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Appeals court rules against Virginia’s effort to block re-instatement of suspected noncitizens to voter rolls

Appeals court rules against Virginia’s effort to block re-instatement of suspected noncitizens to voter rolls

A federal appeals court on Sunday ruled that a lower court was correct to re-instate some 1,600 Virginia voters who have questionable citizenship status to the rolls. The ruling came after immigrants and women’s rights groups sued the state and its Board of Elections after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order in August directing state officials to identify noncitizens, who were given two weeks to dispute being disqualified before being removed from voter rolls. Youngkin’s attorneys argued that the law applies to actual voters and that removing non-citizens isn’t covered. The appeals court for the Fourth Circuit said the state was mixing various parts of the law together. YOUNGKIN VOWS TO APPEAL ‘TO SCOTUS’ AFTER US JUDGE ORDERS 1,600 VOTERS BACK ON BALLOT “That is not how courts interpret statutes,” the appeals court said in its ruling.  On Sunday, he vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.  “It’s commonsense: noncitizens shouldn’t be on our voter rolls,” he wrote on X.  “Thank you @JasonMiyaresVA for filing immediately with the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency appeal of the order for Virginia to put over 1,500 people who self-identified as non-citizens back on the voter rolls,” the governor said to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.  On Friday, U.S. Judge Patricia Giles issued a preliminary injunction to reinstate all voters who had been removed from state voter rolls in the past 90 days. The judge found that the removals had been “systematic,” not individualized, and were thus a violation of federal law. Her ruling came after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the State of Virginia, Virginia State Board of Elections and Virginia Commissioner of Elections on Oct. 11, saying that by removing voters from rolls too close to the Nov. 5 general election, the state had violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). YOUNGKIN HITS BACK AT DOJ SUIT OVER ‘COMMON SENSE’ LAW THAT CULLS NONCITIZENS FROM VOTER ROLL “Let’s be clear about what just happened: only eleven days before a Presidential election, a federal judge ordered Virginia to reinstate over 1,500 individuals–who self-identified themselves as noncitizens–back onto the voter rolls,” Youngkin said in a statement Friday.  “Almost all these individuals had previously presented immigration documents confirming their noncitizen status, a fact recently verified by federal authorities,” he added.  Should the case be picked up by the high court, it would come within days of the election. 

Tim Walz and AOC play Madden on Twitch in attempt an appeal to young male voters

Tim Walz and AOC play Madden on Twitch in attempt an appeal to young male voters

In an effort to secure more support from male voters before Election Day, vice-presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., played Madden NFL together on the live-streaming platform Twitch on Sunday. “Sundays are for football! Game on, AOC,” Walz wrote in a post on X. The pair jumped on the streaming service Sunday afternoon, during NFL Sunday games, to discuss the upcoming election. Ocasio-Cortez opened the session explaining that her and Walz agreed to do the live-stream a couple of weeks ago when he expressed interest in doing a game stream with her. They agreed to play Madden because he used to be a football coach, and he was familiar with the game, having played it with his children in the past.  KAMALA HARRIS DOWNPLAYS DIMINISHING SUPPORT FROM MALE VOTERS: ‘IT’S NOT THE EXPERIENCE I’M HAVING’ Walz joined the stream after 30 minutes, wearing a camouflage Minnesota Vikings hat, prior to attending a campaign rally in Nevada.  The duo wasted no time in throwing jabs at former President Donald Trump and emphasized the importance of Democrats taking control of the House and keeping majority control of the Senate. “We don’t all share the same politics, we don’t all share the same views, but the need to defeat Trump this year has been my number one priority,” Ocasio-Cortez said. During the live-stream, Walz told Ocasio-Cortez that if he and Kamala Harris win the election, he would make her the Speaker of the House.  “We’re gonna win this election. We’re gonna make you put a gavel in your hand in the House,” Walz told Ocasio-Cortez The two continue to game and chat about a Harris-Walz administration, with Walz eluding that they would eliminate the filibuster. “The Senate has their own things. They have, kinda their ‘norms and their customs,’ but in order..” Ocasio-Cortez said before Walz cuts in. TRUMP-VANCE TICKET HAS DONE COMBINED 98 INTERVIEWS SINCE AUGUST COMPARED TO 57 FOR HARRIS-WALZ “Maybe, maybe, some of those norms, I’m just gonna say I don’t know where you stand, but I’m guessing you and I are probably the same on the filibuster?” Walz asks. “Oh yeah, we gotta get rid of that thing,” Ocasio-Cortez replies.  The filibuster is a Senate rule that allows a minority to block legislation pending a supermajority vote. While Harris first said she would support ending the filibuster to reinstate Roe v. Wade era abortion legislation in 2022, she has since made abortion a major issue in her Democratic bid for the presidency this election cycle. She also supported ending the filibuster to pass the progressive Green New Deal climate legislation in 2019.  Walz and Ocasio-Cortez also talked about the importance of access to Social Security, bonding over their mutual losses of their dads when they were teenagers.   “Gov. Tim Walz and I both lost our dads when we were teenagers. A lot of people don’t know that Social Security also helps you if you lose a spouse (or parent, if you’re a kid). It’s so important we defend and expand it,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X following the live stream. During a campaign rally in North Carolina earlier this month, Walz claimed that his mother has to wait for her social security check every month to feed herself and that Trump and all his “rich friends” don’t care or even worry about Social Security.  “When my mom looks for that Social Security deposit to be made in her bank account, that’s how she’s going to feed herself. That’s how she’s going to get things done. He [Trump] doesn’t give a damn if his Social Security check comes or not,” Walz claimed.  Walz touted that a hundred million Americans under Kamala Harris as president would see a tax cut. Walz and Ocasio-Cortez finished their game after playing one half. Walz played for the Minnesota Vikings, while Ocasio-Cortez played for the Buffalo Bills. The final score was 0-0.  Walz then campaigned in Las Vegas. He attended a “Latinos con Harris-Walz” get-out-the-early-vote event and watch party for the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs game with Congressman Steven Horsford and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez on Sunday afternoon. ELON MUSK BLASTS TIM WALZ AFTER DEMOCRAT TRAINS FIRE ON THE TRUMP-BACKING TYCOON The Harris-Walz campaign said they have placed an emphasis on building a network of trusted allies to mobilize their male-driven audiences – including a program called, “Athletes for Harris,” which is co-chaired by NBA players Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, and former NBA legend Magic Johnson. During an interview with NBC News last week, Harris dismissed her diminishing support among male voters who pressed her on why former President Donald Trump had a 16-point lead over the vice president in the key voting bloc.  “Why do you think there is a disconnect for you with men right now?” NBC’s Peter Alexander asked Harris during an interview in Michigan that aired on Saturday. An NBC poll conducted in early October found that while Harris leads Trump among women voters, 55% to 41%, Trump leads Harris 56% to 40% among male voters. MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell also called out Harris’ issues with male voters during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” earlier this month. Fox News’ Hanna Panreck and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report. 

Trump, powerhouse guests rock packed MSG with historic rally

Trump, powerhouse guests rock packed MSG with historic rally

Former President Donald Trump took the stage at his historic Madison Square Garden rally, where thousands of supporters from the deep blue northeast state cheered wildly as the 45th president railed against Biden-Harris administration policies and vowed to “Make America Great Again.”  Trump took the stage at Madison Square Garden just after 7 p.m. in the packed stadium, where he focused his speech on spiraling immigration, inflation woes, and looking toward the future with lower consumer costs and securing the border. The rally was first-come, first-serve, and sold out within hours of being announced earlier this month. Madison Square Garden has a capacity of 19,500 people.  “I’m hereby calling for the death penalty for any migrant that kills an American citizen or a law enforcement officer,” Trump told the crowds as he spoke about the illegal immigration crisis since 2021.  “I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail. Gonna kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible. And to expedite removals of Tren de Aragua and other savage gangs like MS-13, which is equally vicious, I will invoke the Alien Enemies act of 1798,” he said.  ELON MUSK, DANA WHITE TO APPEAR AT ‘HISTORIC’ TRUMP MSG RALLY Trump said that Harris was behind “the most egregious betrayal” of any U.S. leader due to immigration policies under the Biden-Harris administration.  “Over the past four years, Kamala Harris has orchestrated the most egregious betrayal that any leader in American history has ever inflicted upon our people. She has violated her oath, eradicated our sovereign border, and unleashed an army of migrant gangs who are waging a campaign of violence and terror against our citizens,” he said.  The massive rally, where nearly 200,000 people tried to gain access according to Donald Trump Jr., included a handful of high-profile speakers ahead of Trump’s remarks, including an address from former first lady Melania Trump.  TRUMP AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: ICONIC VENUE HAS PLAYED HOST TO MANY CAMPAIGN GATHERINGS NEAR ELECTION DAY “Envision a wonderful America where the seeds of security, prosperity, and health are so and once again for the benefit of our families,” Melania Trump said before introducing her husband. “Let us start together with a shared vision that builds on American greatness. Let’s seize this moment and create a country for tomorrow, the future that we deserve. And now.”  Trump’s speech included a focus on the economy and spiraling inflation and “bringing back the American dream,” including vowing to the audience that he will cut their energy costs in half by January of 2026 if he’s elected. TRUMP PREPS FOR MASSIVE CAMPAIGN RALLY SUNDAY AT NEW YORK CITY’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN “I will terminate the green new scam. And we’ll cut your energy prices in half, 50% within one year from January 20th. Is the fake news hearing that?” he said, before directing the audience to the “fake news media” at the rally.  Trump touted that if he wins the election next week, he will lower costs for consumers, as well as end taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.  “We will rapidly defeat inflation and we will very simply make America affordable again. We’re going to make it affordable. I will massively cut taxes for workers and small businesses, and we will have no tax on tips. No tax on overtime. And no tax on Social Security benefits for our seniors,” he said.  Trump added that under his leadership, the Republican Party has become the “party of inclusion.”  ELON MUSK COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP IN ‘DARK GOTHIC MAGA’ AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN “Jews and Muslims and Catholics and evangelicals and Mormons and they’re all joining our cause in large numbers, larger than anyone has ever seen in this country before, larger than they’ve ever seen in any country,” he said.  “And we’re a big, powerful party and they’re losing it. They’re really losing it. Together we will lift America to glory beyond your wildest dreams. It’s going to happen fast, too.” Other notable speakers at Trump’s rally included Speaker of House Mike Johnson, Hulk Hogan, tech billionaire Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, and Dr. Phil McGraw.  Kennedy, who ran for president as a Democrat before endorsing Trump in August, railed against the Democratic Party for morphing into a party he no longer recognizes.  “The Democratic Party is the party of war. It’s the party of the CIA. You had Kamala Harris giving a speech at the Democratic convention that was written by neocons. It was belligerent. Pugnacious. It talked about domination of the world by the United States through our weapons of war. It’s the party today that wants to divide Americans. It’s a party that is dismantling women’s sports by letting men play women’s sports,” he said.  TRUMP TO HOLD RALLY AT NEW YORK’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY “It’s the party of Wall Street. It’s the party of Bill Gates, who just gave $50 million to Harris. It’s the party and the Harris campaign is very proud that it received the endorsement of 50 former CIA agents and officers. And of John Bolton and of Dick Cheney.”  Musk wore his “dark MAGA” all-black hat during the rally, which he called “dark gothic MAGA,” and vowed to cut government spending if Trump secures the election and appoints Musk to the administration as “Secretary of Cost-Cutting.”  Trump had teased for months that he would hold a rally at Madison Square Garden and officially announced the event earlier in October.  “This is going to be an iconic, historic day, and you can see it’s already full. I mean, it’s amazing. These tickets sold out in less than three hours. And it shows the enthusiasm, the momentum, the energy, as we are in this closing chapter of an unbelievable campaign,” New York Rep. Elise Stefanik told Fox News Digital ahead of

Elon Musk comes out in support of Trump in ‘dark gothic MAGA’ at Madison Square Garden

Elon Musk comes out in support of Trump in ‘dark gothic MAGA’ at Madison Square Garden

Elon Musk unveiled what he called a “dark gothic MAGA” look on Sunday while supporting former President Trump.  “I’m dark gothic MAGA,” Musk told the crowd at Trump’s campaign event at Madison Square Garden. “The energy in this room is incredible.” The Tesla and SpaceX CEO was wearing a black MAGA cap with a gothic-looking font and a black shirt and jacket.  TRUMP PREPS FOR MASSIVE CAMPAIGN RALLY SUNDAY AT NEW YORK CITY’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Musk took the stage at the event while leading the crowd in a “USA” chant and imploring those in attendance to vote early. “We’re going to get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook,” he said. “And America’s just not going. It’s just going to be great. America is going to reach heights that it has never seen before.” Musk urged those in attendance and watching on a video stream to vote early. “What is the scorecard? Vote early,” he said. “Vote now. Yeah. Make it make the margin of victory. So big that you know what can’t happen.” he added, referring to supposed issues with voter fraud. 

The Speaker’s Lobby: Ghosts of the Republic

The Speaker’s Lobby: Ghosts of the Republic

Edgar Allan Poe wrote that the scariest monsters are the ones which lurk within our souls. But what about the souls which lurk in the halls of Congress? The U.S. Capitol is more than 200 years old. And any building which has been around for two centuries, is stocked with legends and ghosts. This time of year, people flock to pop-up haunted houses “on the hill.” But when it comes to Washington, DC, there is only one haunted House (and Senate) on “the Hill.” So allow me to spook you with tales of the Capitol macabre as we descend into the Congressional catacombs. Four grand staircases occupy each quadrant of the Capitol. But the steps in the southwest portion of the building on the House side tell perhaps one of the most grotesque stories in Congress. 10 BEST PLACES TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN THE US, WITH SPOOKY SPOTS RANKED And we’re not talking about one of the big omnibus spending bills. Rep. William Taulbee, D-Ky., served in Congress in the late 19th Century. And just like today, the Capitol teams with journalists, chasing lawmakers for a quotation or information about legislation. But Taulbee had a problem. Reporter Charles Kincaid wrote for the Louisville Times. Kincaid penned an article about Taulbee’s dalliances titled “Kentucky’s Silver-Tongued Taulbee Caught in Flagrante or Thereabouts.” After the article, Taulbee didn’t seek reelection but stuck around in Washington, pushing various causes – long before “K Street” became a thing. But Taulbee and Kincaid would often run into one another at the Capitol. Taulbee was a lot taller than the diminutive Kincaid and would sometimes physically harass the scribe. The pen may be mightier than the sword. But it’s certainly not as powerful as a pistol. In February, 1890, the two men encountered one another near the House chamber. Kincaid produced his firearm and shot the former Congressman in the face. Taulbee bled profusely as he headed down the marble stairwell. Many lawmakers come to Washington, intent on leaving a mark on the body politic. But as it turns out, it was Taulbee’s body which left an indelible mark on the U.S. Capitol. USER’S MANUAL ON WHAT HOUSE RACES TO WATCH ON ELECTION NIGHT You see, the composition of human blood and the Georgian, white marble used to make the stairwells of the building don’t exactly mix. Splotches of Taulbee’s blood covered the staircase every few feet from the second floor to the first. Some markings look like shapes in a Rorschach test. Taulbee died the next day from his wounds. But his plasma is forever a part of the U.S. Capitol, permanently staining the staircase. As a result of his fate, Taulbee doesn’t think much of reporters. Even to this day. And it’s believed that Taulbee sometimes makes himself known by tripping members of the Congressional press corps. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the Capitol in the summer of 2019. He had just met with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. However, word broke that day that the attendance-starved Tampa Bay Rays might try to work out an agreement to play some of their home games in Montreal. The Montreal Expos abandoned Canada in 2005 to become the Washington Nationals. Trudeau was a fan of the Expos. There’s even a picture of a boyish Trudeau in the stands at Olympic Stadium in Montreal with his father, late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. It would be a scoop if the younger Trudeau weighed-in on the prospects of Major League Baseball returning to Montreal. Trudeau walked down a spiral staircase not far from where Kincaid killed Taulbee. I tried to get a comment from Trudeau. But for no apparent reason, I tripped over the lip of a step and cascaded in front of the Canadian leader. I didn’t drop the microphone. I also knew that I could break my arm or hand if I tried to catch myself. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WITH NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER Fortunately, I studied martial arts for years. One of the things they teach you is how to fall. I quickly adjusted my weight so I plunged onto my right shoulder and rolled. My feet flew up in the air. This was all caught on tape by my photographer Robert Fetzer. “Oh Chad! Chad! Chad! Chad,” yelled Fetzer, as I plopped directly in front of Trudeau. I was uninjured and Trudeau extended an arm to assist me. But I had already sprang back to my feet. Alas, Trudeau didn’t answer my question about the Rays and Montreal and went on his way. But there was no logical reason why I tripped there. I’ve stood by those stairs hundreds of times. I’ve never been caught by the lip of the lower stairs. A possible explanation? Perhaps the ghost of William Taulbee saw to it that I keister over teakettle in front of the Canadian Prime Minister. CANADIAN PM TRUDEAU SAYS ‘THERE’S MORE WORK TO DO’ AS HIS PARTY LOSES LONG-HELD SEAT IN QUEBEC However, there is only one Capitol haunting which surpasses the Taulbee tripping tale. But only by a whisker. It’s the legend of the demon cat. Capitol Police officers and even 19th century watchmen claim they’ve seen a phantasmic feline prowl the hallways of the Capitol before national emergencies. Especially war and assassinations. Purr-portedly. That said, no one spotted the demon cat before 9/11 or the 2021 Capitol riot. CONTINGENT ELECTIONS: WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHAT TO EXPECT IF 2024 TRIGGERS ONE Maybe the demon cat – like all cats – only has nine lives. But I can take you to a place where the demon cat is said to have walked. Go to the first floor of the “mini” Rotunda on the Senate side of the Capitol near the Old Supreme Court chamber. If you learn against one of the columns near that room and look down, you might just see several paw prints permanently etched into the floor. However, the light must catch the prints

Is a peace deal in Gaza possible after the killing of Yahya Sinwar?

Is a peace deal in Gaza possible after the killing of Yahya Sinwar?

Leaders gather in Doha for yet another round of ceasefire talks, with hopes are running high. Gaza ceasefire talks have restarted in the Qatari capital, Doha, after being stalled for months. Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency chief and the head of the CIA have met with the Qatari prime minister in hopes of moving negotiations forward. The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar should, according to Israel and the US, pave the way for a peace agreement, ending the war on Gaza and allowing for the release of the remaining captives in Gaza. The latest round of talks comes on the heels of a series of targeted assassinations by Israel of leaders both in Gaza and Lebanon. But could the talks really lead to a breakthrough? Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra Guests Salman Shaikh – former UN official who advised the UN’s peace envoys to Gaza, Jerusalem and Lebanon. Hafsa Halawa – political consultant specialising in the Middle East and North Africa, and a non-resident Fellow at the Middle East Institute. Alon Pinkas – former adviser to Israeli Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak. Adblock test (Why?)