USA Election 2024 news summary: Sunday, October 27, 2024
US presidential election 2024 live updates
- Republican rally in New York under fire for 'jokes' at expense of millions of Americans
- More than 40 million people have cast their ballots in early voting, according to the University of Florida Election Lab
- So-called 'Nostradamus of US elections' names his pick for November
- Trump and Harris on marijuana legalization as they attempt to widen their coalitions
- Which polls can be trusted? The agencies that got it right in the swing states in 2020
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked outrage at Donald Trump’s recent rally in Madison Square Garden, New York City, with his offensive remarks about Puerto Rico in a night that devolved into some of the most deplorable seens so far in a pretty ugly campaign.
The rally, at a venue in a traditionally Democratic stronghold, was marked by intense rhetoric and controversial statements from various speakers.
Why discussing an "enemy from within" is so dangerous
The concept of an "internal enemy" has historically been used by authoritarian regimes to justify oppression and violence against dissenting groups. This type of language echoes tactics used by fascist leaders to consolidate power and suppress opposition.
The "enemy from within" concept often intersects with antisemitic conspiracy theories. These may include notions of Jewish control over media, banks, or governments. Such theories paint Jews as a hidden force manipulating society from within
What Donald Trump said at his NYC rally
We're running against something far bigger than Joe or common and far more powerful than them, which is a massive, vicious, crooked, radical left machine that runs today's Democrat Party... I say 'the enemy from within', and the other side goes crazy,'Oh, how could he say that?' You know, they've done very bad things to this country. They are indeed the enemy from within.
The original video declaring Harris the "border tsar"
“This is America’s border tsar,” Trump’s first television advertisement announced over images of Kamala Harris, “and she’s failed us.”
Once President Biden took office in January 2021, he was faced with a significant increase in the flow of migrants at the country’s southern border. In March of that same year, he delegated the task of addressing the root causes of migration to Kamala Harris, which is where the moniker of tsar comes from.
While their moniker may not technically be true, a tsar in politics being someone given broad powers to address an issue, Harris was tasked withdealing with a specific part of the policy issue.
Republican politicans on damage control mode after Puerto Rican 'joke'
In a now deleted tweet, Republican Senator Rick Scott stood against the vitriol pouring out of New York tonight.
But it seems the party wants to batten down the hatches and criticism mounts.
The huge number of Puerto Ricans living in the United States' mainland
2.75 million people of Puerto Rican heritage live in the US, while just over 3.2 million live on the home islands.
Democrats in new push to Puerto Ricans
While Republicans seem more than happy to trash talk the millions of Puerto Ricans living in the US, the Democrats are on a serious charm offensive.
Comms from the Harris team have been shared by numerous famous islanders like Bad Bunny and J-Lo.
The racism keeps pouring out of Trump rally in NYC
Keep an eye on this New York Trump rally as the speakers are coming out with some truly crazy statements for a political rally. The latest comes from former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.
The replies on Twitter were not pleased.
"It’s astonishing to see a Presidential campaign resort to this much hate. Just repulsive." said one.
Another: "Did they tell all the speakers at the MAGA neo-Nazi rally to go out and be as racist and hateful as possible? Just hammer the point home that you’re only welcome in America if you’re a white straight man or you bow down to the white straight man. This is disguting to watch!"
"What a hateful rally." said a third.
Why Puerto Rico is so poor
Despite being controlled by the US for more than a century, Puerto Rico has never been granted full statehood. It is classed as a territory, meaning the island is allowed to be governed in a totally different way to the other 50 states in the US.
While people from Puerto Rico are classed as US citizens, they are not allowed to vote in US elections, including for the President. Only Congress has true jurisdiction over territories, something the territories cannot change themselves. They have no vote for senators.
44 percent of Puerto Ricans live in poverty, far higher than any state in the US.
Trump campaign calls Puerto Rico "floating garbage"
In an apparent, and totally tasteless, joke, a speaker at a New York City rally totally disparaged the entire island of Puerto Rico, one of the poorest territories controlled by the US.
It makes even less sense that a comment like this would be made in NY, a city with more than a million people of Puerto Rican heritage living in it.
What did Kamala Harris say in her CBS interview?
The interview covered topics like Harris's campaign priorities, the economy, immigration, and foreign policy issues.
Harris discussed what she called her first priority if elected president: signing into law protections for abortion rights from Roe v. Wade.
Michelle Obama warns a Trump win would be dire for women
As former First Lady. Michelle Obama campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris, she warned voters that the situation of women would suffer if former president Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Kamala Harris has not made Social Security a pillar of her campaign. Instead, the Democratic nominee has focused on abortion rights, immigration, and what she calls the creation of an “opportunity economy.”
This year, the Social Security Administration announced that the COLA (Cost-of-living Adjustment) offered to beneficiaries of the programs it oversees will see their benefits increase by 2.5 percent in 2025. The COLA offered this year was 3.2 percent; in 2023, it reached 8.7 percent. While prices are still increasing, the pace at which they are rising has slowed, leading to a lower COLA for 2025.
Read our full coverage for details on what proposals the candidates have supported during this election cycle and during their time in office.
A reminder to work towards peace and justice
In the midst of one of the most divisive elections in United States history, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center reminds us of the words of one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement.
Crowds gather for Trump's Madison Square Garden rally
People are starting to gather outside Madison Square Garden to attend former President Donald Trump’s rally.
The speakers include billionaire Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson, and former Trump attorney and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
If you are unable to vote in person on election day don’t worry, most states have measures in place that allow to vote early if you know you won’t be able to attend.
Be warned that each state will have different rules and eligibility around voting methods. Make sure to check with your local government what you can do and when the deadlines are, lest you miss out on voting this November.
The Republican candidate has raised the possibility of eliminating income taxes altogether, and there would be consequences.
When asked whether the United States could potentially eliminate all federal taxes, Trump suggested the country could return to late 19th-century economic policies, when there were no federal income taxes.
He has not provided specific details on how he would implement this measure – maybe it‘s just another ’concept of a plan' – but if enacted, it would likely lead to higher prices.
Swing states, also known as battleground states, are states where the outcome is uncertain and could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican candidate.
In the past, Florida and Ohio were considered swing states, but it is no longer the case for the 2024 electoral exercise.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will kick off the last week of campaign with a rally on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in his hometown of New York.
The size of the 5 p.m. rally on Sunday, Oct. 27 is likely to cause traffic, which is why authorities are encouraging New Yorkers to take the subway if they are joining the rally or going near the venue, as train service will not be affected.
New York City will close off some streets to both drivers and foot traffic starting early Sunday morning.
Poll: Most Americans expected post-Election Day violence
Majority of Americans expect violence following Election Day but are confident their vote will be counted accurately, according to a new Scripps News/Ipsos poll.
Most say they would support using the United States military to prevent potential threats around Election Day.
A large majority says they are willing to accept the election results if their preferred candidate loses.
Trump woos Arab voters in Michigan
Kamala is campaigning with Muslim hating warmonger Liz Cheney wants to invade practically every Muslim country on the planet. And let me tell you the Muslims of our country, they see it and they know it.
Her father was responsible for invading the Middle East, killing millions of Arabs, millions and this is the one that Kamala is campaigning with. And I know Cheney very well. She lost by the biggest margin in the history of the United States Congress ... by almost 40 points.
The United States presently holds jurisdiction over more than 14 territories and commonwealths, five of them permanently inhabited: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Those who live in the inhabited territories are U.S. citizens who pay some federal taxes. They hold United States passports and can travel feely within the U.S.
However, these residents do not have equal status to those of U.S. citizens in the 50 states.
Biden calls Trump a "loser" in Pennsylvania
At his recent campaign event at a union hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden focused his attention on his political rival.
Pennsylvania is one of the crucial swing-states.
WATCH: Michelle Obama speaks live in Michigan
Former First Lady Michelle Obama urges voters in the swing state of Michigan to go out and vote, and to choose Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the United States, voting rights laws for incarcerated people vary by state. While most prisoners lose their right to vote upon incarceration, a handful of states allow voting if the individuals in question are serving sentences for misdemeanors or are awaiting sentencing, meaning they have not been convicted of any crime.
Only two states, Maine and Vermont, along with the District of Columbia, allow all incarcerated individuals to vote, regardless of their conviction.
Could this be the moment Trump secured Michigan's electoral college votes?
Michigan holds 15 electoral votes, placing it among the top 10 states in terms of electoral college influence. The state has been a pivotal swing state in recent elections, with Republicans and Democrats trading wins in 2016 and 2020.
Its status as a "toss-up" state means it will play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the presidential race.
The state also has the largest proportion of Arab Americans in the country, becoming increasingly significant due to discontent with the Biden administration's approach to the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
During this election campaign, migration has been one of the central themes. Both Harris and Trump have proposed increasing security on the country's southern border. However, the former president has adopted more dangerous rhetoric, as he has called immigrants "enemies" and "invaders," as well as describing them as "murderers" and "animals."
Trump has repeatedly said that if he becomes president again, he will implement the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history.
What we’re deeply concerned about is that there are now elected officials in the Republican Party who are pushing yet another conspiracy theory that is just seeking to divide people based on lies and, let’s be honest, based on an element of racism.
This type of language, this type of misinformation, is dangerous because there are going to be people who believe it no matter how ridiculous and stupid it is, and they might act on that type of information and act on it in a way that could potentially hurt someone.
Trumps comments on Haiti during the debate with Kamala Harris
Several of the former president's statements contribute to misinformation and generate hatred towards specific groups in the migrant community.
For example, when he accused Haitian immigrants of eating pets in Springfield, Ohio
Absentee voting in the United States allows voters to cast their ballots without being physically present at their designated polling places, primarily benefiting those who are away from home on Election Day.
Read more about the deadlines for absentee voting this election.
There were many doubts during the 2016 election campaign about whether Trump could legally build and finance his border wall. He declared the immigration issue a “national emergency” in 2019, which allowed him to use Pentagon funds to build the barrier.
When Trump became president, barriers and walls already existed for hundreds of miles, so much of what his government built was replacement or reinforcement of what was already there.
While the wall has fallen down the wayside, attitudes in both parties are much more hawkishon immigration this election.
Welcome to AS-USA’s live blog covering the United States 2024 presidential election
With only nine days left to election day, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump try to win over voters in key swing states.
Around 20% of registered voters have joined the early voting process, and more than 40 million people have already cast their ballot, either in person or by mailing them in.
We’ll keep you posted on the latest news as they develop, as we draw closer to election day.