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Thursday, September 19, 2024

Donald Trump Holds His First Rally Since Second Assassination Attempt

News Nation: Former President Donald Trump returned to his home state to hold a rally in Long Island, New York, with 48 days left until election day. Trump, for his part, leaned heavily on his alarmist message on immigration as he held a rally in Uniondale. “We’re just destroying the fabric of life in our country. And we’re not going to take it any longer. And you got to get rid of these people. Give me a shot,” Trump said. In his nearly 90-minute address, Trump confirmed plans to visit Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, following unsubstantiated claims about Haitian migrants. He also campaigned for New York Republicans in crucial congressional races (News Nation). Reporter Nick Sortor: The sea of patriots here to see Trump on Long Island is INSANE. Local media is reporting over 50,000 PEOPLE (and climbing!) in the overflow area already. This TERRIFIES Kamala. New York is turning out for Trump (X)! Benny Johnson: President Trump has just walked on stage at his rally in New York. This crowd size is MASSIVE (X). New York Post: “These encounters with death have not broken my will,” the Republican presidential nominee, 78, told roughly 16,000 fans at the Nassau Coliseum three days after a gunman was found hiding in the bushes of Trump’s namesake Florida golf course as he played a round. “They have really given me a much bigger and stronger mission. They’ve only hardened my resolve to use my time on Earth to make America great again for all Americans, to put America first,” added Trump (New York Post).

Teamsters Declines to Endorse Any Candidate After Internal Polling Indicates Overwhelming Support for Trump

Massive blow to Kamala Harris. Washington Post: For the first time in nearly three decades, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters won’t endorse a candidate in the presidential race — a blow to the Democratic Party, which has reliably received the union’s approval for years. The Teamsters confirmed the decision not to endorse Wednesday, as the union’s executive board met in Washington and voted on the endorsement. The non-endorsement comes two days after union leaders and members met privately with Vice President Kamala Harris and she laid out her case for an endorsement, underscoring the current administration’s many achievements for unions…The Teamsters have endorsed the Democratic ticket in every presidential election since 1996, when they did not endorse a candidate. The union had closer ties to the GOP decades ago, endorsing Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush (Washington Post). Collin Rugg: Teamsters will not endorse for president after their member polling gave Donald Trump an overwhelming lead over Kamala Harris. Electronic Member Poll: Trump: 59.6% Harris: 34.0% (X).

GOP-Led House Votes Against Spending Bill Combined With SAVE Act

Daily Wire: With a potential government shutdown looming in less than two weeks, the Republican-led House rejected on Wednesday a six-month spending measure combined with reforms meant to help prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections. A total of 220 members, including 14 Republicans and 206 Democrats, voted against the proposal backed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Another 202 members, including 199 Republicans and three Democrats, voted in favor of it. Two other GOP members voted “present.” Seven lawmakers did not vote. The proposal included a continuing resolution (CR) through March 28 and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to require that individuals show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in elections for federal office and pushes states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. House lawmakers passed the SAVE Act in July with some bipartisan support, but it never got taken up by the Democrat-led Senate. Critics of the SAVE Act claim it is unnecessary and would create an undue burden on legitimate voters, but proponents argue it would go a long way toward shoring up election security (Daily Wire). George: Fourteen Republicans just joined Democrats to block the passage of the government funding bill with the SAVE Act attached, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote (X).

Gavin Newsom Makes Deepfake Political Ads Illegal After Elon Musk Retweeted Parody Video

Associated Press: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills Tuesday to crack down on the use of artificial intelligence to create false images or videos in political ads ahead of the 2024 election. A new law, set to take effect immediately, makes it illegal to create and publish deepfakes related to elections 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. It also allows courts to stop distribution of the materials and impose civil penalties… Newsom’s decision followed his vow in July to crack down on election deepfakes in response to a video posted by X-owner Elon Musk featuring altered images of Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris (Associated Press). Elon Musk: You’re not gonna believe this, but Gavin Newsom just announced that he signed a LAW to make parody illegal, based on this video (X).

Handheld Radios Used by Hezbollah Terrorists Explode Killing at Least 14, Injuring 450

National Review: Handheld radio devices used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and wounding 450, according to the country’s Health Ministry. This comes one day after hundreds of militant leaders were wounded when their pagers detonated. The Beirut suburb is known to be a historic stronghold of the militant organization. At least one blast occurred near a funeral for a Hezbollah member killed in Tuesday’s explosions (National Review). Reuters: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday the centre of gravity of the war was moving north, where Lebanon borders Israel, with more troops and resources being transferred to the area. “We are opening a new phase in the war. It requires courage, determination and perseverance from us,” he said, in remarks at an air force base (Reuters).

Federal Reserve Lowers Interest Rates by Half a Percentage Point

CNBC: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday enacted its first interest rate cut since the early days of the Covid pandemic, slicing half a percentage point off benchmark rates in an effort to head off a slowdown in the labor market. With both the jobs picture and inflation softening, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee chose to lower its key overnight borrowing rate by a half percentage point, or 50 basis points, affirming market expectations that had recently shifted from an outlook for a cut half that size. Outside of the emergency rate reductions during Covid, the last time the FOMC cut by half a point was in 2008 during the global financial crisis. The decision lowers the federal funds rate to a range between 4.75%-5% (CNBC). Wall Street Journal: The Fed’s rate cut will touch every corner of our financial lives, from the cost of borrowing money to buy a home or car to how much cash earns in the bank (Wall Street Journal).

Labor Union in Pennsylvania Bribed Members to Attend Rally for House Democrat

Free Beacon: A Pennsylvania labor union aligned with Rep. Susan Wild offered members $100 to attend a campaign rally for the vulnerable House Democrat earlier this month. Wild later posted pictures of her posing with union members and thanked them for attending. An official with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers offered the stipend to union members to attend a “Labor Rally/Canvass Launch” on Sept. 7 in Allentown, the message shows. “Wear your Union Colors and there will be a $100 stipend for those that would like to participate,” wrote Randy Eberly, the secretary treasurer of the local chapter of the bricklayers union (Free Beacon). Daily Caller: While it’s unclear if Wild knew people were paid to attend her rally, she didn’t hesitate to promote the event on social media… Trump won Wild’s district in 2020 but she won it by just two points in 2022 (Daily Caller).

ISIS, Al Qaeda Groups Behind Takeover Sahel Region of Africa

Washington Times: On September 9, jihadist militants launched a coordinated assault on several Christian villages in Burkina Faso, resulting in one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s history. Heavily armed Islamists killed 200, burned homes, looted properties, and forced thousands to flee, leaving a trail of devastation (Washington Times). Higher Ground: Simply put, a vast swath of Africa, called the Sahel, has fallen under the control of ISIS and Al Qaeda-linked groups. The Sahel is a vast region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It lies just south of the Sahara Desert and encompasses some of Africa’s most fragile states, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Nigeria. For many Westerners, this conflict is almost invisible because it is being fought in numerous countries, each with its own unique ethnic and political tensions. Also, the jihad is being fought by a word-salad array of groups with different affiliations, allegiances, and strategies (Higher Ground).

Boeing Begins Furloughing Thousands of Nonunion Employees as Machinist Strike Continues

CNBC: Boeing will temporarily furlough thousands of U.S. executives, managers and other staff, citing the ongoing machinist strike as the company races to preserve cash, CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees Wednesday. The furloughs will affect tens of thousands of Boeing employees, a company spokesperson said. The plan came less than a week after Boeing’s more than 30,000 machinists in the Seattle area and Oregon overwhelmingly voted down a new labor contract and 96% voted to strike, walking off the job just after midnight on Friday. Negotiations between the two sides continued this week with a mediator. Boeing had offered a 25% raise and the union endorsed the tentative contract. But some workers told CNBC that the contract offer was rejected because the raises weren’t sufficient enough to match the increase in the cost of living in the Seattle area and it didn’t restore their pensions (CNBC). Wall Street Journal: Longtime Boeing workers have expressed anger and bitterness over union concessions dating back to 2008, including the elimination of pensions and Boeing’s decision to build its 787 Dreamliner at a nonunion factory in South Carolina (Wall Street Journal).

10.

Chicago City Council Votes Against Mayor Brandon Johnson, Allows Police to Renew ShotSpotter Contract

National Review: Chicago’s city council voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to allow the police superintendent to renew the city’s ShotSpotter contract in a last-ditch effort to keep the gunshot-detection technology that far-left mayor Brandon Johnson remains committed to getting rid of. After more than an hour of debate, the council voted 33–14 to pass the ordinance allowing police superintendent Larry Snelling to renew, extend, or enter into a new agreement to keep ShotSpotter or another replacement system. Johnson will likely reject the premise that the council has the authority to sidestep his contracting authority. The ShotSpotter system uses acoustic sensors to detect gunshots in wards around Chicago and to alert first responders to their location. Supporters say it often sends help to gunshot victims even when no one has called 911 (National Review). Chicago business owner Austin Berg: This is a historic loss for Johnson, who canceled the contract, and a win for the vast majority of Chicago voters who supported this commonsense alert system (X). Saveshotspotter: Fact: ShotSpotter saves lives (at least 85 per year). Fact: ShotSpotter brings police (and medical aid) to shooting victims 2.5 minutes faster than 911. Fact: ShotSpotter helped officers recover 470 weapons (1st 8 months of 2024) (X).