Special counsel filings reveal allegations of Trump’s ‘increasingly desperate efforts’ to overturn 2020 election: Live
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Judge Tanya Chutkan has unsealed Special Counsel Jack Smith’s 165-page redacted motion on presidential immunity concerning the 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump.
The document is expected to include the fullest account and evidence of what happened in the lead-up to the 2020 election and the attempt to subvert the result as if it were an opening statement to a jury. Smith argues that Trump’s actions were not covered by presidential immunity.
With just a month to go before the election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remain deadlocked in the key battleground states according to new polling by The Cook Political Report.
The vice president leads Trump in Michigan by three percentage points, and she also leads by one or two points in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and they are tied in North Carolina.
Trump leads in Georgia by two percentage points but is also losing his polling lead on key issues — inflation and immigration.
Vice presidential rivals JD Vance and Tim Walz met for their first and probably final debate last night, with the Republican appearing more confident, polished, and prepared than his Democratic counterpart, who nevertheless landed some important blows.
Who won the vice presidential debate?
Despite a civilized and at times even convivial vice presidential debate, Democratic nominee Tim Walz at times appeared nervous and unprepared, while his rival JD Vance worked to downplay his image of an uncompassionate weirdo.
Ultimately, the Ohio Senator’s confidence, command of party lines and smooth delivery made a largely positive impression on Tuesday night, in contrast to that caused by several campaign controversies in recent weeks.
Mike Bedigan reports:
Who won the vice presidential debate? Walz ‘fumbled bigly’ in spar with Vance
Ultimately, the Ohio Senator’s confidence, command of party lines and smooth delivery made a largely positive impression on Tuesday night
A review on Walz’s performance
By his own admission, Vance says he likes to talk a lot. When I watched his debate performances from when he ran for Congress and Governor, Walz can rattle off tons of facts.
The downside to that is that sometimes he isn’t quick on his feet. This was how he at times struggled to respond to questions about his response to violent demonstrations after George Floyd’s killing. In the same way, he slipped when he did not directly address the timeline when of when he went to Hong Kong.
It also meant he tried to pack in his rehearsed lines about abortion rather than responding to accusations about Minnesota’s abortion law.
Who is Usha Vance? JD’s wife is evolving alongside him on the political stage
When JD Vance began law school at Yale, the Rust Belt native encountered total culture shock — but also met his wife, the whipsmart daughter of Indian immigrants who helped him navigate the Ivy League, healthy relationships and his run for Vice President alongside Donald Trump. Sheila Flynn chronicles their romance
Who is Usha Vance? The wife and family of Trump’s VP pick JD Vance
When JD Vance began law school at Yale, the Rust Belt native encountered total culture shock — but also met his wife, the whipsmart daughter of Indian immigrants who helped him navigate the Ivy League, healthy relationships and his run for Vice President alongside Donald Trump. Sheila Flynn chronicles their romance
Both JD Vances—the Hillbilly and the running mate—came out in full force tonight
Vance did what he needed to do.
For the longest time, one of his biggest downsides is that he has come off as too abrasive or mean-spirited. Here, we saw the Vance that made Hillbilly Elegy a bestseller.
He talked about the woman who raised him—his mamaw—and the fact they were Democrats. He mentioned his three children where in the past he has said he told his kid to “shut up” about talking about Pokémon. Vance mostly succeeded when talking about himself. But he fell short when he tried to skate past his previous comments about Springfield, Ohio or when he talked about how he changed his mind.
Toward the end, we started to see the hard right warrior Vance we have seen since he ran for Senate. He talked about big tech censorship and said it was a bigger issue than the 2020 election. That might be enough to hurt him
Watch: JD Vance refuses to say that Trump lost the 2020 election
Walz and Vance shake hands to end the night
Vance appeared more confident during debate
Both candidates maintained a more even-toned attitude than expected going into the debate, but ultimately Vance seemed more confident in his answers.
At the start of the debate, Walz’s nerves were palpable as he tried to deliver an answer on Israel. His confidence got better throughout the debate and he delivered more punching answers toward the end.
But Vance ultimately seemed more unbothered and well-prepared for the vice presidential debate.
Walz paints a positive picture, Vance attacks Harris in closing statements
In their closing statements, Walz maintained a positive outlook of the United States while Vance attacked Harris.
The Democratic vice presidential candidate reminded people that Harris wants to create a more affordable, accessible country for everyone. It was reminiscent of the beginning of the Harris–Walz campaign when they promoted a message of hope for a better future.
But Vance spent most of his closing statement attacking Harris and her policies – a familiar strategy that Trump invokes in his rallies and speeches.
Vance refuses to admit Trump lost 2020 election
Walz is having a notably strong moment while denouncing January 6 and confronting Vance for refusing to admit Trump lost the 2020 election.
The Democratic vice presidential candidate asked Vance if he believed Trump won the 2020 election, to which Vance said he wanted to focus on the future.
“That is a damning nonanswer,” Walz said.
The Minnesota governor is warning Americans that this discourse over January 6 and the 2020 election. “has got to stop”
“It’s tearing our country apart,” Walz said. He urged Americans to vote for the person who will uphold democracy.
Vance swerves question on rejecting 2024 results
When confronted about election certification and January 6, Vance immediately pivoted to inflation and later to censorship.
Vance briefly answered moderators’ question, saying the 2020 election had “problems” and defended his running mate for telling rioters to go peacefully to the Capitol on January 6.
The Republican presidential candidate tried to make the attack on the Capitol appear like a health debate. However, more than 1,200 people have been charged in connection to the violent day.
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