day this week.

Watch: Trump claims ‘bad things’ will happen to Harris for skipping Al Smith dinner

16:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump claims ‘bad things’ will happen to Harris for not attending charity dinner

Ratings for Harris Fox News interview blow Trump’s town hall out of water

15:50 , Oliver O’Connell

The ratings for both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s latest Fox News appearances have been released – and they reveal the vice president pulled in more than double the viewers than her Republican rival.

With less than three weeks until Election Day and the national polls on a knife’s edge with Harris reduced to just under a 2.5-point lead, both presidential candidates are increasingly filling the airwaves.

James Liddell reports.

Ratings for Harris Fox News interview blow Trump’s town hall out of water

Obama heads to Tucson to sway Latino vote to Harris

15:46 , Oliver O’Connell

Former president Barack Obama will campaign for Kamala Harris in Tucson, Arizona, today with a focus on the key voter demographic that has drifted away from the Democratic Party — young Black and Latino men, The Arizona Republic reports.

Polling by USA Today/Suffolk University at the end of last month showed young Latino men in Arizona — a key battleground state — were favoring Donald Trump over the vice president.

51 per cent of those aged 18-34 backed the former president and 57 per cent of those aged 35-49. Less than 40 per cent support Harris in both age brackets.

“A majority of young Hispanic men are voting for Trump,” Suffolk University pollster David Paleologos said. “That’s why Barack Obama’s being deployed.”

A national poll of celebrity endorsements by USA Today/Suffolk University from earlier this year showed that Obama’s endorsement — and that of former first lady Michelle Obama — carries the most weight of any well-known figure, especially among Hispanic voters.

The Obamas held more cachet than top podcaster Joe Rogan, tech billionaire Elon Musk, and other celebrity figures, including Beyoncé, Tiger Woods, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian.

“Obama and Michelle Obama were the most influential of all of the people on the list,” Paleologos said. “But among Hispanics, it was even higher.”

Jim Gaffigan takes break from playing SNL’s Walz to roast Al Smith dinner’s ‘Family Feud’ night

15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Comedian Jim Gaffigan took a break from playing Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live to joke about the awkwardness of the mix of people in the room at the Al Smith dinner, joking that the seating plan was like something out of Family Feud.

The comedian took no prisoners, Republican or Democrat, in his roast at the New York City charity event on Thursday night, awkwardly pointing out the state’s Attorney General Letitia James sitting just a few feet away from Donald Trump – the man she successfully brought a $454m civil fraud case against.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Jim Gaffigan roasts awkward Al Smith dinner featuring Trump and Letitia James

Obamas set to join Harris on campaign trail

15:28 , Oliver O’Connell

After both giving barnstorming speeches at the Democratic National Convention in August, both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will be joining Kamala Harris on the campaign trail next week.

The former president is set to appear with the vice president in Georgia on Thursday, October 24 and the former first lady will join her in Michigan on Saturday, October 26.

Bret Baier admits to mistake in Harris interview that she then used to her advantage

15:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News host Bret Baier says a clip of Donald Trump saying the military should go after the “enemy from within” was omitted during his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris which was misleading.

This worked out in Harris’s favor.

Here’s the moment:

Here’s Bret Baier admitting his mistake:

And here’s Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post explaining why the vice president should send Baier flowers, as he wrote in his column:

Watch: WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose

15:10 , Oliver O’Connell

This is truly special from the big man.

WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose

And later on Thursday, he posted a follow-up.

Harris enlists Marc Anthony to shore up the Latino vote

15:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The Harris campaign has launched “Recuerdo,” a new ad featuring singer and songwriter Marc Anthony to remind the Latino community of how divisive the Trump presidency was and of Donald Trump’s hatred and demonization of Latinos.

In the ad, Anthony slams Trump for ripping families apart and for his lack of action when Puerto Ricans needed him after Hurricane Maria — Trump blocked billions in relief while thousands died and infamously threw rolls of paper towels at storm victims.

Anthony says he’s supporting Kamala Harris because “this election goes way beyond political parties. Let’s remember what the United States represents and stands for: UNITED. … That’s why I support Kamala Harris for President.”

Check it out here:

NFL owner says Trump was like ‘drunk fraternity brother’ as president

14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Speaking on Charlamagne tha God’s iHeartRadio show The Breakfast Club, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, explained that, although he has been a lifelong Democrat, he became “a social friend” of the Republican presidential nominee in Florida in the early 1990s.

“And then when my wife of blessed memory died 13 years ago, he was one of four or five people who reached out to me and was really, really nice,” he continued.

“The only donation I ever gave to him was when he called me when he got elected. And I made a strong donation to his inauguration.”

While he admitted that he had believed Trump would be “great for the economy” before he took office, Kraft summed up the New Yorker’s chaotic tenure in the White House between 2017 and 2021 by saying: “I couldn’t believe it, it was like having someone who was a drunk fraternity brother become president of the United States.”

NFL owner says Trump was like ‘having a drunk fraternity brother’ become president

What did the Harris campaign think of Trump’s Al Smith set?

14:39 , Oliver O’Connell

Here’s a statement from the Harris-Walz camp on the former president’s performance at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York last night:

“Donald Trump struggled to read scripted notes written by his handlers, repeatedly complaining that he couldn’t use a teleprompter. He stumbled over his words and lashed out when the crowd wouldn’t laugh with him. The rare moments he was off script, he went on long incomprehensible rambles, reminding Americans how unstable he’s become. And of course, he made it all about himself. He may refuse to release his medical records, but every day he makes it clear to the American people that he is not up to the job.”

Trump team ripped for ‘cringe’ video using Taylor Swift song

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican’s campaign is being ripped apart on social media after posting a “cringe” video featuring a song from an artist who endorsed his political rival.

The Team Trump Instagram posted a video of Lara Trump – the former president’s daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee – political advisor Lynne Patton, sports journalist Sage Steele and other women all wearing pink jackets with the Trump campaign logo.

The video begins with the group lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s iconic hit “22”: “I don’t know about you, but I’m…”

The song is then interrupted with the phrase “…voting Donald Trump, baby!”

Katie Hawkinson has more.

Trump team ripped for ‘cringe’ video that used song from Harris-endorser Taylor Swift

Watch: Trump claims ‘bad things’ will happen to Harris for not attending charity dinner

14:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Don Jr boasts dad knows McDonald’s menu better than Harris

13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

I’m not sure that’s quite the clincher he thinks it is…

Ariana Baio has more.

Don Jr boasts dad knows McDonald’s menu better than Harris ever did

Trump kicks off his Friday with visit to Fox and Friends

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Wow weird to see him there in person rather than raving over the phone.

That little revelation about his anonymous speechwriters there has already been pounced upon by the head of the Democratic National Committee.

Trump spills details about Barron’s dating life – and cracks joke about Melania’s nickname for son

13:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s more from Trump’s latest podcast appearance with Patrick Bet-David, which finds him dishing the dirt on his 18-year-old son, whom he reveals is “good with the ladies” but has never had a girlfriend, which I’m sure is a fact Barron is delighted to have splashed across world media.

James Liddell reports.

Trump spills details about Barron’s love life

NBC executive apologizes for creating a ‘monster’ in Trump

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

A former NBC executive has apologized to Americans for creating a “monster” in Donald Trump via the hit show The Apprentice.

“I want to apologize to America. I helped create a monster,” John D Miller penned in an op-ed for US & News and World Report.

Miller spent 25 years running marketing for NBC and NBCUniversal and promoted the reality show that pushed Trump into superstardom.

While Trump was a known figure thanks to his larger than life persona and real estate business that put him on TV sets in the 1980s and 90s, it was the show and the phrase “you’re fired” that propelled him to become a business icon.

Trump used the show, the fame and his business background as a key part of his push into politics that landed him in the White House.

Alex Lang has more.

NBC exec apologizes for creating a ‘monster’ in Trump

JD Vance demanded $40,000 and first-class flights during speaking tour for hit book, report says

12:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s running mate made the lavish request for an appearance at a Midwestern public university to discuss Hillbilly Elegy four years before he was elected to the Senate, records obtained by Politico show.

But the University of Wisconsin-Madison eventually bowed out of negotiations with Vance because they were “too much to overcome.”

Rhian Lubin has more.

JD Vance demanded $40k and first-class flights for book appearances, report says

Trump and allies have already spent $21m on TV ads attacking Harris over transgender rights this October

12:20 , Joe Sommerlad

That’s according to CNN, which notes the commercials attacking the Vice President over her support for trans rights have largely aired during televised NFL games, college football broadcasts and in battleground states.

“Kamala’s agenda is they/them, not you,” one of the ads declares, sneering at the politicization of personal pronouns in typically nasty fashion.

The network calls the spend “staggering” given that the topic is one “that most voters say isn’t a top priority for them” and sees it as a late attempt by the Republican’s camp to wedge a culture war issue into the election that has certainly created plenty of division at state level.

Harris was questioned on the issue by Bret Baier on Fox News this week and answered accordingly:

Judge overseeing Trump’s 2020 election interference case rules evidence can be unsealed today

12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing the Washington DC election interference case against Trump, moved yesterday to deny the former president’s request to delay the unsealing of court records and evidence until after Election Day, meaning the court can release evidence submitted by the government today.

Judge Chutkan wrote in her five-page order that there was a presumption that the public should have access to “all facets of criminal court proceedings” and said that the Republican presidential nominee had not submitted arguments relevant to any of the factors that would be considered to keep the material in question under seal.

She went on to reject Trump’s lawyers’ appeal as not “persuasive”.

We’ll bring you all the very latest as and when the documents are made available later today right here.

Harris roasts Trump with help from SNL icon in pre-recorded speech at Al Smith dinner

11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Rhian Lubin has more below on the VP’s skit with Molly Shannon.

Harris roasts Trump with help from SNL icon in pre-recorded speech at Al Smith dinner

Top fact-checker finally reveals which party lies more: Democrats or Republicans

11:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Bill Adair, who started the Pulitzer Prize-winning website PolitiFact, has admitted that – despite his claims over the years – he has, in fact, been keeping tabs and determined which side is the most liberal with the truth.

Here’s James Liddell with the answer.

Top fact-checker finally reveals which party lies more: Democrats or Republicans

Fox News host applauds Trump’s rebranding of deadly Capitol riot as ‘day of love’

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Jesse Watters has been at it again, sane-washing the Republican nominee’s mad attempt to spin January 6 at his Univision town hall on Wednesday.

But, as always, Jessica Tarlov was the one really paying attention.

Bill Clinton roasts Trump’s bizarro dance party

10:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The 42nd president joined Walz in Durham yesterday and roasted Trump for his musical breakdown in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Monday night when he parped out “Ave Maria”, “YMCA”, “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “Time to Say Goodbye” while two unwell audience members received medical attention.

“I will not clap offbeat” is somehow particularly devastating.

Impassioned Tim Walz swears before immediately apologising to ‘the little ones’

10:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Harris’s running mate was on fiery form in Durham, North Carolina, yesterday, taking Trump to task before quickly correcting himself when his Midwestern manners kicked back in.

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican told a podcast yesterday he holds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his own successor Joe Biden responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war, making no reference to a certain Vladimir Putin.

Two-and-a-half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump pinned the blame squarely on Zelensky and Biden for the conflict during his interview with Patrick Bet-David.

“I think Zelensky is one of the greatest salesmen I’ve ever seen,” Trump said, grumbling about how much aid the US has given Ukraine.

Here’s what an expert on fascism had to say about that…

…and here’s a full report from Kelly Rissman.

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Harris and Trump heading to Michigan on Friday

09:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are heading north to Michigan today, hoping to shore up support in a key state.

Harris will be swinging through Grand Rapids, Lansing and Oakland County while Trump will be delivering a rally in Detroit, a city he trashed as “a mess” last week, which, as we’ve just seen, his rival ruthlessly mocked him for in her video message to the Al Smith crowd last night.

“Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president,” Trump said during his speech to the Detroit Economic Club, a pronouncement not likely to sit well with residents of a city fighting back hard against post-industrial decline.

Harris, by contrast, has talked about the Motor City in reverent tones, recalling making friends with local students while attending Howard University.

“I just feel a kindred spirit whenever I come to Detroit,” she has said.

The Democrat is currently concentrating her efforts on the supposed “blue wall” states Hillary Clinton overlooked in 2016 in the hope of avoiding repeating her predecessor’s historic mistakes.

Harris was last in Detroit on Tuesday when she visited an art gallery with actors Don Cheadle, Delroy Lindo and Cornelius Smith Jr before recording a radio town hall with Charlamagne tha God.

She will be back there tomorrow for a rally.

But her campaign insists she’s not giving up on Sun Belt battlegrounds like North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada either and will return there soon.

Kamala Harris says Trump has ‘no idea what he is talking about’ and voters are ‘exhausted by his gaslighting’

09:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The Democrat spent her evening on the campaign trail in Wisconsin and was in rare form, issuing a few zingers at her rival’s expense.

She also reacted quickly to send a couple of Trump supporters packing.

Donald Trump comes face-to-face with friends and foes at Al Smith dinner in New York

09:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican presidential nominee and his wife Melania made a rare public appearance together at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City on Thursday evening.

Trump had expressed his annoyance in advance that election rival Kamala Harris had decided not to attend the event and been allowed to submit a short comedic video instead, in which she mocked him for calling Detroit “a mess”, which was aired at the Catholic gala and was well received in the room.

Before he spoke, Trump was roasted by host Jim Gaffigan (who has been playing Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live lately) and found himself in the same room as New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted him for business fraud earlier this year.

Awkward.

When his own keynote speech got underway, Trump made jabs about Harris, promoted his spouse’s new memoir, repeated his ancient birtherism smear against Barack Obama, roasted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and made light of city mayor Eric Adams’s recent indictment, all of which was received with a smattering of boos as well as applause at the close.

Katie Hawkinson reports on an eventful evening.

Melania and Dona make rare public outing together at Al Smith dinner in NYC

Indian government worker charged in plot to assassinate US citizen in New York

08:00 , Alex Woodward

The US has criminally charged a former Indian intelligence officer accused of directing a foiled assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in New York City last year, escalating efforts to hold the Indian government accountable for an alleged act of violence on US soil.

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Former Indian spy charged in plot to assassinate US citizen in New York

Watch: Elon Musk campaigns in Delaware County for Donald Trump

07:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Lauren Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter

06:00 , Mike Bedigan

Lauren Boebert’s Democratic rival in her congressional reelection bid has reportedly raised five times more cash in the third fundraising quarter.

The campaign for Trisha Calvarese, who is hoping to deny the Republican firebrand a third term in Congress, plans to file their official totals on Tuesday.

Calvarese plans to declare bringing in more than $2.68 million from July through September, compared to roughly $532,000 raised by Boebert, according to figures shared by her campaign with The Independent.

Read more:

Lauren Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter

‘Creepy’ moment Trump calls female senator ‘fantastically attractive’ while trying to court women voters at Fox town hall

05:01 , Rhian Lubin

Donald Trump has been branded “creepy” for calling a female senator “young” and “fantastically attractive” in a bizarre moment while trying to court women voters at a Fox News town hall.

During the event in Cumming, Georgia, hosted by Harris Faulkner and recorded on Tuesday, Trump was asked a question by a pro-life mother-of-three who said she was concerned about abortion bans impacting access to IVF treatment.

After proclaiming to be “the father of IVF,” which went unchallenged by Faulkner, Trump then shared an anecdote of a phone call he had with Republican Alabama Senator Katie Britt.

Read on:

‘Creepy’ moment Trump calls female senator ‘fantastically attractive’ at town hall

New evidence in Trump election interference case to be unsealed Friday

04:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Judge Tanya Chutkan has denied Donald Trump’s attempts to block more evidence from Jack Smith in his federal election interference case.

On Friday, Chutkan will unseal redacted portions of the immunity motion filed earlier this month by Smith, which includes new details about the former president’s actions leading up to the January 6 riots.

Trump is selling $100K ‘Swiss-made’ watches. A search for who makes them took a bizarre turn

04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump announced last month he is selling “truly special” Trump Watches priced up to $100,000 and construted with “premium, Swiss-made” materials.

The watches were part of the latest merchandise push by the former president. The Republican nominee for president wrote on his Truth Social platform about the devices and how “you’re going to love them.” He added: “Would make a great Christmas Gift. Don’t wait, they will go fast. GET YOUR TRUMP WATCH RIGHT NOW!”

Now, the watchmaker’s origins are in question after CNN tried to track down the company behind the devices. They aren’t based in Switzerland, but their address returns to a strip mall. In Wyoming. Next to an HR&Block and a Wendy’s.

Continue reading:

Trump is selling $100,000 watches. A search for who makes them took a bizarre turn

Election deniers and ‘fake electors’ will return as Trump’s official electors in key states

03:30 , Ariana Baio

More than a dozen people who were part of the “fake electors” scheme in 2020 will serve as official electors for Donald Trump in key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Michigan during the election season.

At least 14 of the 82 electors chosen to represent the Republican Party – and pledge their vote to Trump should their state vote that way – are tied to “fake elector” schemes in various states, some currently under criminal prosecution.

Another 16 are election deniers who believe President Joe Biden won in 2020 because of mass fraudulent voting, according to a survey conducted by CNN.

Read on:

Election deniers will return as Trump’s official electors in key states

Trump slams Harris live at the Al Smith charity dinner

02:53 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump slammed Kamala Harris’s absence from the Al Smith charity dinner while giving his keynote speech on Thursday night.

“But I must say, I was shocked when I heard that Kamala was skipping the Al Smith dinner,” Trump said. “I’d really hoped that she would come, because we can’t get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy. We would recognize it any place in this room.”

“Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer,” he added.

Trump used much of his time to bash President Joe Biden and the vice president.

“We have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have mental faculties of a child, is a person that has…no intelligence whatsoever — but enough about Kamala Harris,” he said.

Donald Trump takes the stage at Al Smith dinner

02:44 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump has taken the stage at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City.

Moments into his speech, he cracked a joke about recently indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams: “Mayor Adams, good luck with everything.”

He also praised Melania Trump’s recent memoir, Melania.

“It’s a really good book, and she worked hard on it, and it just became number one on The New York Times list,” he said. “It’s not an easy thing to do, especially when your name is Trump and you’re on The New York Times list.”

He also joked about his own legal woes.

“These days, it’s really a pleasure anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance,” Trump said. “Anytime I don’t get a subpoena, I’m very happy.”

Kamala Harris airs video featuring comedian Molly Shannon

02:38 , Katie Hawkinson

Kamala Harris, who did not attend tonight’s Al Smith charity dinner, sent in a video to be played for attendees.

Harris’s video featured comedian Molly Shannon, playing her iconic character from the film “Superstar,” Mary Katherine Gallagher.

“One last thing I want to tell you: Don’t forget to say ‘superstar!’” Shannon said, striking her iconic pose.

After Shannon’s appearance, Harris addressed the crowd with a more serious tone.

“The Church cares for the sick and feeds the hungry, supports families with housing and education and in times of disaster provides not only essential supplies, but also, and so importantly, a sense of hope,” Harris said.

“In the spirit of tonight’s dinner, let us recommit to reaching across divides, to seek understanding and common ground,” she continued.

02:23 , Katie Hawkinson

Jim Gaffigan joked about Melania Trump’s memoir and made a jab at her husband while speaking at the Al Smith charity dinner on Thursday evening.

“Can we have a round of applause for First Lady, Melania Trump? She presently has the number one book in America,” Gaffigan said as the room erupted in applause.

“Jesus taught us to forgive…70 times seven,” he quipped. “And Melania, you may be the first person to actually reach that.”

Jim Gaffigan kicks off Al Smith dinner

02:17 , Katie Hawkinson

Comedian Jim Gaffigan, host of this year’s Al Smith dinner, kicked off the event with a series of political zingers.

Gaffigan began with a quip about Kamala Harris’s decision not to attend, telling attendees he wanted to address the notable absence: “Of course, I’m talking about the middle class,” he went on to joke.

“You know, this event has been referred to as the Catholic Met Gala, 22% of Americans identified as Catholic,” Gaffigan later added. “Catholics will be a key demographic in every battle throughout the state. I’m sorry – why is Vice President Harris not here?

This isn’t Gaffigan’s first foray into politics in recent months – the comedian has also been tapped to play vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live.

“But seriously, this is the special night people,” Gaffigan said. “This is the one night when Republicans and Democrats and Democrats who used to be Republican and Republicans who used to be Democrats and independents and whatever Michael Bloomberg is now…we can [come together].”

Full story: Melania and Donald are all smiles as they make rare public outing together at Al Smith dinner in NYC

02:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump and Melania Trump were all smiles as they made a rare public appearance together at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City.

The former president and former first lady appeared at the dinner both dressed in black-tie outfits Thursday night. Trump smiled, raised his fist and shook hands as he made his way to his seat.

Trump is set to speak at the event later on Thursday evening.

Melania has been notably absent from the campaign trail. Over the last year, she has attended only a handful of rallies and events, often avoiding the spotlight while there. She also broke a long-running tradition by attending but not speaking at the Republican National Convention in July.

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In pictures: Donald and Melania attend Al Smith dinner

01:42 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald and Melania attend Al Smith dinner

01:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald and Melania Trump are attending tonight’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, an annual event to raise money for Catholic charities.

Attending the dinner has been a tradition among major party presidential candidates since the 1960s.

But, Kamala Harris’s team confirmed last month that the vice president will not be attending. This makes her the first presidential candidate for a major party to do so in decades.

Instead, Harris spent the day campaigning in Wisconsin, a key swing state.

Trump tries to strike another hush money deal with Stormy Daniels ahead of election, says report

01:00 , James Liddell

Donald Trump has tried to strike yet another hush money deal with adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence ahead of the 2024 presidential election, according to a report.

The former president’s attorneys allegedly sent Daniels an offer where the amount she owed him over a defamation suit would be lowered if she agreed not to make “defamatory or disparaging statements” about him.

The details were revealed in a special report by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, who obtained calls, documents and emails about the deal.

Read more:

Trump accused of trying to cut another hush money deal with Stormy Daniels

WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose: ‘Weak, tubby toddler’

Friday 18 October 2024 00:48 , Kevin EG Perry

Dave Bautista has mocked Donald Trump’s “tough guy” pose, calling the presidential candidate “a weak, tubby toddler.”

Bautista, 55, rose to fame as a WWE wrestler before building a career as an action star in movies including Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, the James Bond film Spectre and both instalments of Dune.

On last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, late-night host Kimmel quoted a recent New York Times poll that found Trump is leading rival candidate Kamala Harris by 17 points among male voters. “But is he the strong, alpha man these men believe him to be?” asked Kimmel. “Not according to one of the toughest guys I know, he isn’t.”

Read on:

WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Friday 18 October 2024 00:31 , John Bowden

US leaders denounced Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after reports of his death were confirmed by the Israeli military on Thursday, calling him a “terrorist”.

President Joe Biden said that he was informed early Thursday morning that Sinwar had likely been killed in a targeted operation the day earlier, and described his killing in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity for diplomacy to begin again.

“DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” said the president.

Read more:

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

NRA take a dig at Tim Walz and it totally backfires

Friday 18 October 2024 00:19 , Josh Marcus

The National Rifle Association, the influential firearms lobbying group, was mocked online for allegedly getting the facts wrong on a video claiming vice presidential candidate Tim Walz doesn’t know how to use a shotgun.

“Tim Walz previously claimed he kept a shotgun in his car so he could hunt pheasants after football practice,” the group wrote introducing the video, posted on X on Tuesday. “This is Tim Walz attempting to load his shotgun this past weekend.⁩”

The clip then features a video of Walz using a shotgun over circus-like music, and captions that claim “that dog don’t hunt” and urging viewers to defeat “confiscation Kamala.”

X users quickly added a community note to the post, linking to a video suggesting Walz was in fact unloading the shotgun.

“Clearly unloading and checking the action,” one user, a Colorado cattle rancher, commented.

Keep reading:

NRA take a dig at Tim Walz and it totally backfires

Full story: Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Thursday 17 October 2024 23:20 , Oliver O’Connell

US leaders denounced Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after reports of his death were confirmed by the Israeli military on Thursday, calling him a “terrorist”.

President Joe Biden said that he was informed early Thursday morning that Sinwar had likely been killed in a targeted operation the day earlier, and described his killing in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity for diplomacy to begin again.

“DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” said the president.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Thursday 17 October 2024 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war in an interview — but made no reference to Vladimir Putin.

Two and a half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump pinned the blame squarely on Zelensky and Biden for the conflict during an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which aired Thursday.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Where’s Trump ahead of the Al Smith dinner?

Thursday 17 October 2024 22:50 , Oliver O’Connell

You might be wondering where Donald Trump is ahead of tonight’s Al Smith dinner.

Well, this afternoon he visited a barber shop in the Bronx:

And then posted that he had just found out Kamala Harris would be delivering a video message to the dinner:

Just found out that Lyin’ Kamala is doing a video message tonight instead of being at the Al Smith Dinner. She shouldn’t be allowed to do a video message. Kamala should be there like almost every other Presidential Candidate in their History, except Walter Mondale, who lost 49-1. They didn’t give me the option of a video message, nor would I have done it. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved. She should be here, or lose the Catholic Vote!

This evening Trump will be joined by his wife Melania Trump at the white-tie dinner for Catholic charities, as well as by a host of New York luminaries and elected officials, including the state’s attorney general Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted him for fraud.

McConnell called Trump ‘stupid’ and ‘despicable’ after 2020 election, new biography says

Thursday 17 October 2024 22:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Senator Mitch McConnell reportedly referred to Donald Trump as a “despicable human being” and “narcissist” who is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered”.

In the weeks leading up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, McConnell privately told people he was “counting the days” until Trump left office as the former president spread lies about mass voter fraud in an attempt to overturn election results in his favor.

His comments, revealed in a forthcoming biography, give some insight into his contentious relationship with Trump and his true feelings about the former president.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Mitch McConnell called Trump ‘stupid’ and ‘despicable’ after 2020 election

Watch: Harris claps back as demonstrator is escorted out of rally

Thursday 17 October 2024 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Bill Clinton mocks Trump over his age and impromptu ‘swaying’

Thursday 17 October 2024 22:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Bill Clinton mocked Donald Trump for his impromptu dance party this week after two members of the audience at his town hall had medical emergencies: “I’m only two months younger than Donald Trump. But I will not spend 30 minutes swaying back and forth listening to music. And I will not clap offbeat… I am not here running for anything anymore except for my grandchildren’s future.”

Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter

Thursday 17 October 2024 22:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Lauren Boebert’s Democratic rival in her congressional reelection bid has reportedly raised five times more cash in the third fundraising quarter.

The campaign for Trisha Calvarese, who is hoping to deny the Republican firebrand a third term in Congress, plans to file their official totals on Tuesday.

Calvarese plans to declare bringing in more than $2.68 million from July through September, compared to roughly $532,000 raised by Boebert, according to figures shared by her campaign with The Independent.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Lauren Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter