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Trump photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images; Harris photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images.


** Trump, Harris Make Closing Arguments
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As of today, there are only four days until Election Day. The candidates -- former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris -- have been feverishly campaigning in the key swing states to make their cases.

This week, we looked at what the candidates have been telling voters in those states. We reviewed the videos and transcripts of all campaign events in a five-day period, from Oct. 18 to Oct. 22.

During that time, Harris appeared at three rallies in Michigan and one in Atlanta, three moderated discussions with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, and a get-out-the-early-vote event with singer Lizzo in Detroit.

Trump appeared at four rallies — in Detroit; Latrobe, Pennsylvania; and Greensboro and Greenville, North Carolina — a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and roundtable events in Miami and Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Trump’s closing messages have run the gamut, touching on the economy, immigration, the military, crime, taxes and more. In lengthy speeches, he rattles off a stream of claims, citing his time as president and drawing contrasts with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris has portrayed former President Donald Trump as a danger to democracy. She also has warned he will enact policies that will hurt blue-collar workers, women, seniors, and the nation’s health care system and economy, while cutting taxes for “billionaires and corporations.”

At his rallies, Trump spoke for an average of about an hour and a half -- three times longer than Harris. We also found another contrast with Harris: Trump had about five times as many factual inaccuracies.

For more, read the full stories, "Donald Trump's Closing Arguments ([link removed]) " and "Kamala Harris’ Closing Arguments ([link removed]) ."
HOW WE KNOW
This week, Staff Writer Saranac Hale Spencer debunked false social media claims -- amplified ([link removed]) by conservative podcaster Joe Rogan -- that an updated Department of Defense policy on intelligence gathering gave the military newly authorized power “To Use Lethal Force On Americans!!” To do so, she went to the primary sources, sifting through current and past directives -- all of which are located on the official DOD website for directives and issuances. Read more ([link removed]) .
FEATURED FACT
The annual average monthly residential electric bill in the U.S. has gone up from about $117 in 2020 to $138 in 2023, an increase of 18%. That’s in nominal terms, meaning not adjusted for inflation, and the bulk of the increase occurred from 2021 to 2022. Last year, the average bill rose 2%, lower than inflation and “in line with the 2% average annual increase over the past decade,” according to the Energy Information Administration. Read more ([link removed]) .
WORTHY OF NOTE
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management issued a press release ([link removed]) on Halloween that encouraged "people to be prepared and have a plan" to vote.

The release included "some tips to help you stay informed," including this: "Use fact-checking websites: sites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact are useful for confirming information reliability."

So, in case of emergency, break out your mobile device and read us. You're welcome.
REPLY ALL

Reader: Do illegal immigrants receive money, housing, or financial aid from the government? Do they have voting rights?

FactCheck.org Director Eugene Kiely: As we have written: “U.S. law prohibits immigrants who came to the U.S. without authorization from accessing most federal benefits. There are some narrow exceptions, including emergency medical treatment; immunization against communicable diseases; short-term, non-cash disaster relief; and some services such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter.” (For more information, read “Conservative Politicians, Commentators Recirculate Old Falsehood on Aid for Immigrants ([link removed]) .”)

As for voting rights, U.S. law prohibits noncitizens – regardless of their legal status – from voting in federal elections. A few cities, including San Francisco, do allow noncitizens to vote in local elections ([link removed]) , such as school board elections.

It is also important to note that there are very few cases of noncitizens voting in federal elections, in part because it is a deportable offense. We’ve written about this subject many times, including in 2019 ("More Voter Fraud Misinformation from Trump ([link removed]) ") and 2018 ("Trump Jr.’s False Noncitizen Voting Tweet ([link removed]) .")


** Wrapping Up
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Here's what else we've got for you this week:
* "The Issues: Harris’ Anti-Price Gouging Proposal ([link removed]) ": To address increased food and grocery prices, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has promised to enact a federal ban on price gouging. In an Aug. 16 press release, the campaign vowed to “go after bad actors to bring down Americans’ grocery costs and keep inflation in check.”
* "The Issues: Trump’s Proposal to Lower Prices by Increasing Energy Production ([link removed]) ": Former President Donald Trump has cited more energy production, specifically drilling for oil and natural gas, as the key to bringing down energy prices, and inflation overall. He promises to “cut energy prices in half within 12 months” of taking office.
* "Conservative Influencers Misrepresent Routine Revision to Defense Department Policy ([link removed]) ": The Department of Defense issued a standard policy revision in September to existing procedures for the intelligence community. Some social media accounts have misrepresented the language and timing of the update to falsely claim the military has been newly authorized “To Use Lethal Force On Americans!!”
* "Dominion Voting Systems Will Operate in Florida, Contrary to Online Claims ([link removed]) ": Dominion Voting Systems, which was the target of baseless conspiracy theories after the 2020 election, will be used by 27 states in the 2024 election. But some social media posts falsely claim Gov. Ron DeSantis said Dominion “will NOT operate in the state of Florida.” The Florida Department of State approved the use of Dominion equipment, which will be used in 18 counties.
* "Posts Make Unsupported Claim that RFK Jr. Called for National Guard on Election Day ([link removed]) ": National Guard troops have been activated during past elections to assist with cybersecurity, processing votes and potential protests. But social media posts have made the unsupported claim that former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for the National Guard “at every voting station and ballot counting facility” on Election Day.
* "Florida’s 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance Misunderstands, Distorts Existing Science ([link removed]) ": An abundance of evidence indicates the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are remarkably safe and work well to protect against severe disease. But last month, the state of Florida issued updated vaccine guidance advising “against the use” of the shots entirely — even for people who are older and at higher risk of severe disease. Experts say the advice is ill-informed and “illogical.”
* "Posts Make Unfounded Claim About Beyoncé’s Endorsement of Harris ([link removed]) ": Singer-songwriter Beyoncé endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president at a campaign rally in Houston on Oct. 25. Social media posts have made the unfounded claim that Beyoncé was paid $10 million for the endorsement. We found no evidence to support the claim, and a Harris campaign official said “it is not true.”
* "Trump, Vance Opted Out of Oregon’s Voter Guide, Contrary to Online Claims of ‘Voter Fraud’ ([link removed]) ": Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, declined to submit candidate statements for Oregon’s voter information pamphlet, according to the secretary of state and the Oregon Republican Party. But social media posts falsely claim the absence of their statements shows state election officials committed “voter fraud.”

Y lo que publicamos en español ([link removed]) (English versions are accessible in each story):
* "Temas de la campaña: La propuesta de Harris contra el aumento abusivo de precios ([link removed]) ": Para abordar el aumento de los precios de los alimentos, la campaña de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris ha prometido promulgar una prohibición federal contra el aumento abusivo de precios. En un comunicado de prensa del 16 de agosto, la campaña prometió “perseguir a los malos actores para reducir los costos de los alimentos para los estadounidenses y mantener la inflación bajo control”.
* "Temas de la campaña: La propuesta de Trump de bajar los precios aumentando la producción energética ([link removed]) ": El expresidente Donald Trump ha dicho que una mayor producción energética, en particular la extracción de petróleo y gas natural, es la clave para reducir los precios de la energía y la inflación en general. Trump promete “reducir los precios de la energía a la mitad a los 12 meses” de asumir el cargo.
* "Influyentes conservadores desinforman sobre la revisión rutinaria de una norma del Departamento de Defensa ([link removed]) ": En septiembre, el Departamento de Defensa emitió la revisión rutinaria de una norma que rige procedimientos existentes de la comunidad de inteligencia. Algunas cuentas de redes sociales han tergiversado el lenguaje y el momento de la actualización para afirmar falsamente que se ha autorizado recientemente al ejército “a usar fuerza letal contra los estadounidenses”.
* "Publicaciones afirman sin fundamento que RFK Jr. pidió la Guardia Nacional para el día de las elecciones ([link removed]) ": Las tropas de la Guardia Nacional se han activado durante elecciones pasadas para ayudar con la ciberseguridad, el procesamiento de votos y con posibles protestas. Pero publicaciones en redes sociales afirman infundadamente que el excandidato presidencial independiente Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ha pedido que la Guardia Nacional esté “en cada estación de votación y centro de conteo de votos” el día de las elecciones.
* "Dominion Voting Systems operará en Florida, al contrario de afirmaciones en línea ([link removed]) ": Los sistemas de votación de [la empresa tecnológica] Dominion, que fueron el objetivo de teorías de conspiración infundadas después de las elecciones de 2020, serán utilizados por 27 estados en las elecciones de 2024. Pero algunas publicaciones en las redes sociales afirman falsamente que el gobernador Ron DeSantis dijo que Dominion “NO OPERARÁ en el estado de Florida”. El Departamento de Estado de Florida aprobó el uso del equipo de Dominion, que se utilizará en 18 condados.
* "Las estadísticas de crimen siguen mostrando una disminución desde 2020 ([link removed]) ": Las estadísticas sobre delincuencia compiladas por el FBI y otras fuentes muestran un aumento de los delitos violentos, en particular los asesinatos, en 2020 y una disminución desde entonces. Una revisión de los datos del FBI este año no cambia esa tendencia general, a pesar de las afirmaciones realizadas en las redes sociales y por la campaña de Trump que dicen lo contrario.
* "Verificación de hechos de las apariciones de Harris y Trump en Fox News ([link removed]) ": Ambos candidatos presidenciales aparecieron en Fox News el 16 de octubre: el expresidente Donald Trump en un foro con mujeres votantes en Georgia y la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris en una entrevista con Bret Baier. Verificamos sus comentarios.

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