WTF Just Happened Today

Day 1401: "Weapons of obedience." Nov 20, 2024

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

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1/ Trump nominated Linda McMahon, the co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment, to lead the Education Department that he has repeatedly vowed to dismantle. Like Betsy DeVos, Trump’s first-term education secretary, McMahon has no significant background working in public schools, teaching, or education policy outside of an appointment in 2009 to the Connecticut State Board of Education, where she served for just over a year. McMahon, a major Republican donor who has given tens of millions of dollars in support of pro-Trump causes, co-founded the America First Policy Institute, which advocates for school choice and the use of public funds — through vouchers and tax credits — for private schools. In his statement announcing the pick, Trump said McMahon “will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families.” Trump added: “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.” (NPR / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / CBS News / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Axios / Politico / ABC News)

Trump will nominate Matthew Whitaker as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Whitaker is a conservative attorney who spent four months serving as acting attorney general in Trump’s first term. (NPR / Politico / Associated Press)
Who’s in Trump’s new administration so far:
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Pete Hegseth, Defense
Matt Gaetz, Attorney General
Doug Burgum, Interior
Howard Lutnick, Commerce
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services
Sean Duffy, Transportation
Chris Wright, Energy
Linda McMahon, Education
Dough Collins, Veterans Affairs
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security
Mike Waltz, National Security
Lee Zeldin, EPA
Elise Stefanik, UN Ambassador
Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff
Elon Musk, Department of Government Efficiency
Vivek Ramaswamy, Department of Government Efficiency
Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence
John Ratcliffe, CIA director
Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO
Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel
Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Bill McGinley, White House Counsel
Tom Homan, “Border Czar”
Dan Scavino, Deputy Chief of Staff
Stephen Miller, Deputy Ch...
Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1400: "Qualified and capable." Nov 19, 2024

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

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1/ Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked to postpone Trump’s criminal sentencing in his hush money case. In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, the district attorney’s office acknowledged that Trump is not likely to be sentenced “until after the end of Defendant’s upcoming presidential term,” but prosecutors said they oppose any effort to dismiss Trump’s felony conviction. Prosecutors faced a Tuesday deadline to advise Merchan on how to proceed after the “unprecedented circumstances” of Trump’s re-election following his conviction on 34 felony counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. Trump faces as many as four years in prison. Prosecutors instead asked for a Dec. 9 deadline for the next filing, focused on whether the case should be dismissed. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / USA Today / CNN / NBC News / ABC News / Bloomberg)

Georgia court halts arguments in Trump election case as legal challenges shift post-election win. The Georgia Court of Appeals has indefinitely canceled oral arguments regarding efforts by Trump and co-defendants to remove Fulton County DA Fani Willis from the state election interference case against them. This development follows Trump’s presidential election victory, which has led to delays or dismissals in multiple federal and state criminal cases against him, including charges tied to overturning the 2020 election and retaining classified documents. The Department of Justice is expected to dismiss two federal cases against Trump, as legal processes adjust to his incoming presidency. (CNBC)

2/ An unidentified hacker gained access to files containing containing unredacted sworn testimony from a woman who said Matt Gaetz paid her for sex when she was 17. The file contains 24 exhibits of sworn statements, including the corroborating testimony by a second woman who said that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with the minor at a drug-fueled party in July 2017. The material has not been made public, yet. (New York Times / Washington Post / ABC News / USA Today / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1399: "A terrible precedent." Nov 18, 2024

Monday, November 18, 2024

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1/ Trump confirmed that he plans to declare a national emergency “on day 1” to use the military to carry out “the largest deportation program in American history.” Trump responded “TRUE!!!” at 4:08 am to a post on his personal social media network that his incoming administration is “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. – about 3% of the total U.S. population. (Politico / New York Times / ABC News / Bloomberg / Washington Post / Axios)

ACLU sues ICE for transparency on Trump’s mass deportation plans and private deportation flights. The ACLU filed a lawsuit against ICE, accusing the agency of withholding information about its deportation operations, including contracts with private airlines and conditions on deportation flights. The lawsuit comes as Trump prepares to implement mass deportations, a campaign promise with few disclosed details. Advocates seek to uncover ICE’s practices, citing concerns over human rights abuses and misuse of taxpayer dollars. ICE has faced criticism for opaque operations and mistreatment of detainees, including shackling families and inadequate oversight of private contractors. (Washington Post)

2/ The Trump transition team is compiling a list of current and former U.S. military officers involved in the withdrawal from Afghanistan for possible court-martial. A 2022 independent review by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction blamed both the Trump and Biden administrations for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the Trump team reportedly wants to create a commission to investigate the withdrawal, determine who was directly involved in the decision-making for the military and whether the military leaders could be charged with treason for following Biden’s order to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Trump has called the withdrawal a “humiliation” and “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country.” (NBC News)

3/ House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’d “strongly request” that the House Ethics Committee not release its report into allegations of sex trafficking, corruption, and drug use by Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for attorney general. “That is not the way we do things in the House,” Johnson said. “I think that would be a terrible precedent to set.” Gaetz resigned from Congress days before a House panel was set to vote on releasing a report on the allegations against Gaetz. His resignation ended the Ethics panel’s jurisdiction over him. The House Ethics Committee, meanwhile, will meet Wednesday to discuss and potentially vote to release the report anyway. Both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee want the report released for Senate consideration on whether to confirm Gaetz for attorney general. House Ethics Chair Michael Guest said the Ethics C...

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Day 1395: "Relentless barrage." Nov 14, 2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024

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1/ Trump asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as secretary of health and human services, putting one of the nation’s leading vaccine skeptics in charge of America’s health care agencies. Kennedy has spread discredited conspiracy theories that vaccines cause autism, opposed CDC guidance on water fluoridation for dental health, backed the consumption of raw milk against FDA warnings, and endorsed hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, despite FDA findings that it is ineffective. In October, Trump said he would let Kennedy “go wild on health,” “go wild on the food,” and “go wild on medicines” if reelected. HHS oversees both the CDC and the FDA. The position requires Senate confirmation. (Politico / CNN / Axios / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / The Guardian / Washington Post)

🧩 What’s at stake? The nomination of RFK Jr. to lead HHS could drastically alter the landscape of public health, possibly compromising the scientific standards that guide health decisions affecting millions. Health agencies rely on public trust, which is already challenged by misinformation and political divides. A leader who challenges these agencies on unfounded grounds may exacerbate skepticism, weaken preventative health efforts, and put the nation at greater risk during health emergencies. Furthermore, if policies diverge from evidence-based practices, future generations may inherit a weakened public health infrastructure. Protecting the integrity of public health agencies and reinforcing the trustworthiness of scientific research is essential for a resilient, well-prepared society.
Who’s in Trump’s new administration so far:
Matt Gaetz, Attorney General
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Pete Hegseth, Defense
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary
Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence
John Ratcliffe, CIA director
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Department of Government Efficiency
Elise Stefanik, UN Ambassador
Tom Homan, “Border Czar”
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff
Dan Scavino, Deputy Chief of Staff
Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel
Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East
William McGinley, White House Counsel

2/ Matt Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress hours after Trump announced his nomination for attorney general. The resignation comes two days before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to release a “highly damaging” report detailing allegations against Gaetz, including sex trafficking involving underage girls, illicit drug use, and accepting bribes. Gaetz’s resignation means he is no longer a congressman, and the committee no longer has jurisdiction over him. (New York Times / Associated Press / Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1394: "Drastic change." Nov 13, 2024

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

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1/ Trump named Matt Gaetz his pick as attorney general. Trump called Gaetz, once the subject of a Justice Department sex-trafficking investigation involving a 17-year-old girl, a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” who would end the “the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.” Although Republicans will control the Senate, it unclear if Gaetz will have a path to confirmation. Trump, however, has suggested the idea of Congress going into recess so he could bypass the Senate confirmation process and install nominees. (New York Times / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / Politico / Bloomberg / CNBC)

2/ Trump named Fox News Host Pete Hegseth his choice for secretary of defense and John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA. Trump also tapped Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the director of national intelligence. Gabbard has been accused of spreading “actual Russian propaganda,” being a “Russian asset,” and condemned as a “traitor” by both Republicans and Democrats. Hegseth, a co-host of “Fox & Friends,” is a veteran of the Army National Guard, where he did tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay as an infantry officer. He’s called the U.S. the military ineffective, “woke,” mused about firing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and said allowing women to serve in combat has made the military less lethal. If confirmed by the Senate, Hegseth would take over the federal government’s biggest department, an $850 billion budget and a workforce of nearly three million civilian workers and military service members despite having never held a senior government post. (Axios / NPR / Politico / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / Axios / Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / CNN)

3/ Trump named billionaires Elon Musk and...

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Day 1393: "Unprecedented circumstances." Nov 12, 2024

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

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1/ A New York judge postponed his decision on whether to dismiss Trump’s 34 felony convictions of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. Trump has argued that his return to the White House means the verdict should be set aside because the Supreme Court granted immunity to presidents for all official acts in office. Trump’s lawyers asked to throw out the case, saying it’s “necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern.” Prosecutors said they needed time to assess the “unprecedented circumstances” of a convicted felon being elected president, including whether they want to keep the verdict intact and proceed with sentencing that is scheduled for Nov. 26. Justice Juan Merchan agreed to pause all proceedings until Nov. 19. The ruling is a win for Trump, the nation’s first former president to become a felon, and its first felon to become a president-elect. (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / CBS News / Associated Press / The Guardian / NBC News / Axios)

2/ The Supreme Court denied Mark Meadows’ request to move his Georgia election interference case to federal court. Meadows and Trump are among 19 people charged by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis with taking part in a scheme to violate state racketeering law. His lawyers argued that the case should be moved because he was acting as a “federal officer” at the time, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals turned away Meadows’s arguments, writing that the statute “does not apply to former federal officers, and even if it did, the events giving rise to this criminal action were not related to Meadows’s official duties.” (Bloomberg / Washington Post / NBC News / Axios / The Hill)

3/ Trump appointed Mike Waltz as national security adviser, Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA, Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, and Steve Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East. Waltz, known for his outspoken stance against China, has previously supported prolonged U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Huckabee, a strong supporter of Israel, has publicly condemned Hamas as incapable of honorable negotiation. Zeldin opposed Biden’s 2022 climate law, while Rubio, a prominent foreign policy hawk, has advocated for strict policies on China, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. Noem has faced scrutiny for re...

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Day 1388: "The agenda." Nov 07, 2024

Thursday, November 7, 2024

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1/ Biden vowed to ensure a “peaceful and orderly transition,” calling on Americans to “accept the choice the country made” and to “bring down the temperature.” During his six-minute remarks, Biden said he hopes the 2024 election “can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted − win or lose.” He added: “I’ve said many times, you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.” Biden’s speech comes exactly four years to the day he was declared the winner of the 2020 election against Trump, who refused to accept his loss, attempted to have the results overturned, and spent the years since insisting that the election was rigged. (USA Today / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / ABC News / NBC News / CNN / NPR / Associated Press)

2/ Trump’s MAGA allies admit that “Project 2025” was always “the agenda” for a second term. Project 2025 outlines a plan to expand the power of the executive branch, purge thousands of civil servants and replacing them with Trump loyalists, eliminate of the Department of Education, dissolve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shrink the social safety net, end student debt relief, deport immigrants, and a de facto national abortion ban. “Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol,” right-wing podcast host Matt Walsh wrote on social media about the 900-plus-page extremist guidebook. Steve Bannon quickly praised Walsh and amplified his post on his podcast. And, then right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson said, “It is my honor to inform you all that Project 2025 was real the whole time.” Even though Trump spent the campaign distancing himself from the draconian policy package prepared by the Heritage Foundation, Russell Vought, a potential next chief of staff, said that Project 2025 was the plan and the distancing tactic was just campaign necessity. (Axios / Mother Jones / Rolling Stone)

3/ Trump said there is “no price tag” on his plan for the “largest deportation effort in American history.” In an interview, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to mass deportations, saying his top priority is to make the U.S. border “strong and powerful.” He credited his immigration stance for drawing a diverse voter coalition, including notable gains among Latino voters, despite the logistical and financial challenges officials have warned such a plan would entail. Nevertheless, Trump said he has a mandate “to bring common sense” to the country and tha...

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Day 1387: "The golden age of America." Nov 06, 2024

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

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1/ America elected the first convicted felon to serve as president of the United States. Trump – the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, once-defeated former president – overcame 34 felony convictions, 88 criminal charges, accusations of insurrection as part of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, civil lawsuit judgments totaling more than a half-billion dollars, allegations by his entire first-term cabinet that he’s unfit to serve, his openly fascist intentions, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, his failed response to the Covid-19 pandemic that led to more than 400,000 deaths from a virus he repeatedly claimed was “going to disappear,” his repeated overt acts of racism, at least 26 public accusations of rape, kissing, and groping without consent, his promises to prosecute his political opponents, and the threats encapsulated by the Project 2025 agenda, to become the nation’s 47th president. Trump is the second president — and the first since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century — to retake the White House after a reelection defeat. And, at the age of 78, Trump is the oldest man ever elected president – breaking a record held by Biden, whose mental competence Trump repeatedly savaged. “We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America,” Trump said in his victory speech. He declared he was the leader of “the greatest political movement of all time” and that he would take office with an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” while promising “the strongest economy, the most secure borders and safest cities.” He added: “This is a magnificent victory for the American people […] This will truly be the golden age of America.” Kamala Harris, meanwhile, conceded Wednesday, telling Trump she’d ensure a peaceful transfer of power from the Biden administration to his. “While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris said in her concession speech. “The fight, the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best, that is a fight I will never give up.” Trump ended up with at least 292 electoral votes after clinching wins in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Harris has won at least 226 votes. Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada are still counting votes. Trump is currently on pace to win the national popular vote, too. Trump defeated Kamala Harris, in part, by promising to curb inflation, crack down on undocumented immigrants, and end overseas conflicts. He achieved an electoral college majority by maintaining his majorities with men and White voters without college degrees, while over-performing with key Democratic groups, including Latinos and young voters. Although Harris won Latinos by about 14 points, it was much narrower than Biden’s 33-point margin in 2020, and Clinton’s 38-points in 2016. Latino men, in particular, have moved significantly since 2016: Clinton won their support by 31 points, Biden won by a 23-point margin in 2020, and Trump won by a 12-point margin in 2024. Harris also lost support among the youngest voters: In 2020, Biden won 18-to-29-year-olds by 24 points compared to 11 points for Harris in 2024. Among 30-44-year-olds, Biden won their support by 6 points compared to 1 point for Harris. (New York Times / Washington Post / Associated Press / NPR / CNN / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1386: "America is ready for a fresh start." Nov 05, 2024

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

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The presidential election is TODAY.
🗳️ When polls close in the battleground states:
Georgia: 7 pm (Trump +0.8)
North Carolina: 7:30 pm (Trump +0.9)
Michigan (most): 8 pm (Harris +1.0)
Pennsylvania: 8 pm (Harris +0.2)
Arizona: 9 pm (Trump +2.1)
Michigan: 9 pm (Harris +1.0)
Wisconsin: 9 pm (Harris +1.0)
Nevada: 10 pm (Trump +0.3)
All times Eastern. Polling averages from FiveThirtyEight.
Editor’s note: The 2020 election took nearly 90 hours after the final polls closed until Biden was declared president-elect. It probably won’t take that long this time: Near-complete results from Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina are expected on election night, along with most of Wisconsin’s results by Wednesday morning. Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada, meanwhile, will likely be counting ballots through Wednesday.
📈 Final Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.2 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.0 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.5 points (The Economist)
Harris +0.1 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.4 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Final Forecasting Vibes.
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Harris wins 56 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. (270toWin)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. (The Hill)
Harris wins 51 times out of 100. (Race to the White House)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. (Metaculus)
Trump wins 58 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.

1/ More than 83 million Americans voted early in the first presidential election since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Polls show the presidential race between Harris and Trump to b...

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Day 1385: "A petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant." Nov 04, 2024

Monday, November 4, 2024

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The presidential election is tomorrow.
How to manage stress and maintain perspective on election night in one sentence: Surround yourself with supportive people; set realistic expectations for results; mentally prepare for any outcome; accept uncertainty and lack of control; know the possibility of significant polling error; limit social media and news refreshes; remind yourself of past resilience; focus on the bigger picture beyond this election; and have a plan for post-election activities that bring you joy.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.1 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +0.8 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.0 points (The Economist)
Tied (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.4 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. Harris wins 48 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 50 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. Trump wins 50 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. Trump wins 49 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (270toWin)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (The Hill)
Harris wins 51 times out of 100. Trump wins 49 times out of 100. (Metaculus)
Trump wins 55 times out of 100. Harris wins 44 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.
So, can we trust the polls? “Recent changes add up to a case for cautious optimism on better accuracy, but that’s far from a guarantee.” (New York Times)
The early vote doesn’t reliably predict results. “4 reasons why you’re better off ignoring it.” (Silver Bulletin)
When polls close in battleground states on Election Day. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1381: "Like it or not." Oct 31, 2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024

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The presidential election is in 5 days.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.2 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.1 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.5 points (The Economist)
Trump +0.5 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.6 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. (270toWin)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. (The Hill)
Trump wins 60 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.
💡 Poll results depend on pollster choices as much as voters’ decisions. “Simple changes in how to weight a single poll can move the Harris-Trump margin 8 points.” (Good Authority)
💡 How not to freak out about the election. “Do you have a problem now?” “Narrow your life down to this moment. Your life situation may be full of problems – most life situations are – but find out if you have any problem at this moment. Not tomorrow or in ten minutes, but now.”(Oliver Burkeman)
⏳ When polls close in each state and how long it may take to count votes. “Vote counting isn’t expected to be nearly as slow as it was last time around, but there’s a chance we won’t know the outcome of the presidential race — and possibly even control of Congress — on election night.” (Washington Post)

1/ Trump vowed to “protect” women “whether the women like it or not” after he said his “people” told him it was “inappropriate.” He added: “I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not; I’m going to protect them.” The comments follow Trump remarks in recent months that he would “protect women” and make sure they wouldn’t be “thinking about abortion” despite appointing the three justices to the Supreme Court who formed ...

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Day 1380: "Petty tyrant." Oct 30, 2024

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

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The presidential election is 6 days away.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.4 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.1 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.4 points (The Economist)
Trump +0.4 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.5 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 46 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 50 times out of 100. Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 50 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. Trump wins 46 times out of 100. (CNalysis)
Trump wins 62 times out of 100. Harris wins 38 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
💡 Poll results depend on pollster choices as much as voters’ decisions. “Simple changes in how to weight a single poll can move the Harris-Trump margin 8 points.” (Good Authority)
💡 How not to freak out about the election. “Do you have a problem now?” “Narrow your life down to this moment. Your life situation may be full of problems – most life situations are – but find out if you have any problem at this moment. Not tomorrow or in ten minutes, but now.”(Oliver Burkeman)
🗳️ Early voting is surging across the U.S. Explore the data. “Early voting has begun in states across the country where voters are able to cast their ballots either in person or via mail.” (NBC News)
⏳ When polls close in each state and how long it may take to count votes. “Vote counting isn’t expected to be nearly as slow as it was last time around, but there’s a chance we won’t know the outcome of the presidential race — and possibly even control of Congress — on election night.” (Washington Post)

1/ House Speaker Mike Johnson promised a “massive r...

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Day 1379: "Turn the page." Oct 29, 2024

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

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The presidential election is 7 days away.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.3 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +0.9 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.3 points (The Economist)
Trump +0.4 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.6 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 46 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 55 times out of 100. Harris wins 45 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 56 times out of 100. Harris wins 44 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. Harris wins 48 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Harris wins 52 times out of 100. Trump wins 46 times out of 100. (CNalysis)
Trump wins 63 times out of 100. Harris wins 36 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.
💡 Poll results depend on pollster choices as much as voters’ decisions. “Simple changes in how to weight a single poll can move the Harris-Trump margin 8 points.” (Good Authority)

1/ Kamala Harris will challenge Americans to “turn the page” on Trump in a speech from the Ellipse in Washington – the same spot where Trump directed his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, to “fight like hell” and march on the Capitol. Harris will step onstage around 7:30 p.m. tonight and, according to the prepared remarks, she’ll detail how “Trump has spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other. That’s who he is. But America, I am here tonight to say: That’s not who we are.” Harris will frame the election as a choice between two different visions for the country, saying “Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him. People he calls – quote – ‘the enemy from within.’ This is not a candidate for president who is thinking about how to make your life better.” The campaign expects as many as 40,000 people to attend, according to an amended National Park Service permit for the event. (NBC News / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1378: "The party of inclusion." Oct 28, 2024

Monday, October 28, 2024

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The presidential election is 8 days away.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.4 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.1 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.4 points (The Economist)
Trump +0.2 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.4 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 48 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 55 times out of 100. Harris wins 46 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 46 times out of 100. (CNalysis)
Trump wins 62 times out of 100. Harris wins 40 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, not the final result.
💡 Poll results depend on pollster choices as much as voters’ decisions. “Simple changes in how to weight a single poll can move the Harris-Trump margin 8 points.” (Good Authority)

1/ Trump called the United States a “garbage can for the world.” At a rally in Arizona on Thursday, Trump said, “We’re a dumping ground. We’re like a – we’re like a garbage can for the world. That’s what, that’s what’s happened to us. We’re like a garbage can.” Then on Friday in Texas, Trump again said: “We’re like a garbage can. First time I said it was last night […] I said it – I don’t know, just came out, ‘garbage can.’ We’re like a garbage can for the rest of the world to dump the people they don’t want.” Trump made the comments as he criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its handling of the border. (ABC News / Politico / New Republic / Vanity Fair / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1374: "Focused on solutions." Oct 24, 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024

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The presidential election is 12 days away.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.7 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.3 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.4 points (The Economist)
Harris +0.2 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.8 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 48 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 46 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 46 times out of 100. (CNalysis)
Trump wins 59 times out of 100. Harris wins 40 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Editor’s note: Forecasts are probabilities, not certainties. They reflect the current vibes, and not the final result.
✅ Get election ready: Register to vote, update your address, or request an absentee ballot at Vote.org, TurboVote.org, RocktheVote.org, or VoteFromAbroad.org.

1/ Kamala Harris called Trump a fascist, saying “the American people deserve better, and they deserve a president who is focused on solutions, not sitting in the Oval Office plotting their revenge and retribution.” When asked at a CNN town hall if she believed that Trump is a fascist, Harris replied twice, “Yes, I do.” Later, she brought it up again, saying Trump would be “a president who admires dictators and is a fascist.” Harris added that even Trump’s senior military leaders have called Tump a fascist – including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, and Trump’s former White House chief of staff, retired Marine general John Kelly – saying they “have all called him unfit and dangerous.” Trump, meanwhile, called Kelly a “lowlife” and “total degenerate” after his former White House chief of staff spoke about Trump’s admiration for the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. (Associated Press / Axios / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1373: "What do the American people want?" Oct 23, 2024

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

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The presidential election is 13 days away.
📈 Polling Vibes.
Harris +2.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.8 points (FiveThirtyEight)
Harris +1.6 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.5 points (The Economist)
Harris +0.6 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +1.9 points (Split Ticket)
🔮 Forecasting Vibes.
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (FiveThirtyEight)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 56 times out of 100. Harris wins 44 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 51 times out of 100. Harris wins 49 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 47 times out of 100. (Split Ticket)
Harris wins 53 times out of 100. Trump wins 46 times out of 100. (CNalysis)
Trump wins 59 times out of 100. Harris wins 41 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
✅ Get election ready: Register to vote, update your address, or request an absentee ballot at Vote.org, TurboVote.org, RocktheVote.org, or VoteFromAbroad.org.

1/ Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff warned that Trump meets the definition of a “fascist” and once said he wanted the “kind of generals Hitler had.” John Kelly said Trump is “certainly an authoritarian [and] admires people who are dictators,” and that Trump “commented more than once that, ‘You know, Hitler did some good things, too.’” Trump also asked Kelly, “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” Kelly explained to Trump that German generals “tried to kill Hitler three times and almost pulled it off,” but Trump responded: “No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him.” Further, two people who heard a private conversation at the White House, Trump once said: “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had. People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.” Mark Esper, who served as secretary of Defense under Trump, backed Kelly’s remarks, saying “It’s hard to say that he doesn’t [meet the definition of a fascist], when you kind of look at those terms. But, he certainly has those inclinations. And I think it’s something we should be wary about.” (New York Times / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1372: "There’s no point." Oct 22, 2024

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

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Days until Election Day: 14.
📈 Election Polling Tracker.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.7 points (538)
Harris +1.6 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.6 points (The Economist)
Harris +0.9 points (RealClearPolitics)
🔮 Election Forecast Tracker.
Trump wins 50 times out of 100. Harris wins 50 times out of 100. (538)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 46 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 61 times out of 100. Harris wins 39 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Trump wins 61 times out of 100. Harris wins 39 times out of 100. (Super Model)
📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.
📺 Oct. 23: Harris CNN town hall
🗳️ Nov. 5: Election Day.
⚖️ Nov. 26: Trump is sentenced.
✅ Get election ready: Register to vote, update your address, or request an absentee ballot at Vote.org, TurboVote.org, RocktheVote.org, or VoteFromAbroad.org.

1/ More than 400 doctors and health professionals called on Trump to release his medical records, questioning his mental and physical fitness to serve. “With no recent disclosure of health information from Donald Trump, we are left to extrapolate from public appearances,” their letter states. “And on that front, Trump is falling concerningly short of any standard of fitness for office and displaying alarming characteristics of declining acuity.” The letter adds that Trump is 78 years old and would be the oldest president if he win. But at a campaign event Sunday, Trump denied being close to 80 years old or having any cognitive issues. “I’m not 80, and I’m not that close to 80,” said Trump, who is 20 months away from turning 80. “I’ve done cognitive tests. I’ve done them twice, and I aced both of them, and the doctor in one case said, ‘I’ve never seen anybody ace them.’” Following a series meandering, unhinged, and nonsensical public appearances, a psychiatrist who helped craft the 1973 “Goldwater rule” that has kept mental health professionals from opining about Trump for nearly a decade said he’d recommend a dementia test for Trump. Allen Dyer, a retired George Washington University psychiatry professor, said Trump’s recent behavior warrants medical evaluation because “he seems to be progressively cognitively impaired.” (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1371: "Exhausted." Oct 21, 2024

Monday, October 21, 2024

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📈 Election Polling Tracker.
Harris +1.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +1.8 points (538)
Harris +1.6 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +1.6 points (The Economist)
Harris +0.9 points (RealClearPolitics)
🔮 Election Forecast Tracker.
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. Harris wins 48 times out of 100. (538)
Trump wins 53 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Trump wins 54 times out of 100. Harris wins 45 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Trump wins 59 times out of 100. Harris wins 41 times out of 100. (Election Betting Odds)
Trump wins 52 times out of 100. Harris wins 47 times out of 100. (JHK Forecasts)
Trump wins 58 times out of 100. Harris wins 41 times out of 100. (Super Model)
📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.
📺 Oct. 23: Harris CNN town hall
🗳️ Nov. 5: Election Day.
⚖️ Nov. 26: Trump is sentenced.
✅ Get election ready: Register to vote, update your address, or request an absentee ballot at Vote.org, TurboVote.org, RocktheVote.org, or VoteFromAbroad.org.

1/ With 15 days until the 2024 election, Harris and Trump are essentially tied across the seven battleground states that will decide the race. The polls have been tightening over the last two weeks, with Harris now ahead by about one point on average – her smallest lead since the Democratic convention. And while Trump has gained some ground over the past couple weeks, the margin between Trump and Harris is 2 percentage points or less in all seven major swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin). Although Harris is the favorite to win the popular vote, the Electoral College bias favors Republicans by about 2 percentage points. Meaning: the race remains best characterized as a toss-up. (Washington Post / New York Times / FiveThirtyEight)

2/ Elon Musk’s pro-Trump super PAC will give away $1 million a day until Election Day to a “random” registered voter who signs his petition supporting “free speech and the right to bear arms.” Musk has also promised to pay people $47 for each re...

Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1367: "A despicable human being." Oct 17, 2024

Thursday, October 17, 2024

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1/ Israel Defense Forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a strike in Gaza. Sinwar is believed to be the key architect of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in which Palestinian militants killed 1,200 people in Israel. Israel previously killed Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, and then killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in September. Biden, meanwhile, said Sinwar’s death opens the door for “a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike […] It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. We’re going to work out what, what is the ‘day after’ now. How do we secure Gaza and move on.” Kamala Harris added: “This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza, and it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination. It is time for the day after to begin without Hamas in power.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, addressed Sinwar’s demise, saying, “This is the beginning of the day after Hamas. Evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.” (Politico / CBS News / Associated Press / Axios / NPR / NBC News / New York Times / Bloomberg / Washington Post / CNN)

2/ Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for allowing Russia to invade Ukraine. “He should never have let that war start. The war’s a loser,” Trump said. In September, Trump met with Zelensky and said that it was an “honor” to meet with him and that they had a “very good relationship.” Trump then added that he also has a “very good relationship” with Putin. Zelensky, meanwhile, warned that 10,000 North Korean troops are being readied to join Russian forces in their fight against Ukraine as part of “the first step to a World War.” (Washington Post / Politico / New York Times / Associated Press / Axios / The Hill)

3/ JD Vance outright denied Trump lost the 2020 election, flatly answering “no.” For months Vance has repeatedly deflected questions about whether Trump lost the 2020 election, instead saying he was focused on the future. But when asked again at a rally in Pennsylvania if Trump lost, Vance replied: “No. I think ther...

Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1366: "Too much, too late." Oct 16, 2024

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

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1/ A Georgia judge blocked a new state rule that would have required counties to hand-count ballots cast on Election Day. “Too much, too late,” Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney wrote in his decision, expressing concern that the “11th-and-one-half hour implementation of the hand count rule” would undermine public confidence in the election results and lead to “administrative chaos.” The rule, passed by the Republican State Election Board, would have required poll workers in Georgia to open ballots and count them by hand to ensure that the total number of ballots matched the total counted by tabulating machines. It was set to go into effect Oct. 22 – two weeks before Election Day. Early voting in the state is already underway. Separately, McBurney also ruled that Georgia county election officials can’t delay or decline to certify election results based on suspicions of fraud, error, or abuse, writing that elections officials have a “mandatory fixed obligation to certify election results.” (NBC News / Washington Post / Axios / CBS News / Bloomberg / NPR / The Hill / USA Today / New York Times / ABC News / Associated Press)

2/ Trump’s top general called him a “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country,” according to Bob Woodward’s book, “War.” Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, who served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023, told Woodward that Trump “is the most dangerous person ever. I had suspicions when I talked to you about his mental decline and so forth, but now I realize he’s a total fascist. He is now the most dangerous person to this country.” Milley repeated: “A fascist to the core.” Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a senior member of the Homeland, Armed Services and Judiciary committees, said he expects Trump’s suggestion that he could deploy National Guard or U.S. military on American soil to handle what he called “the enemy from within” on Election Day to generate new support for his legislation to restrict a president’s authority to deploy the military inside the U.S. (Axios / The Guardian / The Independent / The Hill / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1365: "Let's just listen to music." Oct 15, 2024

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

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1/ The Biden administration threatened to suspend military assistance if Israel doesn’t improve the “increasingly dire” humanitarian crisis in Gaza – but then sent Israel an advanced missile defense system and the American troops needed to operate it. In a letter to senior Israeli officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin blamed Israel for “directly or indirectly” impeding the transport of humanitarian aid to Gaza that has contributed to the starvation and widespread suffering. Israel closed crossings into Gaza earlier this month, and the amount of aid delivered to Gaza “has dropped by more than 50%” since the spring. The U.S. officials gave Israel 30 days to “reverse the downward humanitarian trajectory” or else it “may have implications” for future U.S. weapons transfers and funding. The deadline to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, however, falls after the presidential election. Nevertheless, Biden ordered the Pentagon to send the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system — known as THAAD — to Israel to help fend off potential Iranian missile attacks. Israel, meanwhile, is preparing a military response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack when it fired roughly 180 missiles into Israel. “We listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. (Associated Press / Washington Post / Bloomberg / CNN / New York Times / NBC News / Politico / Axios / Wall Street Journal)

2/ Trump called for the National Guard or U.S. military to be deployed on American soil to handle what he called “the enemy from within” on Election Day, claiming that “radical left lunatics” are more dangerous than foreign adversaries like Russia and China. “I always say, we have two enemies,” Trump said. “We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia and all these countries.” Trump added that a “smart president” could handle foreign adversaries “pretty easily,” but “the thing that’s tougher to handle are these lunatics that we have inside, like Adam Schiff.” In a statement, the Harris campaign said Trump “is suggesting that his fellow Americans are worse ‘enemies’ than foreign adversaries, and he is saying he would use the military against them. Taken with his vow to be a dictator on ‘day one,’ calls for the ‘termination’ of the Constitution, and plans to surround himself with sycophants who will give him unchecked, unprecedented power if he returns to office, this should alarm every American who cares about their freedom and security. What Donald Trump is promising is dangerous, and returning him to office is simply a risk Americans cannot afford.” Later, at a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Harris said “A second Trump term would be a huge risk for America, and dangerous. Do...

Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1360: "Not the worst-case scenario." Oct 10, 2024

Thursday, October 10, 2024

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1/ Hurricane Milton left at least 12 people dead, and more than 3 million people remain without power. “The storm did bring much destruction and damage,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “The storm was significant, but thankfully this was not the worst case scenario.” Biden said he pre-deployed thousands of federal personnel to areas affected by the storm, including more than 1,000 Coast Guard members, and that over 80,000 Floridians had safely sheltered from the storm. (Associated Press / Politico / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News / NBC News / Axios)

2/ Biden told Trump to “get a life” for his continued false claims about the federal government’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, while delivering a briefing at the White House about the response to Milton so far. After Biden said that people who lie about hurricane recovery efforts are “undermining confidence in the rescue and recovery work that’s opening and ongoing,” a reporter asked if he had spoken to Trump. “Are you kidding me?” said Biden, adding: “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Help these people.” FEMA, meanwhile, has spent nearly half of the disaster relief funding that Congress allocated for the next 12 months in the last eight days. Biden called on Congress to return from its recess to pass emergency relief. (CNN / NBC News / Politico / Bloomberg)

3/ Florida’s Department of Health threatened to criminally charge local TV stations that air a political ad calling for the repeal of the state’s six-week abortion ban signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. At least two stations received cease-and-desist letters that running the 30-second spot was a violation of Florida’s “sanitary nuisance” law. The Democratic chair of the Federal Communications Commission, meanwhile, said the stations should not be intimidated for airing political ads, saying: “The right of broadcasters to speak freely is rooted in the First Amendment. Threats against broadcast stations for airing content that conflicts with the government’s views are dangerous and undermine the fundamental principle of free speech.” In November, Florida residents will vote on Amendment 4, which would protect abortion rights in the state’s constitution and undo the new abortion ban. (Florida Politics / Washington Post / CNN)

4/ Inflation dropped last month to its lowest point in more tha...

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Day 1359: "Beyond ridiculous." Oct 09, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

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1/ With landfall by Milton, a major Category 3 hurricane, hours away and nearly 7.3 million Floridians facing mandatory evacuation orders, Marjorie Taylor Greene continued to promote her false conspiracy theory that the government can control the weather. The Georgia Republican claimed last week that “they” can control the weather after Hurricane Helene killed more than 230 people, including two dozen people in her state. She added: “It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.” Greene doubled down since her initial claim, posting screenshots of “weather modification project reports” from the NOAA website and citing a post by a conspiracy theorist website as proof that “yes they can control the weather.” She continued: “If your home or business or property is damaged or a loved one is killed by their weather modifications shouldn’t you be eligible for compensation? After all, did they ask you if you agreed to our weather being modified?” Biden called Greene’s conspiracy theory “reckless, irresponsible and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies […] harmful to those who need help the most.” He added that the “claims are getting even more bizarre […] it’s beyond ridiculous. It’s got to stop.” Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez, meanwhile, said Greene and others who think that humans can control the weather need “to have their head examined.” Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast overnight as a major hurricane, and could become one of the most destructive storms on record. Harris urged residents to heed evacuation warnings, saying the storm is expected to be “catastrophic and deadly” and “unlike anything we’ve seen before.” (NBC News / Bloomberg / Politico / CNN / Washington Post / New York Times / The Hill)

2/ The Kremlin confirmed that Trump secretly sent Putin Covid-19 testing equipment during the height of the pandemic when the machines were in short supply. Trump denied that he sent Covid test equipment to Putin, saying “none of these made up stories by Bob Woodward are true” – referring to “War,” Woodward’s new book. “We also sent equipment at the beginning of the pandemic,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a written response. Peskov, however, denied reporting that Trump and Putin have spoken on the telephone “as many as seven” times since Trump left office. The Logan Act prohibits private U.S. citizens from engaging in diplomacy with foreign governments without authorization that are in dispute with the U.S. (Bloomberg / Axios / NBC News / Politico / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1358: "Callousness." Oct 08, 2024

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

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1/ FEMA warned that false claims and conspiracy theories pushed by Trump and his supporters related to hurricanes are hurting recovery and relief efforts, and putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk as Milton — an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane – barrels toward Florida. “It is absolutely the worst I have ever seen,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “It’s creating distrust in the federal government, but also the state government, and we have so many first responders that have been working to go out and help these communities.” Trump and other Republicans have spread misinformation that the federal government is intentionally withholding aid to people in Republican areas and instead diverting it to immigrants. “It’s profound and it is the height of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness,” Harris said of Trump’s claims about FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene. “Lives are literally at stake right now.” The National Weather Service, meanwhile, warned that “If Milton stays on its course, this will be the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years.” (Axios / Washington Post / ABC News / Associated Press / Politico / CNN)

2/ The Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold the Biden administration’s restrictions on ghost guns – self-assembly firearm kits that produce untraceable weapons and skirt existing regulations. In 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued new rules treating ghost gun kits and partially assembled bodies of guns as traditional firearms, requiring dealers to serialize the weapons, perform background checks on buyers, and enforce minimum age limits. The industry sued to block it. During oral arguments, the justices mused about grocery orders, asked whether eggs, chopped ham, peppers and onions could be considered a western omelet, and whether the gun kits are “analogous” to the challenges of assembling IKEA furniture. By the end, it appeared that the rule would likely get enough votes from the justices to survive a challenge from makers of the products. (Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post / ABC News / NBC News / New York Times / CNN)

3/ Biden’s EPA finalized a rule requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade. The rule is the strongest overhaul of lead-in-water standards in roughly three decades. The EPA estimates the new standard will prevent up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight, avoid up to 1,500 premature deaths a year from heart disease, and will prevent up to 200,000 I.Q. points lost among children. (Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1357: "Seemed political." Oct 07, 2024

Monday, October 7, 2024

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1/ The Supreme Court refused to require doctors in Texas to perform certain emergency abortions, rejecting a Biden administration appeal that federal law requires access to emergency abortion care even in states that restrict the procedure. The court’s decision leaves in place a lower court’s ruling that hospitals can’t be required to perform emergency abortions in violation of the state’s abortion ban. Texas Senate Bill 8, passed in September 2021, effectively banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with few exceptions. The strict abortion law has led to nearly 10,000 more births than expected over a nine-month period and infant deaths in the state have increased by nearly 13%. (Washington Post / Associated Press / NBC News / Axios / Bloomberg)

JD Vance said that a second Trump administration would attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. “On the question of defunding Planned Parenthood, look, I mean our view is we don’t think that taxpayers should fund late-term abortions,” Vance said. “That has been a consistent view of the Trump campaign the first time around. It will remain a consistent view.” (RealClearPolitics / The Hill)

2/ The Georgia Supreme Court reinstated the state’s six-week abortion ban.The ruling came a week after a judge found that Georgia unconstitutionally prohibits abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy – before many women realize they’re pregnant – because “liberty in Georgia includes in its […] bundle of rights the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” The State Supreme Court, however, left in place the lower court’s ruling that blocked a separate provision of the law that allowed state prosecutors to obtain the medical records of women who’ve had abortions. (New York Times / Associated Press / NBC News / Politico / CNN / Washington Post)

3/ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has refused to take calls from Biden or Harris as Hurricane Milton “explosively” intensified into a Category 5 storm head...

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Day 1353: "Everything was nice." Oct 03, 2024

Thursday, October 3, 2024

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1/ Biden’s student loan forgiveness program can proceed after a federal judge let a temporary restraining order expire. The lawsuit was brought by seven Republican-led states that argued the Biden administration’s rule would be detrimental to income tax revenue. U.S. District Judge Randal Hall, however, found that Georgia lacked standing to sue because the state failed to show it would be harmed by the plan to forgive $73 billion in student loan debt held by millions of Americans. Instead, Hall directed the case to be transferred to Missouri. The Republican-led states asked a federal judge in Missouri to rule by Friday on whether to continue blocking the proposal. (NBC News / Reuters / CNBC)

2/ Trump promised to revoke Temporary Protected Status and deport the Haitian migrants who are legally living in Springfield, Ohio, if he is reelected in November. Following a 2010, 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti that killed around 220,000 people, Obama added Haitians to the TPS program, which allows migrants to stay in the U.S. when their countries are unsafe to return to. Despite spending weeks spreading debunked conspiracy theories that Haitian migrants were eating pets in Springfield, Trump continued to disparage them, saying that placing thousands of migrants in the town “doesn’t work.” He added: “You have to remove the people. You cannot destroy — we cannot destroy our country. You had a beautiful, safe community. Everyone’s in love with everybody, everything was nice, it was like a picture community.” Trump also falsely claimed that over 30,000 migrants have moved into Springfield in recent years, but the number is between 12,000 and 15,000 in the entire county – not just the city. Trump has previously said he wants to deport between 15 and 20 million immigrants if reelected. (Axios / Politico / New York Times / CNN)

3/ A former Colorado county clerk was sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting machines under her control during the 2020 election. Tina Peters was convicted of four felony and three misdemeanor charges for allowing MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell – a pro-Trump activist and a prominent promoter of the false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Trump – to use another person’s security card to access to the Mesa County election system in May 2021. The county’s machines later had to be replaced when data, including passwords for the machines, was posted online. “Your lies are well-documented and these convictions are serious,” Judge Matthew Barrett told Peters before he handed down his sentence, calling her a “charlatan” who used her time in office “to peddle snake oil.” Barrett told Peters that “the damage is immeasurable,” and “I’m convinced you would do it all over again if you could […] You’re as defiant a defendant as I’ve ever seen.” (Associated Press / New York Times / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1353: "Everything was nice." Oct 03, 2024

Thursday, October 3, 2024

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1/ Biden’s student loan forgiveness program can proceed after a federal judge let a temporary restraining order expire. The lawsuit was brought by seven Republican-led states that argued the Biden administration’s rule would be detrimental to income tax revenue. U.S. District Judge Randal Hall, however, found that Georgia lacked standing to sue because the state failed to show it would be harmed by the plan to forgive $73 billion in student loan debt held by millions of Americans. Instead, Hall directed the case to be transferred to Missouri. The Republican-led states asked a federal judge in Missouri to rule by Friday on whether to continue blocking the proposal. (NBC News / Reuters / CNBC)

2/ Trump promised to revoke Temporary Protected Status and deport the Haitian migrants who are legally living in Springfield, Ohio, if he is reelected in November. Following a 2010, 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti that killed around 220,000 people, Obama added Haitians to the TPS program, which allows migrants to stay in the U.S. when their countries are unsafe to return to. Despite spending weeks spreading debunked conspiracy theories that Haitian migrants were eating pets in Springfield, Trump continued to disparage them, saying that placing thousands of migrants in the town “doesn’t work.” He added: “You have to remove the people. You cannot destroy — we cannot destroy our country. You had a beautiful, safe community. Everyone’s in love with everybody, everything was nice, it was like a picture community.” Trump also falsely claimed that over 30,000 migrants have moved into Springfield in recent years, but the number is between 12,000 and 15,000 in the entire county – not just the city. Trump has previously said he wants to deport between 15 and 20 million immigrants if reelected. (Axios / Politico / New York Times / CNN)

3/ A former Colorado county clerk was sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting machines under her control during the 2020 election. Tina Peters was convicted of four felony and three misdemeanor charges for allowing MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell – a pro-Trump activist and a prominent promoter of the false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Trump – to use another person’s security card to access to the Mesa County election system in May 2021. The county’s machines later had to be replaced when data, including passwords for the machines, was posted online. “Your lies are well-documented and these convictions are serious,” Judge Matthew Barrett told Peters before he handed down his sentence, calling her a “charlatan” who used her time in office “to peddle snake oil.” Barrett told Peters that “the damage is immeasurable,” and “I’m convinced you would do it all over again if you could […] You’re as defiant a defendant as I’ve ever seen.” (Associated Press / New York Times / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1352: "Increasingly desperate." Oct 02, 2024

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

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1/ Trump “resorted to crimes” after losing the 2020 election, special counsel Jack Smith allege in a court filing unsealed Wednesday. Prosecutors described Trump as directly responsible for “the tinderbox that he purposely ignited on January 6” after his “increasingly desperate” efforts to cling to power and overturn his 2020 election loss were unsuccessful. “When all else had failed,” Trump “directed an angry crowd of supporters to the United States Capitol to obstruct the congressional certification.” Throughout the document, Smith argues that Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate for office and not as president when he sought to overturn his 2020 election loss – a direct response to the Supreme Court ruling that Trump had immunity for some actions he took as president. “At its core, the defendant’s scheme was a private one; he extensively used private actors and his Campaign infrastructure to attempt to overturn the election results and operated in a private capacity as a candidate for office,” Smith wrote. Prosecutors also accused Trump of knowing “his fraud claims were false because he continued to make those claims even after his close advisors – acting not in an official capacity but in a private or campaign-related capacity—told him they were not true.” (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / ABC News / Axios)

2/ Trump spent 33-minutes meandering through various unrelated subjects before barely touching on the focus of a campaign event meant to highlight his education policy. “We can be nice and we can be politically incorrect, but the only thing they’re going to do there is cheat on elections, and we just can’t let this happen,” Trump said, adding: “The city of Milwaukee is the home of first and oldest choice program.” Trump went on to erroneously refer to Iran as Iraq, confuse the dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, with the president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, and claim Kim “is trying to kill me,” seemingly confusing Kim with Iran. U.S. intelligence officials have briefed Trump about the “real and specific threats” by Iran to assassinate him as part of “an effort to destabilize and sow chaos.” At one point Trump was asked if he should have been tougher on Iran after they retaliated over the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and struck al-Asad Airbase in Iraq. While no U.S. soldiers were killed, over 100 were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. Trump responded that “they could take a knife, they were like Rambos, just like putting a million Rambos – good old Sylvester Stallone was my friend. But it’s like putting a million Rambos.” When pressed to answer the actual question, Trump replied: “What does injured mean? You mean because they had a headache because the bombs never hit the fort?” The Harris campaign called Trump “unfit to be Commander-in-Chief” over the remarks. (Washington Post / New York Times / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1351: "A significant escalation." Oct 01, 2024

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

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1/ Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. The strikes also follow Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah last week. Most of the missiles were intercepted — including with help from U.S. naval destroyers — and there are no reports of deaths inside Israel. The Biden administration described Iran’s attack as “defeated and ineffective,” but acknowledged that “this is a significant escalation” and “there will be severe consequences.” Iran, nevertheless, warned that Israel would face “a crushing defeat” if it responds with force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, saying “Iran made a big mistake this evening, and it will pay for it.” He added: “Whoever attacks us, we will attack them.” Israel is at war with two of Iran’s allied militias – Hamas and Hezbollah – and the airstrikes risks a wider war in the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council, meanwhile, will hold an emergency meeting to discuss Iran’s attacks on Israel and the threat of a widening war in the region. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNBC / NBC News / ABC News / CNN)

Why Did Israel Send Troops Into Lebanon? “Israel says it aims to cripple Hezbollah’s forces in an area of southern Lebanon that the armed group controls.” (New York Times)

2/ Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association are on strike over wages and guarantees that automated technology won’t be used to replace human workers. The strike – the first by the union since 1977 – affects 36 ports from Maine to Texas, and is expected to cause an immediate disruption to global supply chains that connect the U.S. to the global economy. The ports account for more than half of the nation’s imports, and the economic loss from the shutdown is expected to be between $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion a day. Biden called on the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents port employers, “to come to the table and present a fair offer” and “to negotiate a fair contract with the longshoremen that reflects the substantial contribution they’ve been making to our economic comeback.” As of Monday, USMX had offered the union raises of “nearly 50%” over six years and the same limits on automation that was in the last contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation and a 61.5% raise over six years – down from the 77% the union had asked for earlier in negotiations. (...

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Day 1350: "One really violent day." Sep 30, 2024

Monday, September 30, 2024

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1/ Biden may call Congress in for a special session to pass supplemental disaster funding to address the “broad and devastating impacts” of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that left at least 128 people dead and hundreds more unaccounted for across six states. Congress left last week for its preelection recess, and the House and Senate aren’t expected to return until Nov. 12 – after Election Day. Biden said it’s his “expectation” to ask for a supplemental funding bill, but that he didn’t have a price tag for it yet, adding “this is a historic storm, its devastating.” He added: “They’ve never seen anything like this before.” Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly lied and politicized the disaster, claiming that Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump repeated the claim after being told Kemp had spoken to Biden. Despite claiming that “we’re not talking about politics now,” Trump said he had asked Elon Musk about using Starlink to help restore communication in the region. The Department of Homeland Security, however, has already provided 40 Starlink satellite systems to aid communications and recovery in North Carolina. (Politico / New York Times / USA Today / The Hill / CNN / Associated Press / ABC News / Washington Post / CNBC)

2/ A Georgia judge struck down the state’s abortion law that effectively banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Judge Robert McBurney wrote that a review of “of our higher courts’ interpretations of ‘liberty’ demonstrates that liberty in Georgia includes in its meaning, in its protections, and in its bundle of rights the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” Abortions are now legally allowed until about 22 weeks of pregnancy. Georgia’s law was passed and signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, but it didn’t take effect until the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, at least 10 states will have ballot measures on abortion rights this November. Recent polls of the states with abortion rights on the ballot show Republicans support the measures between 28% and 54%. (Associated Press / NBC News / CNN / New York Times / Axios)

3/ Biden expanded his “temporary” asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, effectively making the st...

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Day 1350: "One really violent day." Sep 30, 2024

Monday, September 30, 2024

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1/ Biden may call Congress in for a special session to pass supplemental disaster funding to address the “broad and devastating impacts” of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that left at least 128 people dead and hundreds more unaccounted for across six states. Congress left last week for its preelection recess, and the House and Senate aren’t expected to return until Nov. 12 – after Election Day. Biden said it’s his “expectation” to ask for a supplemental funding bill, but that he didn’t have a price tag for it yet, adding “this is a historic storm, its devastating.” He added: “They’ve never seen anything like this before.” Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly lied and politicized the disaster, claiming that Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump repeated the claim after being told Kemp had spoken to Biden. Despite claiming that “we’re not talking about politics now,” Trump said he had asked Elon Musk about using Starlink to help restore communication in the region. The Department of Homeland Security, however, has already provided 40 Starlink satellite systems to aid communications and recovery in North Carolina. (Politico / New York Times / USA Today / The Hill / CNN / Associated Press / ABC News / Washington Post / CNBC)

2/ A Georgia judge struck down the state’s abortion law that effectively banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Judge Robert McBurney wrote that a review of “of our higher courts’ interpretations of ‘liberty’ demonstrates that liberty in Georgia includes in its meaning, in its protections, and in its bundle of rights the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” Abortions are now legally allowed until about 22 weeks of pregnancy. Georgia’s law was passed and signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, but it didn’t take effect until the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, at least 10 states will have ballot measures on abortion rights this November. Recent polls of the states with abortion rights on the ballot show Republicans support the measures between 28% and 54%. (Associated Press / NBC News / CNN / New York Times / Axios)

3/ Biden expanded his “temporary” asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, effectively making the st...

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Day 1346: "This is the policy." Sep 26, 2024

Thursday, September 26, 2024

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1/ Federal prosecutors charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations as part of months-long federal investigation into whether his campaign illegally conspired with Turkish entities to collect foreign donations. According to the five-count indictment, Adams accepted free travel on Turkish Airlines, illegal campaign contributions, and other perks from his “corrupt relationships” with rich foreigners connected to the Turkish government. In exchange, prosecutors allege that Adams used his position as incoming mayor to influence the opening of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan by expediting the fire safety inspection despite safety concerns, as well as not releasing a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day – the annual observance of the estimated 1.5 million Armenians, who were systematically exterminated through mass deportations, forced marches, and mass killings. Adams, meanwhile, said he would not resign. (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / Associated Press / Axios / Wall Street Journal / NBC News)

2/ Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden introduced legislation to add six justices to the Supreme Court, require supermajorities to overturn any law passed by Congress, require justices to undergo audits, and more. “The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust,” Wyden said in a statement. “More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.” The bill would increase the number of justices from nine to 15 over 12 years to prevent one political party from packing the courts with its nominees. In addition, the legislation would require Supreme Court nominees to be automatically scheduled for a vote in the Senate to prevent senators from refusing to hold a vote on a nominee – like what Mitch McConnell did to Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016. “It’s not an atomic secret that the process for selecting justices is politicized,” Wyden said. “You’ve got this thoroughly politicized process resulting in a Supreme Court that now frequently issues sweeping rulings to overturn laws and upend precedents. We are proposing a way to restore some balance between the three branches of government.” The bill, however, stands little chance of passing in the Republican-controlled House. (Washington Post / Salon / The New Republic)

3/ Rudy Giuliani was disbarred from practicing law in Washington, D.C., over his efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss. An ethics panel recommended Giuliani be disbarred, saying: “He sought to disrupt a presidential election and persists in his refusal to acknowledge the wrong he has done.” Giuliani was also recently disbarred in New York. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1343: "Balance of power." Sep 23, 2024

Monday, September 23, 2024

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1/ The House unveiled a bipartisan spending bill to temporarily fund the government through Dec. 20. It doesn’t include the SAVE Act, the Trump-backed election security proposal that would require people to show proof of citizenship to register as a voter. Speaker Mike Johnson plans to vote on the legislation by Wednesday. It would then head to the Senate ahead of the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline. The bill generally funds agencies at current levels, but directs an additional $231 million to the Secret Service. Last week, House Republicans rejected their own funding bill after Trump demanded that the government be shut down if legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote isn’t passed. (Associated Press / CBS News / Bloomberg / NPR / Axios / New York Times)

2/ The Georgia State Election Board approved a new rule requiring all ballots to be hand-counted on Election Day. The Republican-controlled board pushed the measure through over the opposition of Georgia’s Republican secretary of state and attorney general, and dozens of local election officials who said the last-minute change could delay certification and cause confusion on election night. The vote was 3-2, with three Trump allies supporting the move, and a Democratic and independent Republican-appointed member strongly opposing it. The new rule requires counties to count the number of ballots cast to make sure the count matches the ballots tallied by voting machines. It does not require hand tabulation of how people voted. (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Bloomberg / NPR)

3/ A Nebraska Republican state lawmaker blocked a Trump-backed effort to change how the state awards its five electoral votes. Mike McDonnell said he wouldn’t support the effort to change the state’s electoral system to winner take all. The outcome that could have cost Kamala Harris an electoral vote. Nebraska is one of two states — the other is Maine — that awards its electoral votes by congressional district. (Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / New York Times)

4/ The Justice Department said the man suspected of attempting to assassinate Trump last week left a note stating “this was an assassination attempt.” In one note, addressed to “The World,” Ryan Routh said “I failed you,” urging others to ...

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Day 1339: "Disappointed." Sep 19, 2024

Thursday, September 19, 2024

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1/ House Republicans rejected their own funding bill after Trump demanded that the government be shut down if legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote isn’t passed. Noncitizen voting, however, is already illegal in federal elections, and voter fraud committed by noncitizens is rare and practically nonexistent. The claim that non-citizen voting is a widespread problem has been repeatedly debunked. Lawmakers have until Sept. 30 to extend government funding. “I’m disappointed,” Speaker Mike Johnson said after the vote, which he lost by a vote of 220-202. “We ran the play. It was the best play. It was the right one. And so now we go back to the playbook. We’ll draw up another play and we’ll come up with a solution.” (Washington Post / NBC News / Axios / Rolling Stone)

2/ Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s decision to lower interest rates for the first time in four years during a campaign stop at a Bitcoin-themed bar. He suggested that the central bank was “playing politics” and that the economy must be “very bad.” Earlier in the day, the Fed cut rates from 5.25 to 5.50% to a range between 4.75 and 5% in response to the Committee gaining “greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%,” and that the “risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance.” (The Hill / CNN / Daily Beast)

poll/ 48% of registered voters in Pennsylvania support Harris, while 47% support Trump. Among likely voters, Harris and Trump are both tied at 48%. (Washington Post)

poll/ If the 2024 presidential election were held today, 50% of voters in Pennsylvania say they’d vote for Harris, while 46% say they’d support Trump. Nationally, the two are tied at 47%. (New York times)

✏️ Notables.

The Actual Electoral Map Is Three States. “If the former president wins the East Coast trio of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, he will go back to the White House.” (Politico)
Trump’s Laziest Campaign. “The 78-year-old Republican nominee is holding fewer campaign events than in his two previous runs for the presidency. Can he pick up the pace?” (Washington Monthly)
This Is What a Losing Campaign Looks Like. “How does Donald Trump’s running mate have so much time on his hands?” (The Atlantic)

📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.
💰 Sept. 30: Government funding deadline.
📺 Oct. 1: CBS vice presidential debate.
📆 Oct. 6Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1338: "Contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior." Sep 18, 2024

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

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1/ The Springfield City School District has received 36 shooting and bomb threats since Trump and JD Vance falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants were eating pets, forcing local schools to move classes online and cancel on-campus events. Despite no verifiable evidence or credible reports support the claims, Vance, nevertheless, defended his baseless comments, saying that “the media has a responsibility to fact-check” stories – not him. (The Guardian / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Axios)

2/ At least 111 former Republican national security officials endorsed Kamala Harris, calling Trump “unfit to serve again as president.” In a letter to the public, the Republicans conclude that Trump cannot be trusted “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic […] and bear true faith and allegiance to the same. They add that Trump “promoted daily chaos in government, praised our enemies and undermined our allies, politicized the military and disparaged our veterans, prioritized his personal interest above American interests and betrayed our values, democracy and this country’s founding documents.” Together, they condemned Trump’s “dangerous qualities,” including his “unusual affinity” for dictators like Putin and “contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior.” (New York Times)

3/ The Georgia Election Integrity Coalition – a group of officials and election deniers – is reportedly planning to call the results of November’s election into question before a single vote is cast. Emails obtained as a result of a public records request sent to David Hancock, an election denier and member of the Gwinnett county board of elections, reveal the behind-the-scenes effort to enact denier-based policies and portray the coming election as beset with fraud. Separately, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger sent a letter to the State Election Board, criticizing “the absurdity of the board’s actions” to vote on more than a dozen new election rules and procedures so late in the process. The proposed package of election rules require that a polling place’s manager and two witnesses hand-count the paper ballots in every ballot box, hand counting of absentee ballots, requiring the public posting of all registered voters, and expanding access for poll watchers. Last month, the board approved a new rule requiring a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying state elections. The measure allows local officials to refuse or delay certification of a county’s election results. (The Guardian / New York Times / NPR / Rolling Stone)

4/ The FBI is investigating suspicious packages containing “an unknown substance” sent to elections officials in more than 16 states. None of the mail has been dee...

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Day 1337: "Absolute assurances." Sep 17, 2024

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

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1/ Senate Republicans blocked legislation to federally protect access to in vitro fertilization. The package, called the Right to IVF Act, would establish a nationwide right “to receive fertility treatment from a health care provider, in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care,” in addition to ensuring insurance coverage for such treatments. It’s the second time that Republicans, despite Trump’s statements supporting the fertility treatment, have filibustered the Democratic legislation. Kamala Harris said Republicans “have once again made clear that they will not protect access to the fertility treatments many couples need [and] their opposition to a woman’s freedom to make decisions about her own body is extreme, dangerous, and wrong.” (CBS News / CNN / Politico)

2/ A sheriff in Ohio urged residents to “write down” the addresses of Harris supporters for future reference. Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski suggested he’d use the list to send undocumented immigrants, who he called “human locust,” to those homes. Zuchowski is seeking reelection. It’s against federal law to intimidate voters into not casting their vote of their choice. (NBC News / Washington Post)

3/ Nearly 100,000 people in Arizona may not be eligible to vote after officials discovered an error that incorrectly marked these voters with having provided documented proof of citizenship when it’s unclear whether they have. After more than two decades, officials discovered that about 98,000 of the state’s 4.1 million registered voters – more registered as Republicans than as Democrats – had been marked as eligible to receive full ballots even though there is no record of them ever providing citizenship documents. Arizona requires proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in state and local elections. If voters do not provide proof of citizenship, they’re registered as what Arizona calls “federal only” voters, who can only vote for president and Congress. Meaning, the issue will not affect the upcoming vote for president or Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat. (Washington Post / Arizona Mirror)

4/ Florida law enforcement officials will conduct their own criminal investigation into the man with a rifle at Trump’s golf course. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida prosecutors will pursue the most serious charges available under state law, including attempted murder. DeSantis also believes the state’s case should take precedence over the federal prosecution, saying “In my judgment it’s not in the best interest of our state or our nation to have the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump leading this investigation, especially when the most serious straight-forward offense constitutes a violation of state law, but not federal law.” (NPR / Associated Press)

5/ Speaker Mike Johnson set up a vote...

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Day 1336: "A piece of garbage." Sep 16, 2024

Monday, September 16, 2024

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1/ A man waited with a rifle for 12 hours at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida before a Secret Service agent spotted him and opened fire. Trump, who was golfing at the club at the time, was unharmed. The FBI said it “appear[ed] to be an attempted assassination.” Ryan Wesley Routh did not have Trump in his sightline and did not fire his semiautomatic rifle. After the Secret Service spotted the muzzle of a gun protruding from the bushes several hundred yards away, Routh fled the scene and left behind his phone, a loaded rifle with a scope, some food, and a digital camera. Routh was pulled over and arrested around 2:14 p.m. after a license-plate reader system reported his vehicle on I-95 – about 45 miles north of Trump International Golf Club. Routh’s cellphone records also show he was near the perimeter of the golf course from about 2 a.m. until 1:31 p.m. He was charged with two gun-related offenses: possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh’s past history of criminal convictions – including possession of a weapon “of mass death and destruction” – barred him from owning a gun. Routh was not accused of trying to kill Trump, but he did self-publish a 2023 book in which he appears to tell readers that they were “free to assassinate Trump.” (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Politico / Axios / ABC News / CNN / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / CNBC)

2/ Elon Musk deleted his post wondering why “no one is even trying to assassinate” Biden and Kamala Harris. Following intense backlash, Musk eventually deleted the post and tried to claim it was a “joke” that was “WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.” The White House condemned Musk’s post, saying “violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about. This rhetoric is irresponsible.” Meanwhile, Trump blamed the polarized political environment he helped create on Biden and Harris, citing their “rhetoric.” (New York Times / CNN / Bloomberg / ABC News / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1332: "Void for vagueness." Sep 12, 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024

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1/ A North Dakota judge struck down the state’s abortion ban, saying the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable and restrictions on that right is “a violation on medical freedom.” Judge Bruce Romanick ruled that the abortion ban – one of the strictest in the U.S. – was “unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” The law, enacted by the legislature last year, made the procedure illegal in all cases except rape or incest but only when the woman has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or to “prevent the death or health risk to the pregnant female.” It’s the second time in two years that Romanick has overturned the state’s ban on abortion. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)

2/ An Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case. A third charge against several of Trump’s co-defendants was also dismissed int the election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump now faces eight charges – down from 13 in the original indictment – and all the remaining defendants still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the three charges – filing false documents, attempting to file false documents, and criminally conspiring to file false documents – under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction. (Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)

3/ The New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case, which he was convicted on 34 counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. The court dismissed Trump’s appeal because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump’s gag order, which bars him from making statements outside of court about witnesses, court and Manhattan DA staffers, jurors, prosecutors, and their relatives, will be lifted after he’s sentenced Nov. 26. (NPR / Axios / NBC News)

4/ Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris – two days after he visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims about eating pets in their lone showdown. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!,” Trump posted on his personal social media platform, falsely claiming victory in the debate he did not win. “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” Multiple post-debate polls, however, reliably show that audiences believe Harris won. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1332: "Void for vagueness." Sep 12, 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024

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1/ A North Dakota judge struck down the state’s abortion ban, saying the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable and restrictions on that right is “a violation on medical freedom.” Judge Bruce Romanick ruled that the abortion ban – one of the strictest in the U.S. – was “unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” The law, enacted by the legislature last year, made the procedure illegal in all cases except rape or incest but only when the woman has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or to “prevent the death or health risk to the pregnant female.” It’s the second time in two years that Romanick has overturned the state’s ban on abortion. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)

2/ An Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case. A third charge against several of Trump’s co-defendants was also dismissed int the election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump now faces eight charges – down from 13 in the original indictment – and all the remaining defendants still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the three charges – filing false documents, attempting to file false documents, and criminally conspiring to file false documents – under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction. (Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)

3/ The New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case, which he was convicted on 34 counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. The court dismissed Trump’s appeal because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump’s gag order, which bars him from making statements outside of court about witnesses, court and Manhattan DA staffers, jurors, prosecutors, and their relatives, will be lifted after he’s sentenced Nov. 26. (NPR / Axios / NBC News)

4/ Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris – two days after he visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims about eating pets in their lone showdown. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!,” Trump posted on his personal social media platform, falsely claiming victory in the debate he did not win. “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” Multiple post-debate polls, however, reliably show that audiences believe Harris won. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1332: "Void for vagueness." Sep 12, 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024

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1/ A North Dakota judge struck down the state’s abortion ban, saying the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable and restrictions on that right is “a violation on medical freedom.” Judge Bruce Romanick ruled that the abortion ban – one of the strictest in the U.S. – was “unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” The law, enacted by the legislature last year, made the procedure illegal in all cases except rape or incest but only when the woman has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or to “prevent the death or health risk to the pregnant female.” It’s the second time in two years that Romanick has overturned the state’s ban on abortion. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)

2/ An Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case. A third charge against several of Trump’s co-defendants was also dismissed int the election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump now faces eight charges – down from 13 in the original indictment – and all the remaining defendants still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the three charges – filing false documents, attempting to file false documents, and criminally conspiring to file false documents – under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction. (Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)

3/ The New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case, which he was convicted on 34 counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. The court dismissed Trump’s appeal because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump’s gag order, which bars him from making statements outside of court about witnesses, court and Manhattan DA staffers, jurors, prosecutors, and their relatives, will be lifted after he’s sentenced Nov. 26. (NPR / Axios / NBC News)

4/ Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris – two days after he visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims about eating pets in their lone showdown. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!,” Trump posted on his personal social media platform, falsely claiming victory in the debate he did not win. “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” Multiple post-debate polls, however, reliably show that audiences believe Harris won. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1332: "Void for vagueness." Sep 12, 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024

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1/ A North Dakota judge struck down the state’s abortion ban, saying the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable and restrictions on that right is “a violation on medical freedom.” Judge Bruce Romanick ruled that the abortion ban – one of the strictest in the U.S. – was “unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” The law, enacted by the legislature last year, made the procedure illegal in all cases except rape or incest but only when the woman has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or to “prevent the death or health risk to the pregnant female.” It’s the second time in two years that Romanick has overturned the state’s ban on abortion. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)

2/ An Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case. A third charge against several of Trump’s co-defendants was also dismissed int the election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump now faces eight charges – down from 13 in the original indictment – and all the remaining defendants still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the three charges – filing false documents, attempting to file false documents, and criminally conspiring to file false documents – under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction. (Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)

3/ The New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case, which he was convicted on 34 counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. The court dismissed Trump’s appeal because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump’s gag order, which bars him from making statements outside of court about witnesses, court and Manhattan DA staffers, jurors, prosecutors, and their relatives, will be lifted after he’s sentenced Nov. 26. (NPR / Axios / NBC News)

4/ Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris – two days after he visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims about eating pets in their lone showdown. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!,” Trump posted on his personal social media platform, falsely claiming victory in the debate he did not win. “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” Multiple post-debate polls, however, reliably show that audiences believe Harris won. (WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1331: "Concepts of a plan." Sep 11, 2024

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

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1/ Trump had a bad night after Kamala Harris called him “weak,” mocked him, and repeatedly laughed at him during their first – and possibly only – debate. Even before the debate began, Harris walked across the stage to shake Trump’s hand – a self-described germaphobe. “Kamala Harris,” she said, introducing herself as the two met for the first time. “Let’s have a good debate.” Trump replied: “Nice to see you. Have fun.” From there, Trump visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims. In the opening minutes, Harris outlined the shape of things to come, saying: “You’re going to hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling,” and that Trump “has no plan for you, because he is more interested in defending himself than he is in looking out for you.” The point was made clear when Trump was asked about his repeated criticism of the Affordable Care Act and whether he had an alternative plan. “I have concepts of a plan,” Trump replied, offering no additional information. On abortion, Trump claimed that it “took courage” to overturn Roe v. Wade, suggested he’s “a leader on fertilization,” falsely claimed that Democrats support abortions “after birth” and are “executing” babies, and that Harris “wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison.” Harris responded by saying Trump’s rhetoric is “insulting to the women of America” and that “Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.” At one point Harris referenced people at Trump’s rallies experiencing “exhaustion and boredom,” which provoked Trump to shoot back: “People don’t leave my rallies. The biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.” And then – and then! – Trump veered into a rant about a debunked conspiracy theory that immigrants in Ohio are eating pets. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there and this is what’s happening,” Trump said, while Harris laughed. Moderator David Muir interjected, saying the city manager told ABC that there have been “no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” Nevertheless, he persisted: “I’ve seen people on television. The people on television say, ‘My dog was taken and used for food.’” Harris laughed and said: “Talk about extreme.” Later – in his debate with Harris – Trump started talking about Biden, saying: “Where is our president? We don’t even know if he’s the president […] Is he our president? We have a president that doesn’t know he’s alive.” Harris replied: “It is important to remind the former president: You’re not running against Joe Biden; you are running against me.” Harris also used Trump’s continued false allegations about the 2020 election to illustrate how he doesn’t have the temperament to be president, saying: “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, so let’s be clear about that, and clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.” Harris added that world leaders were “laughing at Donald Trump” and saw him as a “disgrace,” while she offered “a new generation of leadership for our country. One who believes in what is possible and one who brings a sense of optimism about what we can do instead of always disparaging the American people.” (New York Times / NBC News / Washington Post / Politico / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1330: "A dangerous escalation." Sep 10, 2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

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1/ House Speaker Mike Johnson doesn’t have the votes to pass a spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Although the House voted 209-206 to approve a rule to debate the funding plan, which includes the SAVE Act, which would bar noncitizens from registering to vote in federal elections, which is already illegal, at least 10 Republicans have indicated they’ll vote “no.” Meaning, Johnson will need Democratic support to pass his plan to push the shutdown deadline into March through the House. Republicans control the House 221-210. The bill, however, is considered dead-on-arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate with Chuck Schumer saying they’d only take up legislation that is “free of poison pills.” The Biden administration also threatened to veto the measure. Government funding runs out on Sept. 30, but Congress is only in session through Sept. 27. (Politico / NBC News / CNN / New York Times / Washington Post / Axios)

2/ The U.S. accused Iran of sending short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to use against Ukraine. “We’ve warned Tehran publicly, we’ve warned Tehran privately, that taking this step would be a dangerous escalation,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “Russia has now received shipments of these missiles.” Russia is expected to use the shipments within weeks. In response, the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany announced new sanctions to inflict “significant economic consequences for Tehran’s actions,” including additional sanctions on Iran Air, the state airline. (NBC News / Washington Post / Associated Press)

U.S. accuses China of giving ‘very substantial’ help to Russia’s war machine. “In exchange, China is getting top secret Russian military technology.” (Politico)

3/ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for “fundamental changes” to the way Israeli forces operate in the occupied West Bank after the Israeli military said it was “highly likely” that it killed an American woman during a protest last week. Blinken called the shooting “unprovoked and unjustified,” saying the killing of Aysenur Eygi was “not acceptable” and that “no one should be shot and killed for attending a protest.” The IDF previously said it had responded with fire toward a “main instigator” who was alleged to have been throwing rocks, but later said that Eygi was “hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire, which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator” of the protest. Blinken, however, did not address the Israeli strike on a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, which killed at least 19 Palestinians, or offer a plan to alter U.S. weapons support for Israel. (Washington Post / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1329: "The chosen one." Sep 09, 2024

Monday, September 9, 2024

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1/ Trump’s sentencing for his criminal conviction related to orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election will be delayed until after Election Day. The sentencing, which was set for Sept. 18, will instead take place on Nov. 26, Judge Juan Merchan ruled – meaning voters will cast ballots without knowing whether Trump could face jail time for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Merchan, citing the “unique time frame this matter currently finds itself in,” said he decided to delay Trump’s sentencing from Sept. 18 to Nov. 26 to “to avoid any appearance — however unwarranted — that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching Presidential election.” Merchan also said he’d rule on Trump’s request to overturn the verdict on presidential immunity grounds by Nov. 12. (New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / Politico / Bloomberg / CNN)

2/ Trump – baselessly suggesting without evidence that the 2024 election could be stolen from him – threatened to jail his political enemies at a level “never seen before in our Country.” Trump said his lawyers and other allies would be watching polling stations for alleged “cheating,” and “those involved in unscrupulous behavior” will be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again.” Despite recently admitting that he had “lost” the 2020 election, Trump claimed that “rampant Cheating and Skullduggery” by Democrats had affected the outcome of the election. Biden defeated Trump by over 7 million votes. (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / Salon / NBC News / Axios)

Trump proposed mass deportation of undocumented immigrants if he’s elected, promising that it’ll be “a bloody story.” “Speaking at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday, the Republican nominee falsely claimed that ‘crime is through the roof’ — it is near a 50-year low following a spike when he was president — and that it will get worse. ‘You haven’t seen the migrant crime yet,’ he claimed. ‘It started, and it’s vicious, but you haven’t seen the extent of it yet.’” (Salon / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1325: "An essential foundation." Sep 05, 2024

Thursday, September 5, 2024

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1/ Trump’s federal criminal election interference case resumed after a nearly yearlong delay. The case had been on hold since late last year, when Trump appealed U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s decision that he’s not entitled to “presidential immunity” from criminal prosecution. Despite two lower courts rejecting Trump’s claim of total immunity, the Supreme Court took up the appeal and ruled in July that Trump is entitled to “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution” for “official acts.” Last week, special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump in a superseding indictment in the case involving an alleged conspiracy to obstruct the results of the 2020 election. The revised indictment kept the same four charges against Trump, but recalibrated the case to adjust to the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from prosecution for their official conduct. Today, lawyers on both sides sparred over their proposed paths for how the election interference case against Trump should proceed. Chutkan appeared inclined to give prosecutors a chance to lay out the evidence against Trump within the next few weeks. Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, however, pushed back, saying this a “sensitive time” with the presidential election approaching. Chutkan responded: “The electoral process and the timing of the election […] is not relevant here. This court is not concerned with the electoral schedule.” (Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / CBS News / CNN / CNBC)

2/ Kamala Harris called for a 28% capital gains tax rate for Americans who earn at least $1 million a year – 10 points lower than Biden’s proposed 39.6% top rate. The current capital gains tax rate is 20%. “While we ensure that the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, we will tax capital gains at a rate that rewards investment in America’s innovators, founders and small businesses,” Harris said. While Trump hasn’t explicitly outlined a position, in 2016 he supported capping capital gains taxes at 20%, and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 calls for a 15% tax on capital gains. (Bloomberg / USA Today / Axios / ABC News / CNN / CNBC)

3/ Trump pledged to cut the corporate tax rate to 15% from...

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Day 1324: "It doesn’t have to be this way." Sep 04, 2024

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

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1/ A 14-year-old killed two students, two teachers, and left at least nine more hospitalized after a mass shooting at a Georgia high school. Colt Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult. The high school reportedly received a phone call warning that there would be shootings at five schools, and that Apalachee High School would be the first. Biden called the shooting “another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.” Kamala Harris added that “This is just a senseless tragedy on top of so many senseless tragedies, and it’s just outrageous that everyday in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school, worried about whether or not their child will come home alive […] We’ve got to stop it, and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all. You know it doesn’t have to be this way.” Before today, there had been 29 mass killings in the U.S. so far this year. Last year, there were 217 deaths from 42 mass killings in the U.S. – one of the deadliest years on record for such shootings in the country. [Editor’s note: This is breaking news and will be updated as additional reporting becomes available.] (Associated Press / Washington Post / Politico / CNN / New York Times / NBC News / NPR / CBS News)

There have been 416 school shootings since the Columbine High massacre in 1999. More than 382,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine. (Washington Post)

2/ The Biden administration accused Putin of orchestrating a campaign to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election, help Trump win, and erode international support for Ukraine. The Justice Department charged two Russian media executives and seized 32 web domains that it said were part of a broad, ongoing effort by the Russian government to spread propaganda. The two employees of RT – a Russian state-controlled media outlet – covertly funded a Tennessee-based company with nearly $10 million “to publish and disseminate content deemed favorable to the Russian government” on social media. The nearly 2,000 videos have gotten more than 16 million views on YouTube alone, prosecutors said. “The Justice Department’s message is clear: We have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system of government,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. The Treasury Department also sanctioned 10 individuals and two entities in response to “Moscow’s malign influence efforts targeting the 2024 U.S. presidential election.” (Associated Press / Washington Post / Wall...

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Day 1323: "Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it." Sep 03, 2024

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

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1/ Trump claimed that he had “every right” to interfere with the 2020 presidential election. In a Fox News interview, Trump said: “It’s so crazy that my poll numbers go up. Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it. You get indicted and your poll numbers go up.” Last week, however, Trump was indicted again in his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, said Trump’s remarks “make it clear that he believes he is above the law.” (NBC News / Axios / Reuters / The Hill)

Democrats grow concerned Republicans are planting seeds with legal suits to overturn a Trump defeat. “Democrats say the lawsuits, which are varied, are part of a concerted effort to sow distrust of the results.” (NBC News)

2/ A federal judge rejected Trump’s attempt to move his New York criminal case into federal court. Three months after Trump was convicted in state court on all 34 felony counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records, Trump filed a motion to move the case to federal court to indefinitely delay his sentencing scheduled for Sept. 18. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, however, ruled that Trump had not met the burden of proof required to move the case to federal court. Trump previously tried — and failed — to move the case to federal court. (Associated Press / New York Times / NBC News / Politico / CNBC News)

3/ Democrats on the House Oversight Committee asked Trump to prove he never illegally accepted nearly $10 million from the Egyptian government. Jamie Raskin, the committee’s top Democrat, and Rep. Robert Garcia, the minority leader of a subcommittee on national security, asked Trump to provide evidence “that you never, directly or indirectly, politically or personally, received any fund from the Egyptian president or government.” The request follows recent reporting that five days before Trump became president in January 2017, a Cairo bank manager was asked by an organization linked to the Egyptian intelligence service to “kindly withdraw” nearly $10 million from its account in cash. “Surely you would agree that the American people deserve to know whether a former president—and a curren...

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Day 1318: "Pretty sad." Aug 29, 2024

Thursday, August 29, 2024

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1/ The Army defended the Arlington National Cemetery official involved in an incident with the Trump campaign, saying the employee was “abruptly pushed aside” and “unfairly attacked” after she sought to “ensure adherence” to cemetery rules that bar recording for political purposes. “Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds,” the Army said. “This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked.” The employee “decided not to press charges” due to concerns over retaliation, and so the Army “considers this matter closed.” Although Trump’s team was allowed to visit Section 60, the burial site for military personnel killed while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, in his “personal capacity and bring personal aides, but not campaign staff,” the campaign falsely insisted it was “granted access to have a photographer.” (Politico / CNN / Axios / Associated Press / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News)

2/ JD Vance told Kamala Harris to “go to hell” for comments she didn’t make. When asked about the “incident” at the Arlington National Cemetery, Vance accused Harris of criticizing Trump’s visit, saying “she wants to yell at Donald Trump because he showed up? She can – she can go to hell.” He added: “Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she won’t even do an investigation into what happened.” The Harris campaign, meanwhile, called the confrontation between Trump’s campaign and a cemetery official “pretty sad” but “not surprising.” (Washington Post / NBC News / Wall Street Journal)

3/ The International Association of Fire Fighters booed JD Vance during his speech at their conference. After Vance claimed that he and Trump are the most “pro-workers Republican ticket in history,” the firefighters union booed him. Vance then replied: “It sounds like we got some fans and some haters here.” (Daily Beast / Axios / USA Today / HuffPost)

4/ The U.S. economy grew faster in the second quarter of 2024 than first reported. The latest reading of the gross domestic product came in at 3% – an upward revision from the ...

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Day 1317: "Just normal day-to-day stuff." Aug 28, 2024

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

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1/ Trump’s economic proposals would increase the national debt by $5.8 trillion over 10 years – almost five times more than Kamala Harris’ policy plans, which would add $1.2 trillion. According to nonpartisan estimates, Trump’s plan to permanently extend the 2017 tax cuts, eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, and reduce the corporate income tax rate, would add a net $5.8 trillion deficits over the next 10 years. The Harris analysis, meanwhile, showed that her plan to expand the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, extend enhanced premium tax credits, provide support to first-time homebuyers, and raise the corporate tax income rate to 28% would cost $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The Harris campaign called Trump’s agenda “an inflation and deficit bomb,” while the Trump campaign blaming her for a “Biden-Harris inflation tax.” (CNBC / Axios / NBC News / The Hill)

2/ The Supreme Court refused to temporarily lift a nationwide injunction blocking the Biden administration’s federal student loan repayment plan. In an unsigned order, the court said it “expects” the appeals court handling the case to “render its decision with appropriate dispatch.” More than 8 million people are enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education program, which offers lower monthly payments and a faster path to loan cancellation. (Associated Press / Washington Post / CNN / NBC News / New York Times)

3/ Two members of Trump’s campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation with a staff member at Arlington National Cemetery where Trump was staging a campaign stunt. Trump, who once disparaged members of the U.S. military who had been captured or killed as “losers” and “suckers,” participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then went to Section 60 of the cemetery, reserved for those recently killed in America’s wars abroad. Arlington officials had “reinforced and widely shared” to the Trump campaign that federal laws prohibits campaign activities by photographers “or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign” in Section 60. Nevertheless, when a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump’s campaign from taking photos and videos in Section 60, campaign staff members pushed and verbally attacked the cemetery official. The Arlington National Cemetery, meanwhile, said it “can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed.” (NPR / NBC News / Axios / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Day 1316: "The alternative is untenable." Aug 27, 2024

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

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1/ Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump in a superseding indictment in the case involving an alleged conspiracy to obstruct the results of the 2020 election. The superseding indictment retains the four charges against Trump from Smith’s original indictment, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, but recalibrated the case to adjust to the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from prosecution for their official conduct. “Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a superseding indictment, ECF No. 226, charging the defendant with the same criminal offenses that were charged in the original indictment,” the Justice Department said. “The superseding indictment, which was presented to a new grand jury that had not previously heard evidence in this case, reflects the Government’s efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings and remand instructions.” There’s no chance the case will be tried before November’s election – and if Trump wins, he’s expected to pressure his appointees at the Justice Department to drop the case. (ABC News / Washington Post / CNN / Politico / NBC News / New York Times / Bloomberg / Associated Press / NPR)

2/ Democrats sued the Georgia State Election Board over new election rules that could lead to post-election “chaos” in the state in November. The lawsuit, filed in Georgia state court by the Democratic National Committee, the Georgia Democratic Party, and Democratic members of several county election boards, argues that the rules give local election officials a broad license to “hunt for purported election irregularities of any kind, potentially delaying certification and displacing longstanding (and court-supervised) processes for addressing fraud.” The state election board voted 3-2 to pass rules that give election officials authority to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, and requires that county election officials be given “all election related documentation” before certification. “At minimum, these novel requirements introduce substantial uncertainty in the post-election process and – if interpreted as their drafters have suggested – invite chaos by establishing new processes at odds with existing statutory duties,” the lawsuit argues. (New York Times / CNN / WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

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📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.

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