Ron's Recap of Today in Politics

Packed with info and facts, some commentary, with a sprinkle of gossip.

… Trump continued to lash out at 60 Minutes and CBS, demanding that all media companies lose their right to broadcast on public airwaves and calling for an investigation because they edited Harris’ interview down to fit the time slot like they do all interviews. Most likely what Crybaby Trump is upset about is their brutal opening where they detailed the lies he told to justify chickening out of his own interview on the show.

… Speaking of chickening out, Trump also reiterated in a post on Truth Social that he would not debate Harris again since he won so convincingly last time. I’m sure that must be the reason. Harris then accepted CNN’s invitation for a town hall. Trump is invited but not likely he will show.

… RFK Jr’s mom Ethel Kennedy died today at age 96. She had to raise 11 children of her own after her husband was assassinated. None more difficult and caused her more pain and stress than his namesake. RIP to a strong woman.

… Trump filed a motion with Judge Chutkan today to block the release of any additional evidence in pre-trial court filings by Jack Smith until after the election, claiming that they are designed to interfere in the election. Judge Chutkan issued an order hours later permitting Smith to publicly file all his exhibits but delayed it a week to give Trump time to file an appeal.

… The NYT is getting roasted for another insane headline as they continue their quest to both-sides their way to autocracy while sanewashing the Orange Menace. In response to Trump’s latest comments about migrants being predisposed to murder because of “bad genes,” the Times headline said that he “invoked his long-held fascination with genes and genetics.” Just like Heinrich Himmler.

… Ron Desantis had another one of his Angry Bobblehead press conferences where he wanted to make it clear to everyone that he is in charge of hurricane response and not the federal government. Because that’s what people really care about. He did concede that he was working well with the feds and getting everything he needed from them, but still wanted to make it clear that he was The Man.

… Anna Paulina Luna, who previously voted against FEMA funding and had her district take a direct hit from the storm, said she spoke with Biden and appreciated his comments, then called for Mike Johnson to reverse course and call the House back into session for additional FEMA aid. It’s all socialism until something affects their districts and threatens their reelection.

… Pretty obvious Luna is in trouble in her reelection as a do-nothing angertainment specialist. She continued to push the right-wing lie that FEMA only provides $750 in assistance for storm victims. She knows damn well that is just the initial payment for immediate necessities like food and gas, but she wants to be able to claim credit for it when they get more - as if she got Biden to come up with more with her phone call. It is probably the only district in FL that Dems have a shot at flipping, so fun to watch her panic right now.

… Mike Johnson posted that he was praying for hurricane victims but wasn’t calling his Members back from the campaign trail in their districts to vote on storm aid. They get Mike’s prayers but none of Uncle Sam’s money.

… Joe Biden held a press conference and forcefully called on Johnson to call the House back in session “immediately” to pass more storm aid. Johnson issued a statement late in the day that under no circumstances will he be calling for a session to deal with FEMA funding. He doesn’t want to pull his people off the campaign trail for trivial matters like storm aid.

… Barack Obama spoke to a packed house in Pittsburgh tonight for Harris. It’s all hands on deck now.

… Whoopi Goldberg responded to Trump’s long rant about her last night where he claimed that he once left a party she was at because she was too loud and profane. Whoopi said he knew she had a filthy mouth when he hired her to work at his casino, and said she might still be working there if he hadn’t run it into the ground with his incompetence.

… After being challenged repeatedly to produce proof of his claim that he was named ‘Michigan Man of the Year,’ Trump unveiled his “proof” today in his speech to the Detroit Economic Club - an article in a local paper quoting a MI county GOP official who says he gave him the award in 2013. The paper then immediately issued a retraction and said the GOP official lied to them in the original story.

… In his speech, Trump continued to argue that the US should return to an 1890s-style mercantilist economy with massive new tariffs on imported goods. This comes two days after we learn he makes his $60 Bibles in China for $3.

… Kari Lake referred to IVF as UFV three separate times during her debate with Ruben Gallego.

… The Harris campaign just made a big ad buy on two major hip/hop/R&B radio stations in PA. Both camps going all-in on crucial PA.

… The Atlantic endorsed Harris for president, stating that Trump is a threat to American democracy.

… ATL Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was denied service at an Atlanta area restaurant because she was wearing yoga pants. She complained about several white people being seated in shorts and tee shirts. The manager told her that he could seat her in an hour. She left.

… Inflation numbers were out this morning and they continued to drop for the 6th consecutive month, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Should be good news for Harris, but it doesn’t seem like Biden/Harris are getting the credit they deserve from voters for a soft landing after inheriting Trump’s mess.

… Trump gave a speech today at the Detroit Economic Club where he claimed that today’s inflation report is double what was projected - a flat out lie. He then repeated his claim that the stock market is only up because he’s leading in the polls. The problem for him is that this time he’s speaking to people who know better instead of his rally cultists.

… He also told the audience in Detroit that their city was a hellhole and the whole country would turn into Detroit if Harris was president. Interesting strategy. Gov Gretchen Whitmer responded on Twitter than Trump needed to “keep Detroit out of your mouth” and vowed that Michigan voters would end his political career for good.

… Trump also continued to rant about CBS and 60 Minutes in his speech today, which was supposed to be about the economy.

… We also learned from Trump today that California has had virtually no electricity for many years since they have blackouts every week. Thoughts and prayers my friends on the west coast, I had no idea how much you have been suffering.

… Liz Cheney has been a key surrogate campaigning for Harris in WI, where moderate Republican Haley voters make of the majority of the undecideds. She is the right person to connect with those voters with the exact message that will resonate with them - they may think Harris is too liberal, but Trump is a threat to the Republic and our allies abroad.

… DoritoGate - A video of Gretchen Whitmer feeding a Dorito to a podcaster has gone viral all over right-wing social media. They claim she is mocking the Eucharist and is another sign the the Left hates and mocks Catholics. Stephen Miller, who is Jewish, claimed the Dorito incident was going to cost Harris the Catholic vote and the election. MO Senator Eric Schmitt was the most prominent politician to weigh in feigning religious persecution. A spokesperson for Whitmer said she was promoting Biden’s CHIPS Act in a nod to humorous issue-oriented food TikToks that many pop culture stars have done such as Billie Eilish and Kylie Jenner. I’m not a TikToker, but I guess this is a thing.

… It is increasingly looking like Democratic Senator Jon Tester is in trouble in the Montana Senate race and that race will decide who controls the Senate. Looking like 51-49 Republican right now if