Fox News Politics: Secret Service’s Butler breakdown detailed in preliminary House report
Welcome to the Fox News’ Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Here’s what’s happening… – New report shows a clear front-runner in Harris, Trump campaign cash race –Nathan Wade admitted to multiple White House meetings during Trump Georgia probe, transcript suggests -Supreme Court rejects lawyer Michael Cohen lawsuit against Trump over alleged retaliation The deadly shooting at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on July 13 was a “preventable” incident stemming from a lack of proper planning and communication between law enforcement agencies, according to a new report. The House Task Force investigating the attempts on Trump’s life is releasing their interim findings on Monday, with a final report expected by Dec. 13. “Although the findings in this report are preliminary, the information obtained during the first phase of the Task Force’s investigation clearly shows a lack of planning and coordination between the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners before the rally,” the report said…Read more ‘BLANKET AMNESTY’: 11 million illegals would have become citizens under bill that Kamala Harris promoted…Read more ‘YOU CAN TOO’: Harris invokes Jimmy Carter in bid to get supporters to vote early…Read more ‘RIGHT CALL’: First Lady Jill Biden tells ABC that President Biden dropping out of the race was ‘right call’…Read more ‘BAD POLICY’: Harris death tax reform could impact more than just the ultra-wealthy, experts say…Read more INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Pentagon lacks counter-drone procedure leading to incursions like at Langley, experts say…Read more ‘HISTORICALLY BAD’: Critics drag Harris for ‘cringe’ pre-recorded video aired during Catholic charity dinner…Read more SHROUD OF SECRECY: How a secret ballot could undermine a potential Trump endorsement in race to the top…Read more ‘WINDOW’ OF OPPORTUNITY: Graham says Israel has window to ‘replace Hamas forever’ after Sinwar killing: ‘Door is now open’…Read more ‘HEAD OF THE SNAKE’: Speaker Johnson says now is the time for US, Israel to go after Iran: ‘Head of the snake’…Read more WHO’S MORE ACCESSIBLE?: Trump-Vance ticket has done combined 87 interviews since August compared to 48 for Harris-Walz…Read more ‘JESUS IS KING’: Vance takes faith approach after Harris mocked pro-life protesters at rally…Read more MAKE A WISH: What Donald Trump said he’s getting Kamala Harris for her birthday…Read more MC’DONALD’ TRUMP: Trump makes fries at Pennsylvania McDonald’s: ‘I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala’…Read more ‘BELITTING AND INSULTING’: New ‘insulting’ Harris ad target’s Black men’s love lives…Read more PARTING WAYS: Harris campaign abandons Biden in final weeks before Election Day…Read more WISCONSIN SENATE: GOP challenger ties Sen Baldwin’s remark about Trump voters to Clinton’s infamous ‘deplorables’ moment…Read more ‘SOULS TO THE POLLS’: Harris makes pitch to Black churches after telling protester praising Jesus ‘you’re at the wrong rally’…Read more ‘1M TO SOMEONE IN SWING STATES’: Here’s how Elon Musk’s $1 million a day give-away to battleground voters works…Read more NECK AND NECK: Trump, Harris neck and neck as Dems lose ground among Latino, Black voters…Read more ELECTION THREATS TASK FORCE: DOJ deploys district elections officers to handle ‘threats and intimidation’…Read more CATCH AND RELEASE: Blue state, ICE battle over releasing illegal immigrants as expert warns politicians put ideology over safety…Read more ‘VITRIOLIC HATRED’: Elon Musk to upgrade security after Der Spiegel labels him ‘Public Enemy No. 2’…Read more ‘HURRICANE HELENE FIRSTHAND’: Trump plans to tour the devastation left by Hurricane Helene in latest battleground state stop…Read more ‘DELAYING THE TRANSPARENCY’: Pressure grows on Georgia Secretary of State to release results of non-citizen voter roll audit…Read more PEACH FIGHT: Georgia casts over 1.4M ballots as critical battleground shatters early voting records…Read more GOV GRILLED: Dem battleground gov has no answer when pressed for policy difference between Harris, Biden…Read more DEMOCRACY ’24: Early In-person voting begins for Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas…Read more Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Hollywood descends on Georgia for Harris as she battles Trump for working-class vote
Sunday brought a stark split screen to the 2024 presidential race – Vice President Kamala Harris marking her 60th with Stevie Wonder singing “Happy Birthday” in Georgia, while former President Trump worked the drive-thru at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Celebrities have been flocking to support Harris’ 2024 campaign since she entered the race over the summer, and battleground states are seeing their fair share of A-lister visits as early voting kicks off. Among the places where star power has been most pronounced is Georgia, which has seen a litany of famous faces. GEORGIA GOP CHAIR SHARES 2-PRONGED ELECTION STRATEGY AS TRUMP WORKS TO WIN BACK PEACH STATE It comes as both campaigns work to generate support in the state that President Biden won by less than 1% in 2020. The winner will likely need a significant amount of support from the state’s Black population and middle-class suburban voters outside of Atlanta. For his part to win over working voters, Trump cooked and served french fries to customers at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania on Sunday, while accusing Harris of lying about once working at the fast-food restaurant. “I’ve now worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala at McDonald’s,” Trump said through the drive-thru window as he handed out orders. Meanwhile, part of Harris’ strategy to win over voters appears to be reaching out to Hollywood celebrities. Before Wonder’s appearance on Sunday, Georgia also saw rally appearances by Grammy-winning artists Meghan Thee Stallion and Usher. In September, music icon John Legend appeared at a fireside chat event aimed at engaging young Georgia voters, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts also returned to her hometown of Smyrna, Georgia, to campaign for Harris. TRUMP VS HARRIS ROUND 2? VOTERS IN KEY GA COUNTY REVEAL IF THEY WANT SECOND DEBATE Musical artist MAJOR, stars of Bravo’s “Married To Medicine,” “Orange Is The New Black” actress Uzo Aduba, and “The Walking Dead” actress Danai Gurira have all traveled to Georgia to help Harris. Georgia is not the only state where Harris received celebrity support – band Bon Iver performed for her campaign in Wisconsin, singer Lizzo appeared in Detroit and actress Jennifer Garner is holding events in Arizona. But the concentrated flow of celebrities to Georgia reflects the state’s critical status in the election. The Peach State has also already shattered previous voter turnout records, with more than 1.4 million early and absentee ballots recorded so far. TRUMP VS HARRIS ROUND 2? VOTERS IN KEY GA COUNTY REVEAL IF THEY WANT SECOND DEBATE Celebrity support is not a new phenomenon in presidential races by any stretch, but it’s worth noting Harris has seen much more high-profile public support from Hollywood than Trump. Trump’s campaign won endorsements from NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, who appeared with Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, in North Carolina; actor Dennis Quaid, who spoke in support of Trump in California; Grammy winner Kanye “Ye” West, and country singer Jason Aldean, among others. Harris’ endorsers also include Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
US service members abroad caught in the middle of overseas ballot battle raging between House Dems, GOP
A group of House Democrats is protesting proposed GOP-led voting restrictions cracking down on overseas ballots, arguing that the measure – the latest in a string of GOP-led efforts to strengthen election security – is overly restrictive and risks disenfranchising thousands of U.S. service members stationed abroad. Their protest comes just weeks after six out of eight House Republicans from Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month, aiming to get the Keystone State to add additional vetting processes for U.S. residents living overseas. Republican plaintiffs argued that current law makes it possible for these residents to register and vote in elections without proper identification. They can then “receive a ballot by email and then vote a ballot without providing identification at any step in the process,” the group alleged. FLURRY OF PRE-ELECTION LEGAL CASES IS NOW ‘STANDARDIZED’ STRATEGY, EXPERTS SAY But that contention has been met with fierce resistance by the half-dozen Democrats in Congress, who argued that the level of vetting sought by Republicans would disenfranchise “tens of thousands” of overseas voters in their states – including, importantly, U.S. service men and women stationed abroad. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, six Democrats, all of whom served in the U.S. military, voiced deep concern over the lawsuit and its potential for discounting the votes of U.S. service members in key battleground states. The letter, sent by Reps. Pat Ryan of New York, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, and Mike Thompson and Salud Carbajal of California, and shared with Fox News, argued that the GOP-led push is an unfounded attempt to discount the votes of a once-Republican demographic, which has shifted in recent years to favor Democratic candidates. The lawsuit, they added, threatens to disenfranchise “tens of thousands” of service members abroad. And in a neck-and-neck election, this group of voters could play a decisive role. More than 1.2 million overseas ballots were cast in the 2020 election, according to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In Pennsylvania alone, there are roughly 25,000 registered U.S. voters living abroad. “Election-denying extremists, afraid they are losing this election, are actively working to disenfranchise members of our military deployed outside of the United States,” Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, told Fox News. NEBRASKA HIGH COURT RESTORES VOTING RIGHT FOR THOUSANDS OF CONVICTED FELONS All six Republicans named in the lawsuit had also voted against certifying Pennsylvania’s electoral votes in the 2020 election, she added. But in the final sprint to Election Day in a dead-heat presidential race, these court battles aren’t confined solely to Pennsylvania. In recent weeks, the Republican Party has filed similar lawsuits challenging the overseas registration process for voters in North Carolina and Michigan, each considered “toss-up” states in the 2024 election, and where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump are tied nearly neck-and-neck. GOP plaintiffs argued in both states that the overseas voters do not meet the necessary criteria to register and vote in the election. Asked for comment, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, one of six Pennsylvania Republican plaintiffs, told Fox News that the case “is simple.” The Pennsylvania Department of State is “unlawfully diluting the rightful ballots of the brave men and women who serve our nation and their family members,” he said in a statement. “Unelected career bureaucrats have no right to ignore federal laws that secure our elections.” “In the Navy JAG Corps, I made daily trips into the red zone in Baghdad, this is personal to me,” he added. “I will always stand up for those in uniform who deserve to have their right to a secure election protected.” Houlahan dismissed the lawsuits in a statement of her own, however, describing them to Fox News as an “assault on the patriotism of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and guardians who have taken an oath to defend and protect the United States,” and on their spouses and families also living overseas. SOLDIERS WERE FIRST: HOW AND WHY THE STATES STARTED AND NOW HANDLE EARLY AND ABSENTEE VOTING “It is desperate, cynical, and unconstitutional to attempt to deprive American citizens – no matter where they live – of their right to vote and to have their votes counted,” Houlahan said. There are also important questions of standing in each of the cases. Though federal law defers to individual states to establish their own election rules, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA, tasks the secretary of defense with implementing the registration and voting for U.S. service members and government employees living abroad. The UOCAVA, passed in 1986, states that the voting process for Americans living overseas should not be “overly burdensome.” It has also twice been significantly revised and modernized to improve the process of overseas voting, according to a Congressional Research Service report. These changes were ordered in 2001, in response to controversy over the 2000 presidential election, including ballots cast by U.S. voters in Florida and overseas, and then in 2009, as a result of new efficiency standards included in the 2010 NDAA. “While some of our colleagues are actively seeking to sow discord and misinformation, we urge you to carry out President Biden’s executive order and Federal Law to the best of your ability and ensure that all Americans have their constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in federal elections,” the lawmakers told Austin in their letter. It’s unclear how the lawsuits will turn out, though a judge in Michigan said last week that the Republican plaintiffs waited too long to bring their claims before the court, noting that the court “shouldn’t be changing the rules for this election two-and-a-half weeks ahead of time.” North Carolina, for its part, will hear from Republicans this week. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Harris and top anti-Trump Republican Cheney team up in battleground blitz
MALVERN, PA – The most high-profile GOP politician who is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Trump in the presidential election says that there are plenty of fellow Republicans who will quietly support the Democratic nominee. “They’re going to vote the right way on Nov. 5. They might not be public about it, but they’ll do what they know is right,” former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming said on Monday, as she teamed up with Harris at a campaign event in suburban Philadelphia in battleground Pennsylvania. While Trump retains vast sway over the GOP, even a small sliver of Republicans supporting Harris could make a consequential impact in what will likely be a race within the margins in the key swing states. As she turns up the volume on her efforts to court disgruntled Republicans in the closing stretch of the presidential campaign, Harris on Monday was teaming up with the most visible anti-Trump Republican, not only in Pennsylvania, but also in two other crucial swing states – Michigan and Wisconsin. HARRIS-TRUMP CASH DASH: NEW FILINGS SHOW WHICH CANDIDATE IS THE CLEAR FUNDRAISING FRONT-RUNNER Cheney, a one-time rising conservative star in the GOP who, in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, has vowed to do everything she can to prevent the former president from returning to power. “We have the opportunity to tell the whole world who we are, and we have the chance to say, you know, we’re going to reject cruelty. We’re going to reject the kind of vile vitriol that we’ve seen from Donald Trump. We’re going to reject, the misogyny that we’ve seen from Donald Trump and JD Vance,” Cheney argued. CRUNCH TIME: HARRIS TO TEAM UP WITH THE OBAMAS IN THESE CRUCIAL SWING STATES And she emphasized that “we have the chance in this race to elect somebody who… is going to defend the rule of law. You know, Vice President Harris is going to defend our Constitution.” Cheney said her endorsement of the vice president was “not at all a difficult choice” and she reached her decision in part as a mother. Harris is hoping Cheney’s support will help her win support from Republican women who may hesitate on backing their party’s presidential nominee. Cheney, the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, once rose within the ranks of House Republican leadership. But she was the most high-profile of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach then-President Trump in early 2021 on a charge of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, which was waged by right-wing extremists and other Trump supporters who aimed to disrupt congressional certification of President Biden’s Electoral College victory in the 2020 election. The conservative lawmaker and defense hawk immediately came under verbal attack from Trump and his allies and was eventually ousted from her No. 3 House GOP leadership position. Cheney, who has been vocal in emphasizing the importance of defending the nation’s democratic process and of putting country before party, was one of only two Republicans who served on a special select committee organized by House Democrats that investigated the riot at the Capitol. In 2022, she lost the GOP congressional primary in Wyoming to Harriet Hageman, a candidate backed by Trump. At a speaking event in early September at Duke University in swing state North Carolina, Cheney announced that she would vote for Harris in the presidential election. Cheney’s father also endorsed Harris. And Cheney formally backed Harris as they teamed up on the campaign for the first time earlier this month, at an event in Ripon, Wisconsin. Cheney was not always a fan of Harris. The Trump campaign has repeatedly pointed to a social media post by Cheney during the 2000 election in which she said, “@KamalaHarris has a more liberal voting record than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Her radical leftist views-raising taxes, banning gun sales, taxpayer $ for abortion & illegal immigrant health care, eliminating private health insurance-would be devastating for America.” CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2024 ELECTION Trump, speaking with Fox News’ Bill Melugin during a rally in Michigan earlier this month, charged that Cheney was “terrible” and “a stupid war hawk. All she wants to do is shoot missiles at people.” On Cheney’s backing of Harris, Trump argued, “I think they hurt each other. I think they’re so bad, both of them.” And ahead of Monday’s event, Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley argued in a statement that “Liz Cheney is just as unpopular as Kamala Harris is to Pennsylvania voters – bringing her to the Keystone State to try to catch up to President Trump’s lead is not a winning strategy.” WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS IN THE 2024 ELECTION SHOW Cheney and her father are part of a growing list of prominent Republicans who are supporting Harris. Two other high-profile anti-Trump Republicans, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, had speaking roles at the Democratic National Convention, which was held six weeks ago in Chicago. And Kinzinger and Duncan joined other prominent Republicans who are backing the vice president at an event with Harris last week in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, at the historic park where George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 – a turning point moment in the American Revolutionary War. The lifelong Pennsylvania Republicans who introduced Harris at last week’s event – Bob and Kristina Lange – were part of a group sitting on stage behind Harris and Cheney at Monday’s event. The Langes, who own a family farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, have also starred in a Harris campaign commercial. The Langes say they’ve seen a barrage of hateful and derogatory messages following their appearance in the Harris ad. But in an interview last week, they noted that their Republican friends say “that they’re on the same page that we are. They’re approaching us and telling us ‘We’re
Convicted child-porn peddler asks court for non-prison punishment so he can advocate for trans daughter
The father of a trans athlete at a New Hampshire high school is requesting a non-prison sentence for his child pornography distribution charges, citing his advocacy for his trans daughter’s fight to play in girls’ sports in a letter to the federal judge. Marc Jacques, the father of New Hampshire high school trans athlete Maëlle Jacques, was sentenced on Sept. 9 to 60 months behind federal bars, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. The U.S. Probation Office allowed him to get his affairs in order before reporting to prison in December. In his letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Barbadoro, Jacques argues his collaboration with the ACLU and GLAAD is essential to support Maëlle’s fight to be able to continue playing in girls’ sports teams. He noted in the letter that Maëlle does not have the support of Maëlle’s mother because of Maëlle’s transgender identity. Jacques wrote that he has had full custody for the last several years, making him the sole support system for Maëlle and Maëlle’s brother, Remi. VIOLENT CONVICT’S TAXPAYER-FUNDED SEX CHANGE CHALLENGED BY STATE AG AFTER JUDGE’S APPROVAL “As a transgendered teen, Maëlle has had a very, very tough time finding acceptance and seeking to love themselves. Since the Spring of 2023, Maëlle has faced online bullying, vicious attacks on social media and has been the subject of discrimination in pamphlets distributed publicly throughout our school district, as just some examples,” Jacques wrote. “Before finding joy in school sports, Maëlle suffered from anorexia, depression and anxiety and practiced self-harm (cutting). Since the NH Legislature began their attempts to take rights away from Maëlle and other trans teens this past legislative session, Maëlle has become more anxious once again and has had episodes of self-harm,” he said. Maëlle is also seeking out medical advice on gender transition treatments, his letter notes, “and with her mother being adamantly opposed to gender-affirming medical care, I am Maelle’s sole support system.” “The Pediatric Endocrinologist at DHMC is also exploring the option of providing a medical opinion that the gender dysphoria from which Maëlle is suffering can be declared a disability, most notably in the context of the sports ban,” Jacques wrote. “This potential option is another strong example of Maëlle needing my support and caretaking as her mother and stepmother will oppose this option and any other option which could lead to Maëlle’s playing high school sports.” Maëlle also submitted a letter to the judge pleading for a non-custodial sentence for Jacques, and said that Jacques has been attending therapy and group rehab for his crime. “If I were unable to stay with him due to a prison sentence, it would be a major strike to my own mental stability as I would lose the home I grew up in and the safety I feel inside of it, as well as the sheer support from him which I simply do not receive at my mother’s,” Maëlle wrote. “The work I have begun to do with the ACLU in regard to my existence as a trans girl in sports is also reliant upon his moral support in my testifying and meeting with Senators. A prison sentence would also harm me and my brother’s future as we would stop receiving support for college payments without his salary.” The judge has not ruled on a non-custodial sentence for Jacques. INDIANA JUDGE RULES PRISON MUST PROVIDE TRANSGENDER SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO KILLED BABY According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Jacques pleaded guilty to one charge of distribution of child pornography. In February 2022, authorities began investigating multiple CyberTips reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by MediaLab/Kik, prosecutors wrote in court documents. The platform flagged that a user named “wayne9985” had uploaded 49 files that appeared to depict child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to other users through private messages between Nov. 24 and Dec. 6, 2021. Investigators identified Jacques as the user behind the Kik account after tracing IP addresses linked to some of the uploads, including one from his home in Newbury and another from his girlfriend’s residence in Hopkinton. Further inquiries revealed that Jacques’ residential IP address had been associated with over 40 prior CyberTips reported by Reddit, Google, Tumblr, and sendvid from 2018 to 2022. A search of Jacques’ Kik account showed he had disseminated at least 26 files of CSAM via private messages on various dates in November and December 2021. ACLU SUES INDIANA OVER DENIAL OF SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO STRANGLED 11-MONTH-OLD TO DEATH Maëlle, a student at Kearsage High School in New Hampshire, is nearly 6-feet in height, according to multiple reports. Jacques was allowed to play for Kearsage’s Regional despite a state law in New Hampshire that restricts transgender inclusion in girls’ sports. However, a federal judge’s ruling in September put Maëlle right back onto the field and into the locker room with the other girls’ athletes. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1205, also known as the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” into law in July, which prohibits trans girls and women from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams. But then Maëlle’s family, along with the family of another transgender athlete, sued to block it. A federal court granted a preliminary injunction on Sept. 10, which meant that the two athletes would be allowed to play until a final ruling is made. A final ruling has not been made, so they have continued to play despite the state law. The judge who made the ruling, Landya McCafferty, is a liberal who was appointed to her seat by former President Obama in 2013. Jacques was re-arrested on Friday, according to a local report, and is accused of obtaining more illegal images after his sentencing. A probation officer reported that pretrial internet monitoring reports showed Jacques accessed a data storage device, which appeared to contain more videos of child sexual abuse material, around Aug. 10 and Sept. 16. Court documents reportedly
Pennsylvania Senate race labeled ‘toss up’ in last-minute shift by top handicapper
A top political handicapper shifted its rating on Monday in the pivotal Pennsylvania Senate race, signaling dwindling chances for Democratic Sen. Bob Casey’s re-election. Unveiling two ratings changes roughly two weeks from Election Day, the Cook Political Report indicated heightened competition in both Pennsylvania and Nebraska, where an independent candidate is threatening to unseat an incumbent Republican. In Pennsylvania, the race between incumbent Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick is now considered a “Toss Up,” according to the handicapper. The battle was previously rated “Lean Democrat.” SCHUMER-TIED GROUP DROPS MILLIONS AGAINST TED CRUZ AS DEMS EYE PICKUP OPPORTUNITY IN TEXAS Cook cited McCormick “shoring up the GOP base and making gains in the western part of the state,” as part of its justification. It also noted that while Casey has a several point advantage over his opponent in public polls, the race is reportedly within the margin of error in both Democratic and Republican internal surveys. Casey’s race is now in the same category as Senate races in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. GOP CHALLENGER TIES SEN BALDWIN’S REMARK ABOUT TRUMP VOTERS TO CLINTON’S INFAMOUS ‘DEPLORABLES’ MOMENT The ratings change comes as the presidential election between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is practically tied in the battleground state. With split-ticket voting becoming increasingly rare, it’s very likely that whichever party wins the White House will also win the Senate race. SENATE SHAKE-UP: HOW A SECRET BALLOT COULD UNDERMINE A POTENTIAL TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IN RACE TO THE TOP Casey defeated McCormick among likely voters 48% to 44% in a recent New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena College poll. The survey of 857 Pennsylvania voters was conducted between Oct. 7 and 10. The margin of error was +/- 3.8 percentage points. Republicans also took a hit in the ratings shifts, with Sen. Deb Fischer’s race in Nebraska moved again to demonstrate a quickly developing tight race. The match-up shifted from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.” HOVDE SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON TAMMY BALDWIN’S WALL STREET PARTNER DURING WISCONSIN DEBATE Independent candidate Dan Osborn, a union leader and mechanic, has appeared to take Fischer’s re-election campaign by surprise with his popularity just weeks from the election. No Democrat candidate was nominated in the race. Despite the notable challenge, “we still think the heavy red hue of the state wins out, GOP attacks on Democratic efforts to covertly boost Osborn break through and that Fischer makes it across the finish line,” Cook wrote. Fischer’s re-election bid is now in the same category as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Kamala Harris ‘has become toxic’ for Pennsylvania, top Keystone State lawmaker says
FEASTERVILLE, Pennsylvania— House Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of a campaign swing with former President Donald Trump that Vice President Kamala Harris is “toxic” for the Keystone State. Reschenthaler, who represents Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District, campaigned with Trump on Sunday across the state. “He’s fighting hard,” Trump said of Reschenthaler Sunday afternoon. “He wants us to win.” Trump’s comments about the congressman came during his visit to McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia, where he traded in his signature suit jacket for an apron to learn how to cook French fries and deliver them to customers from the drive-thru window. TRUMP MAKES FRIES AT PENNSYLVANIA MCDONALD’S: ‘I’VE NOW WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES MORE THAN KAMALA’ The visit was intended to slam Harris for her claim that she was once a worker for the fast-food chain. “It is important to highlight that Harris has repeatedly lied — and so has [Gov. Tim] Walz — on this campaign trail,” Reschenthaler told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the visit. “And you have President Trump who is willing to call out his opponent on being loose with the facts.” He added: “It just reminds voters again that Harris has misrepresented her past, and President Trump is going and connecting with the people of Pennsylvania.” The Harris campaign blasted the McDonald’s visit as a “staged photo-op,” saying Trump “doesn’t understand what it’s like to work for a living,” and saying the vice president “has a record of standing up for workers and taking on bad actors who rip people off, and she’ll do the same as President.” Reschenthaler, who is up for re-election and hoping to seek a fourth term, says he is “feeling very good” with his own race, and is now focusing on helping Trump and other Republicans win in Pennsylvania. The congressman pointed to new ads airing in the state from incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in his race against Republican Dave McCormick. Casey’s ad highlights how he “bucked Biden” and “sided” with Trump to end NAFTA and put tariffs on China to “stop them from cheating.” The ad highlights the Democrat senator as an “independent,” and features a Republican woman and her Democrat husband. It does not mention Vice President Harris. “As soon as I saw that ad where he was trying to tie himself to Trump, I knew — they’ve got to be seeing what we’re seeing in terms of internal polling — that Trump is surging,” Reschenthaler said. “They know that Trump has taken the lead, and they know that Harris has become toxic.” “That is the only reason why you would have a seasoned Democratic senator like Casey disavowing Harris and trying to tie himself to Trump,” he continued. “He sees the numbers.” Reschenthaler said he also thinks the ad shows that there is a “real chance that McCormick has a shot at beating Casey.” “People are going to come out and vote for Trump and Republicans down ballot, which will help us — not only in the Senate, but will help us in the competitive congressional districts as well,” he said. Later Sunday, Reschenthaler joined Trump at a town hall hosted by Sage Steele in Lancaster, Pa., and then attended the Pittsburgh Steeler’s game against the New York Jets with the former president. Reschenthaler told Fox News Digital that Pennsylvania is “such a critical state.” “They don’t call us the Keystone State for nothing,” Reschenthaler said, predicting that whoever wins Pennsylvania “is likely going to win this election.” “That is why it is so important for President Trump and Republicans to put up big numbers here in Pennsylvania,” he said. The chief deputy whip told Fox News Digital that it is “critical” for Republicans to gain traction in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and of Philadelphia while also getting voter turnout in the more rural parts of the state. As for the most important issues for Pennsylvanians, Reschenthaler said voters are focused on the economy, jobs, inflation and energy, stressing the importance of the natural gas industry for the state. ‘BLUE WALL’ DEMOCRAT ALIGNS WITH TRUMP IN NEW PITCH TO VOTERS BEFORE ELECTION “And then you also have immigration, which is usually No. 2 or 3 in voters’ concerns,” he continued. “Everybody says, ‘Yeah, but Pennsylvania is not a border state,’ but under Harris’ reckless and dangerous far-left policies of the border, every state is now a border state.” Reschenthaler said voters in his district, specifically in Southwestern Pennsylvania, have “definitely seen a difference” since the Trump administration. “They are struggling to afford groceries, gasoline, heating bills — just utilities in general,” he said, while noting that “real wage growth is actually decreasing under Harris,” but recalled the increasing wage growth under the Trump administration, especially for minorities. “That’s another reason why President Trump is doing so well with minority populations, which, historically for Republicans, we’ve had a difficulty reaching minorities,” he said. “But not President Trump — he transcends that.” According to a new USA Today/Suffolk University Poll, Harris has fallen back in support among Latino and Black voters in the seven weeks between surveys. The new poll found Latino voters now back Trump by 49% to 38%. Black voters prefer Harris by 72% to 17%, but that 55-point edge is significantly less than the advantage Democrats traditionally enjoy. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Harris-Walz campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Schumer-tied group drops millions against Ted Cruz as Dems eye pickup opportunity in Texas
A super PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is pouring millions behind new ads in the Texas Senate race, which Democrats see as their best pickup opportunity this cycle. With about two weeks until Election Day, the Senate Majority PAC announced a new multimillion-dollar digital and radio ad purchase in Texas going against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Cruz is a two-term senator seeking a third term this cycle. GOP CHALLENGER TIES SEN BALDWIN’S REMARK ABOUT TRUMP VOTERS TO CLINTON’S INFAMOUS ‘DEPLORABLES’ MOMENT In the 30-second spot, a woman identified as Dr. Nancy O. claimed, “Texas women are in danger because of Ted Cruz.” According to her, it is illegal to “provide care” to pregnant rape survivors and pregnant women with “severe complications.” “Colin Allred will restore a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions,” she said. HOVDE SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON TAMMY BALDWIN’S WALL STREET PARTNER DURING WISCONSIN DEBATE “The stakes of Texas’ Senate election couldn’t be higher. Ted Cruz has spent his time in office relentlessly pursuing a deadly agenda and self-enriching politics, utterly indifferent to the needs of Texans – and voters know it,” said SMP President JB Poersch in a statement. “That’s why Senate Majority PAC is going on offense, reaching voters where they are and working to elect a true, bipartisan leader to represent Texas in the Senate, Rep. Colin Allred.” Abortion is illegal in most cases in Texas following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which allowed the states to determine their own laws on the procedure. SENATE SHAKE-UP: HOW A SECRET BALLOT COULD UNDERMINE A POTENTIAL TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IN RACE TO THE TOP There is an exception if the life of the mother is in danger, in which case abortions can be performed. However, critics have noted that there is little clarity on what qualifies as a medical emergency under the Texas laws. The state doesn’t have exceptions for rape and incest, which are frequently supported by Republicans. Former President Trump has advocated for the issue to remain at the state level, and Republicans have largely gotten behind his stance. In a recent interview, Cruz indicated that abortion policies should be determined by individual states. National Democrats have conversely planned to codify Roe v. Wade into law if they are granted the presidency and congressional majorities. JUDGE ORDERS MORE JACK SMITH TRUMP INVESTIGATION DOCS TO BE MADE PUBLIC AHEAD OF ELECTION Cruz’s campaign did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. The ad campaign comes as the race between Cruz and Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, tightens, with a top political handicapper shifting its rating to “Lean Republican” from “Likely Republican.” In the latest Marist Texas Poll, Cruz defeated his Democrat challenger 51% to 46%. The poll was conducted between Oct. 3 and 7 and surveyed 1,500 Texas adults. The margin of error for likely voters was ±3.6 percentage points. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office condemns Texas House lawmakers that intervened in Robert Roberson’s execution
The Texas governor had not publicly shared his thoughts on the actions of a bipartisan group of lawmakers that stopped the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson.
Harris’ death tax reform could impact more than just the ultra-wealthy, experts say
Under former President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the federal estate tax – often referred to as the death tax – can only apply to estates passed on to heirs valued over $13.61 million. If that exemption threshold were to expire or lapse, as Vice President Kamala Harris has signaled she would allow if she becomes president, some experts say it could impact more than just the ultra-wealthy. “It creates monopolies,” one conservative economist said. “It’s going to impact a lot of our clients,” a New Jersey estate planning attorney insisted. “The exemption is meant to reduce the double taxation of income,” another economist said. “In a way, it’s like the capital gains tax, where people are like, ‘Oh, it’s to [tax] privileged capital.’ No, it’s actually to reduce the double taxation of income.” The Harris campaign told The New York Times in August that the vice president supports President Biden’s proposed tax increases laid out in the most recent federal budget plan put together by his administration, which would reduce the threshold at which the death tax kicks in from roughly $13 million to around $5 million. Meanwhile, Harris reportedly endorsed the death tax reforms outlined in the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2024, which would reduce the threshold even further to $3.5 million. While running for the presidency in 2019, Harris wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post that raising the estate tax was a solution to poor teacher wages. HARRIS SAYS WEALTHY AMERICANS, CORPORATIONS WILL PAY HIGHER TAXES TO FUND ECONOMIC PLAN Critics of letting the TCJA’s current exclusionary threshold for the death tax expire told Fox News it will promote monopolies, impact small businesses and create an additional tax for a meaningful portion of the country. However, others strongly disagree. “If estate tax parameters revert, that will only affect a tiny sliver (about two-tenths of 1%) of estates – those with estates over the (now lower) threshold,” Kimberly Clausing, an economist with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement. “Those affected will be quite well off and easily able to pay the tax, and without an estate tax, much capital income would escape tax entirely.” KAMALA HARRIS WANTS AMERICA TO HAVE THE WORLD’S HIGHEST DEATH TAX Garrett Watson is a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit aimed at helping Americans understand the tax code. He said under the new death tax threshold, only an additional 0.13% of heirs will be impacted. He added that under the $13 million threshold provided under the TCJA, about $206 billion in revenue would be lost from 2025 to 2034. However, Michael Kulzer, an estate planning attorney from New Jersey, argued the move will impact “a lot” of his clients. “You bought a shore house 30 years ago for $500,000, it’s probably worth $3 million today,” Kulzer said. He noted that when adding other assets, like pensions, “you don’t have to be really wealthy today” for an estate to reach a $3.5 million, or even $5 million, valuation. NUMBERS SHOW HARRIS TAX PROPOSALS WOULD GIVE TO SMALL BUSINESS WITH ONE HAND, TAKE WITH THE OTHER Meanwhile, Heritage Foundation economist Richard Stern pointed out that “it’s really the business part of this where it will affect a lot of people.” Stern pointed to hopeful McDonald’s franchise owners as an example, who, on average, must have $1.5 million to $2.5 million in start-up costs to get going. “If the price to buy the franchise for one McDonald’s is a million and a half dollars, you don’t need to have a lot of restaurants under your belt to reach $3.5 or $5 million in value.” Family farms and family-owned construction companies, Stern added, are other examples of potentially vulnerable targets. Family-owned companies have gone public about being forced to sell, at least in part, due to estate taxes. Stern added that a small business does not need to be far over the threshold to face a big tax bill when the owner dies and tries to pass it on to one of his heirs. This, Stern argued, would force the heir to start selling off parts of their business, and, in turn, serves to “create monopolies.” “The people who are going to be affected the most are often those whose income is not held in cash. It’s often held in stocks. In a company. And in order to pay it, it means you have to sell it,” Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, added. “So, in a way, I don’t really care how many people it affects. It’s just a bad – it’s a bad policy.” Oprah Winfrey, who has endorsed Harris for president, blasted the federal estate tax in 1997 as a “double tax” and blamed it for “why you always hear about people where their aunts left them houses, or left them stuff, and they can’t keep the house because the taxes are so much.” “In a way, it’s like the capital gains tax, where people are like, ‘Oh, it’s to [tax] privileged capital.’ No, it’s actually to reduce the double taxation of income,” echoed de Rugy in talks with Fox News Digital. The Harris campaign declined to provide an on-the-record response for this article.