What to know about the campaigns today
- Joe Biden gave his final address as president at the United Nations General Assembly this morning.
- Former President Donald Trump held a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia.
- Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, will speak at campaign events in Austin, Texas.
Mark Robinson will be acting N.C. governor tomorrow for first time since bombshell report
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will be acting governor of North Carolina tomorrow for the first time since a bombshell report alleged he posted antisemitic and racist comments on a porn website years ago.
Robinson, who is the GOP nominee in the governor's race, will temporarily assume the duties of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper while Cooper is in New York for an event about climate change.
Four of Robinson’s staffers have stepped down from his campaign in the wake of the allegations in the CNN report. He also faces backlash and scrutiny from top Republicans. Vance called the alleged comments "pretty gross" while saying it's up to Robinson to make his case for governor to the people of North Carolina.
Congress passes bill to boost presidential candidate security after apparent attempt on Trump’s life
The Senate unanimously passed legislation today to boost Secret Service protection for presidential candidates, sending the bill to the White House for Biden‘s signature.
The strong show of bipartisan support came days after the House passed the measure, known as the Enhanced Presidential Security Act, without any opposition in a 405-0 vote.
The bill would give Trump and Harris the same level of protection provided to Biden. At only three pages long, the bill would give broad discretion to the Secret Service about how to reach that level.
Ryan Routh, arrested near Trump’s Florida golf course, is charged with attempted assassination
Federal prosecutors have charged the man who was spotted with a gun outside one of Trump's golf courses with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
The indictment, unsealed today, alleges that Ryan Wesley Routh “did intentionally attempt to kill Former President of the United States Donald J. Trump, a major Presidential candidate,” when he was camped out near where Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison if he is convicted.
It also added two other charges: possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer.
Anti-abortion group launches $500K ad buy in Georgia accusing Harris of 'misinformation'
An anti-abortion group says it's launching a $500,000 TV and digital ad in Georgia accusing Harris and other Democrats of "spreading misinformation" about the state's abortion law.
The ad focuses on Candi Miller and Amber Thurman — two women who died after they experienced complications from having taken abortion pills. Miller, who had numerous health issues, had been scared to see a doctor because of the law, and Thurman was hospitalized for 20 hours before doctors decided they could legally operate on her. ProPublica reported that a state board found both deaths were preventable.
The ad by Women Speak Out PAC, a partner of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, agreed that the deaths should not have happened but said they were caused by misinformation, not state law. “No Georgia law blocks lifesaving care for women or treating complications after abortion," the ad says. "Candi and Amber should be alive. The left's scare tactics are deadly."
In a speech in Georgia last week, Harris said that doctors could have operated on Thurman before her condition became so dire but that they didn't for fear they could be prosecuted under the law. "Doctors have to wait until the patient is at death's door before they take action," Harris said, saying the women's deaths were preventable and "predictable."
Harris, Trump groups tout dueling ‘freedom’ messages to Latina voters
Political organizations supporting Harris and Trump are touting both campaigns’ messages of “freedom” as they woo Latinas, a key voting bloc.
Hispanic women are the female racial or ethnic group that grew the most in the 12 years from 2010 to 2022, according to the Pew Research Center, growing by 5.6 million and numbering about 22.2 million as of May. They make up about 17% of the nation’s adult female population.
They also turn out to vote in larger numbers than Latino men.
Russia, Iran and China are using AI in election interference efforts, U.S. intelligence officials say
Propagandists in China, Iran and Russia are using artificial intelligence to create content designed to deceive Americans ahead of the November presidential election, federal intelligence officials said yesterday.
In a conference call about foreign election interference efforts organized by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, or ODNI, officials said the U.S. intelligence community, or IC, has concluded that AI has made it easier to create disinformation but has not fundamentally changed how those actors operate.
“The IC considers AI a malign influence accelerant, not yet a revolutionary influence tool. In other words, information operations are the threat, and AI is an enabler,” an ODNI official said. The official asked not to be named as a condition for participating in the call. “Thus far, the IC has not seen it revolutionize such operations,” the official said.
NBC News correspondents Vaughn Hillyard and Aaron Gilchrist join "Meet the Press NOW" to report on the latest from the campaign trail as Trump and Harris try to reach voters in battleground Georgia.
Judge allows legal brief deemed a 'hit piece' by Trump's lawyers
The judge presiding over the federal election interference case against Trump is allowing prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith's office to file a document Trump's lawyers charge is a "false hit piece."
Prosecutors had asked for permission to file a 180-page brief about the presidential immunity issues that still remain in the criminal case after the Supreme Court's July 1 ruling on the issue. They contended that the oversized filing is necessary to fully address the numerous issues and that it would streamline the arguments instead of dealing with them piecemeal.
Trump's attorneys urged U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reject the proposal in a filing yesterday, calling it a "monstrosity" that prosecutors would use to “improperly air their biased list of grievances.”
In a ruling today, Chutkan noted that the high court directed her "to make specific determinations about the nature of the allegations" and said the filing would help with that. She also noted Trump's attorneys would get to respond.
The filing is due by Thursday, but it's unclear when it — or at least parts of it — might become public. In a filing over the weekend, Smith’s office said that “the opening brief and its exhibits contain a substantial amount of Sensitive Material, as defined by the Protective Order” and that they would require court-approved redactions before they are posted on the public docket.
House committee advances contempt of Congress measure for Blinken
The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 26-25 this afternoon to send a report recommending that the House find Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena to testify about the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The measure now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber, where Republicans hold the majority.
Voting rights groups urge Pennsylvania county to reverse decision to ban ballot drop boxes
More than two dozen voting rights groups are calling on Luzerne County — a key county in battleground Pennsylvania — to reinstate its ballot drop boxes after officials announced last week that they would not use them this fall.
In a letter to Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo — who cited security concerns and potential “illegal activities” as the reason for the move — the coalition of groups, called PA Voters Decide, noted the decision came just weeks before voters starting casting ballots in the state.
“This decision bypasses the Luzerne County Board of Elections, raises serious concerns about the overreach of unelected county administrators, and fully disregards the critical importance of voter access,” the letter stated. “We are writing today to collectively demand that drop boxes be reinstated in Luzerne County.”
Twenty-seven groups signed the letter, including Common Cause Pennsylvania and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.
The ACLU of Pennsylvania also wrote its own letter to Crocamo urging her to reverse her announcement. The group also said in its letter that only the Luzerne County Board of Elections and Registration has the power to make a decision to scrap the use of drop boxes.
Spokespersons for the PA Voters Decide and the ACLU of Pennsylvania told NBC News that neither group has yet filed any litigation on the matter.
Crocamo announced last week that her office lacked the resources and “capability” to ensure the county's four ballot drop boxes were kept safe.
“We don’t have the number of staff members to actually stand by the drop boxes to keep them safe, so I decided I’m not going to deploy them,” she said, adding that she was concerned about possible “illegal activities.” Crocamo didn’t immediately respond to questions from NBC News.
The Luzerne County manager is a nonpartisan position that is appointed by the Luzerne County Council.
Some Republicans have made unfounded claims that drop boxes and early voting methods are prone to fraud.
Many Pennsylvania counties utilize ballot drop boxes. Republicans in the state have attempted to ban their use through litigation and legislation. Former President Barack Obama carried Luzerne County twice before Trump won it in 2016 and 2020.
Trump signals continued reluctance on more U.S. aid to Ukraine as Zelenskyy lobbies allies
Reporting from Savannah, Georgia
Trump signaled reluctance about providing further U.S. financial assistance to Ukraine, just hours after Biden defended U.S. backing of its ally in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Every time [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion,” Trump said from a campaign stage in the battleground state of Georgia. “I think he’s the greatest salesman on Earth. But we’re stuck in that war unless I’m president. I’ll get it done. I’ll get it negotiated.”
Trump further questioned whether Russia’s military is worth trying to fend off.
“Biden says, ‘We will not leave until we win.’ What happens if they win?” Trump asked the crowd. “That’s what they do is they fight wars. As somebody told me the other day, [Russia] beat Hitler. They beat Napoleon. That’s what they do. They fight.”
Zelenskyy was in New York for Biden’s remarks today after he visited an ammunition plant yesterday in Pennsylvania, where he touted the current administration’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
Trump has not committed to ensuring the U.S. continues its assistance of Ukraine if he wins the presidency and returns to the White House next year. He has repeatedly said he would end Russia’s war against Ukraine in 24 hours but has provided zero details of what he would demand from the two countries.
Biden told other world leaders at the U.N.: “We cannot let up — the world now has another choice to make: Will we sustain our support to help Ukraine win this war and preserve its freedom or walk away and let aggression be renewed and a nation be destroyed? I know my answer. We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away, and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine.”
This spring, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate and told state media that Trump told him the U.S. would cut off funding to Ukraine. The Trump campaign never dismissed Orbán’s version of the conversation.
Two of Trump’s key national security aides during his administration, who have remained in touch with him during the campaign, have also presented him a peace proposal that would require Ukraine to cede some territory that Russia has conquered.
Biden to make promised trip to Africa
Biden will travel to Germany and Angola for a five-day trip beginning Oct. 10, fulfilling a promise he made in 2022 to visit Africa. Biden will be in Luanda, Angola, Oct. 13-15, the White House said in a statement today.
He will hold a bilateral meeting in Angola with President João Lourenço, according to a White House official who said Biden will be focused on enhancing the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which is aimed at addressing a need for financing high-quality infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries and includes U.S. investments in the Lobito Corridor initiative, a rail project that is helping move products and natural resources to and from ports faster.
The White House official called Biden’s trip “a testament to our belief in this partnership that we’re willing to go the distance with them.”
Manchin says he is 'not endorsing' Harris after her Senate filibuster remark
Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., said he is “not endorsing” Harris for president after she expressed support for ending the Senate filibuster to pass legislation to codify abortion rights.
“I've been very, very, very clear on how strongly I believe that when you go down that slippery path, you don’t just do it for one issue,” Manchin told NBC News.
In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio that aired earlier today, Harris said, “We should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” and she referred to potential changes in the filibuster rules that would lower the threshold to begin and end debate on most legislation from 60 votes to 51.
Manchin, who said he was leaving the Democratic Party in May, announced last year he would not seek re-election. His decision to leave office makes the seat a likely Republican pick-up as Senate Democrats battle to maintain control of the chamber.
The Republican candidate for the seat is Gov. Jim Justice. Trump won West Virginia handily in both 2016 and 2020.
Groups behind abortion ballot measures launch ads in four states
The groups advocating for the passage of constitutional amendments that would enshrine abortion access launched new ads today in four states: Florida, Missouri, Montana and Nevada.
In Florida, Floridians Protecting Freedom/Yes on 4 released a new Spanish-language TV ad featuring a prominent gynecologist who urges Florida voters to pass the proposed amendment.
In Missouri, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom released a digital ad spotlighting a family talking about their own experiences with pregnancy complications.
In Nevada, Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom released a TV ad highlighting abortion bans that have been enacted in 22 states since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
And in Montana, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights began airing an ad that takes a similar tack, focusing on how abortion bans have jeopardized reproductive care for women who have had complicated pregnancies.
Florida’s ballot initiative would bar restrictions on abortion before fetal viability and include exceptions past that point for “the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Missouri’s amendment would enshrine language in the state constitution to protect abortion rights up until fetal viability, with exceptions after that for the life and health of the woman.
In Montana and Nevada, abortion is already legal until fetal viability. But fearing that such rights could be undone in the future, reproductive rights advocates succeeded in placing constitutional amendments on the November ballot in both states that would enshrine similar language.
Yesterday, the group advocating for the passage of a constitutional amendment in Arizona that would enshrine abortion access launched a $15 million ad campaign that will run through Election Day.
McConnell criticizes Trump’s proposed tariffs
Asked today about Trump’s calling for a series of tariffs if he’s elected president, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., criticized the approach.
“I’m not a fan of tariffs. They raise prices for American consumers. I’m more of a free-trade kind of Republican that remembers how many jobs are created by the exports that we engage in. So I’m not a tariff fan,” McConnell told reporters.
Trump bashes Harris, ABC and immigrants
Speaking at an event in Savannah that was billed as an economic address, Trump touted his sprawling economic plans before launching into attacks on his Democratic opponent, immigrants and ABC News.
The event started with Trump promoting his plan to lower the corporate tax rate to 15%, while pledging to "take other countries' jobs" thanks to low taxation, low energy costs and low regulation. Companies that don't make their goods in the U.S., however, would face higher taxes and tariffs, Trump said.
Speaking of the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, whom he has falsely accused of eating cats and dogs, Trump said, "You have to move the people back to the country from which they came."
He also continued to complain about the Sept. 10 ABC debate against Harris, which he said he won because the vice president "couldn't put two sentences together."
"She didn't say anything except lies," he said, while also complaining the moderators helped gang up on him. Still, he maintained, "I thought it was one of my best debates."
Trump also continued his apocalyptic warnings about what would happen if Harris wins in November. "If we don't win this election our country is gone," he said, while later warning of Harris' "country-destroying liberal agenda" that "we have to stop once and for all."
Harris campaign office damaged by gunfire in Arizona
TEMPE, Ariz. — Police here are investigating what appears to be gunfire damage overnight at a Democratic Party-coordinated campaign office for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The incident occurred just a few days before Harris was scheduled to visit Arizona as she campaigns for president.
“We can confirm that on 9/23/24, what appears to be damage from gunfire at … a DNC Campaign Office, was discovered,” the Tempe Police Department said in a statement to NBC News on Tuesday.
The office is shared by staff for the Arizona Democratic Party, the Harris campaign, and Senate and House campaigns, to boost turnout for the party in November.
Phoenix voter talks about gender gap in support for Trump and Harris
Our latest NBC News poll found Trump is ahead among men (52%-40%), while Harris is ahead among women (58%-37%).
NBC News asked Arizona voters about the gender gap in politics.
“It’s scary when you start losing grip on things that you predominantly had a grip on before,” said Ian Galvez-Daley, 28, on why men and women are voting differently.
“Men normally run the world, right?” said the Phoenix native, who indicated he will support Harris. “Men run politics. It’s just men are losing that power and that grip, and it’s scary to them, and they want that to maintain the change of the status quo.”
“Loss of power is scary, and people don’t want to lose it, and I think that’s really what this is,” he said.
Trump’s 10% cap on credit card interest could hurt borrowers, experts say: ‘Access to credit would dry up’
Trump has made headlines over the past week with yet another surprise economic policy announcement. After promising free in vitro fertilization treatments for women, no federal income tax on tips, tax-free overtime pay and no income tax on Social Security benefits, Trump now says that if he is elected president in November, he will cap credit card interest rates at around 10%.
“While working Americans catch up, we’re going to put a temporary cap on credit-card interest rates,” the Republican presidential nominee said at a rally in New York on Sept. 18. “We can’t let them make 25% and 30%.”
Trump’s promise falls in the home stretch of an extremely close presidential race between him and the surprise Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s also a moment in which credit card debt is heavily burdening many U.S. households.
In a blow to Trump, Nebraska governor will not call a special session to change state’s electoral votes
Nebraska GOP Gov. Jim Pillen announced today that he will not call a special legislative session to change how the state allocates its electoral votes, dashing Republican hopes that the switch could happen before November.
Trump and his allies have been pushing state lawmakers to switch to a winner-take-all system, in which the presidential candidate who carries the state receives all five of its electoral votes. Currently, three of the state’s votes are awarded to the candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts.
Pillen said in a statement that Republicans still do not have the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the unicameral Legislature, noting that he and his team “have worked relentlessly” to find the votes.
“Unfortunately, we could not persuade 33 state senators,” Pillen said, noting that GOP state Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat, confirmed Monday that he would not support the move so close to Election Day.
Johnson: If the election's 'fair,' we'll follow the Constitution
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., dodged when asked to endorse a routine election certification process this fall as he seeks to stay close to Trump, who frequently and baselessly complains of election fraud.
"Do you commit to observing regular order in the certification process of the 2024 election, even if Kamala Harris beats Donald Trump?" a reporter asked Johnson this morning.
"Well, of course, if we have a free, fair and safe election, we’re going to follow the Constitution," Johnson replied.
Suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt ordered held without bail
Ryan Routh, the suspect in the apparent assassination attempt on Trump outside his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course, has been ordered held without bail pending his trial, according to a judge’s order.
Federal Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe said in the order that federal prosecutors have “proffered evidence concerning the offense of attempted assassination and assault on a major Presidential candidate,” and that he was holding him for multiple reasons.
“The Court bases this conclusion on numerous factors, including the nature of the current charges, the nature of additional charges that might be added, the weight of the evidence, the Defendant’s prior criminal history involving a conviction for possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and the Defendant’s recent travel to foreign countries,” McCabe wrote.
Routh has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and possessing a semiautomatic rifle with an obliterated serial number.
Harris campaign touts endorsements of 90 more Arizona Republicans
A Harris advisory committee composed of Arizona Republicans announced that 90 more members have joined the panel since it formed last month, bringing the total members to 120, the campaign said in a release.
The committee has hosted organizing meetings, watch parties and gatherings with national surrogates, including Kerry Kennedy and former Rep. Joe Walsh, I-Ill., the campaign said. Former Trump administration official Olivia Troye, who has endorsed Harris and spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month, also joined the committee in a get-out-the-vote reception this month.
“The number of Arizona Republicans backing Vice President Harris is rapidly growing. It shows that we are not alone, and Republicans across our state want to stand up for our freedom and the values our country was founded upon,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles, who chairs the committee and also spoke at the Democratic convention. “Vice President Harris represents a stark contrast to the chaos and division we’ve seen from Trump and his allies in recent years, and more Arizonans are recognizing that every day.”
"Our committee is focused on bringing together Republicans who feel left behind by the MAGA movement and want to turn the page," he added. "Together, we’re showing that there is room in our party for those who reject extremism and want real solutions for the future."
Harris has gained endorsements from hundreds of Republicans since she jumped into the race, including former Republican staffers who served under Republican presidents and presidential campaigns as well as former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Harris calls for end to Senate filibuster for Roe legislation
Harris expressed support for ending the Senate filibuster to pass legislation to codify abortion rights in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.
“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom, and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body, and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said.
If Harris is elected president and Democrats maintain control of the Senate, the party could try to reform the filibuster in the next Congress. Filibuster rules require a 60-vote supermajority to begin and end debate on most legislation.
House speaker says he's 'not defying' Trump on funding measure
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters today that "he's not defying" Trump with his plan to hold a vote this week to continue to fund the government with legislation that does not include a controversial measure demanded by the former president.
"He and I have been on exactly the same page. I saw a headline, 'I’m defying Trump.' I’m not, I’m not defying President Trump," Johnson said. "He understands fully, President Trump understands the current dilemma in the situation that we’re in, and so there’s no daylight between us. And I keep him apprised all the time of everything that’s happening, because he is our nominee for president, and he’s going to be the next president."
Johnson said Sunday that the House would vote this week on a three-month stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government open through Dec. 20 that does not include any part of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Johnson had tried to link the act to a six-month continuing resolution, but the House rejected that plan in a vote last week.
Trump had previously urged Republicans in Congress to let the government shut down if the legislation wasn't included with the funding bill, but some Republicans are wary of the impact of shutting down the government so close to the election. Democrats have opposed the SAVE Act and noted that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote.
Biden calls on nations to unite amid an ‘inflection point in world history’ in last U.N. speech
In his last speech as president before the United Nations General Assembly, Biden called on nations today to band together amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing global concerns about China’s influence.
“I truly believe we’re at another inflection point in world history. The choices we make today will determine our future,” Biden said.
The U.S. president said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, has “failed” at his goal to destroy Ukraine and destroy NATO. “But Ukraine is free,” Biden said. “NATO is bigger, stronger more united than ever before, with two new members: Finland and Sweden.”
He said the world cannot let up in its protection of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Biden detailed Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 people, and included acts of sexual violence and the taking of many people into Gaza as hostages. In response, he said, innocent civilians in Gaza have experienced “hell” as Israel has sought to fight back against Hamas. The president said the U.S. has put forward a ceasefire proposal that has been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, which he called on the parties to finalize.
“A diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security,” said Biden, who also criticized the violence against innocent Palestinians in the West Bank and the need to strive for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians.
Cargo ship owners and managers sued over Baltimore bridge collapse
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages from the owners and managers of the cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this year.
The ship, the Dali, was not fit to sail the morning of the bridge collapse, and its electrical systems had failed twice the day before the collision, Brown said at a news conference alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld.
Brown said that the owners, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and managers, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., failed to inform the U.S. Coast Guard or the pilots who boarded the vessel of the ship’s problems.
“Because of the stunning mismanagement, disinterest or incompetence of the owner and operator of the Dali, those backup systems failed,” Brown said. “Simply put, Grace Ocean Limited and Synergy Marine failed, and their failure resulted in one of the most catastrophic and preventable maritime disasters in Maryland history.”
Some of the categories of damages that Maryland is seeking in its lawsuit includes lost toll and tax revenues, environmental effects, and bridge recovery, salvage, and demolition costs.
A spokesman for the companies, Darrell Wilson, said the owner and manager would not comment on the lawsuit, "but we do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight."
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group alleging they cut corners and ignored electrical problems prior to the wreckage — which killed six construction workers. The DOJ’s lawsuit is seeking $100 million in damages.
A September NBC News poll shows half of all voters plan to cast their ballots early in the 2024 election, with many early voters leaning towards Harris. NBC News’ Mark Murray explains why Republicans tend to be Election Day voters.
Blinken says he's 'profoundly disappointed' over contempt vote
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, that he was “profoundly disappointed” that House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman sought to subpoena him and threaten him with contempt over his failure to appear before the committee at a hearing on Afghanistan that was scheduled on the same date as the opening to the long-planned United Nations General Assembly meeting.
“As I have made clear, I am willing to testify and have offered several reasonable alternatives to the dates unilaterally demanded by the Committee during which I am carrying out the President’s important foreign policy objectives,” Blinken wrote in the letter, obtained by NBC News. “I urge you to withdraw your subpoena, reconsider your planned contempt proceedings, and begin good faith engagement with the Department to find an appropriate accommodation.”
In addition to detailing conversations between the chairman and Blinken on finding another time for him to testify, the letter also said Blinken has testified publicly before Congress 14 times on the withdrawal from Afghanistan, including four times before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including as recently as May 22.
Arizona voters say whether Trump or Harris is stronger on the border and immigration
Our new NBC News national poll showed Trump with a 21-point lead over Harris on the issue of securing the border and controlling immigration.
NBC News asked four Arizona voters which candidate they considered stronger on the issue. Two said Trump, one said Harris, and one said neither.
Sage Allen, 30, was a Clinton voter in 2016 and a Biden voter in 2020 but is leaning Trump in 2024. She said she thinks Trump is “way stronger on border issues.”
“There was this knowledge that, you know, just don’t even bother going to the border. You’re not going to get in,” said Allen of the message Trump’s presidency sent to migrants. “When Biden and Harris were in office, it seemed like it was the exact opposite kind of knowledge, which was, everyone go to the border, you’re going to get in,” Allen added.
“It’s a free for all,” she said.
Juan Zoppetti, who immigrated to the U.S. from Argentina, also believes Trump is stronger on the border and immigration.
“He wants to create a program that will be a merit-based program," Zoppetti, an engineer, said. "He wants the laws to be respected.”
“I’m an immigrant, and I did it the legal way, and it’s very difficult. So reform is due,” said Zoppetti. “It’s super hard to become a U.S. citizen or getting a green card, but the things that they’re doing right now, just letting people go, they’re not fair for anyone, not even for the people who are coming."
First to NBC News: New York Democrat Pat Ryan focuses on abortion in new swing-district ad
New York Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan is focusing his pitch to voters on abortion access in a new ad as he fights to keep his seat— a must-win for Democrats as they hope to retake control of the House.
The 30-second ad, provided first by NBC News, features a constituent who discusses her decision to have an abortion in college.
“I was single, in college, I had big plans,” a woman named Debra from Rhinebeck, N.Y., says while facing herself in a mirror that shows photos of her children. “But I didn’t plan on pregnancy. I had an abortion then, so I could have the family I have today.”
The six-figure ad buy in New York’s 18th District seeks to put GOP challenger and former New York City police officer Alison Esposito on defense on the issue. It marks the first time Ryan is up on the airwaves with a “negative” ad this cycle.
The ad directly addresses Esposito, saying: “Miss Esposito, if you want to see the lives you’d risk, just look in the mirror.”
Ryan has found success in the battleground district before with a message centered around reproductive freedom. In 2022, he won one of the first special elections held in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned the national right to abortion access under Roe v. Wade.
It’s exactly the kind of litmus test he hopes to apply again in November against an opponent in Esposito who praised the Dobbs decision as the “absolute right thing,” though she has also sought to downplay the issue’s salience for voters in recent months.
Biden will take center-stage at the United Nations, addressing world leaders in one of the final and most consequential speeches of his presidency. He is expected to address a series of global challenges from the climate crisis to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. NBC’s Peter Alexander reports for TODAY.
House committee to hold contempt vote on Blinken
The House Foreign Affairs Committee will vote this morning on a resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress for not complying with a subpoena to testify on the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The resolution will advance to the House floor for a vote if approved by the committee.
Arizona voters say the presidential debate helped clarify who they will support
The latest NBC News poll found Harris’ favorability increased by 16 points since July. NBC News asked a few Arizonans if their perception of Harris has changed since she entered the race.
Two voters, one supporting Harris and the other leaning toward Trump, said Harris’ debate performance impressed them.
“She did definitely improve, in my eyes, after the last debate,” Sage Allen said, adding that she's likely to vote for Trump. On her impressions of Harris at the debate, Allen said, “She’s very educated. She’s smart. I do like there’s policy positions ... so it was nice to also finally get a firm answer from her on some things."
Ian Galvez-Daley said he was undecided before the debate, but Harris’ performance made his decision for him.
“I was really sitting on the fence up until the first debate, and I saw how she handled herself,” the 28-year-old said. “She kind of ran the debate, and she didn’t really stoop to Trump’s level, and over the past like eight years, that’s been really refreshing,” he said.
While Trump singled out Charleroi, Pa., for its influx of legal Haitian immigrants, many in the town expressed support for the new arrivals, while others said the town’s resources are being strained. NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor reports.
Arizona voters say what they like about Harris and Trump
NBC News asked four Arizonans why they were voting for Trump or Harris.
Ian Galvez-Daley, 28, said this election is the first time he has experienced hope since being able to participate in the democratic process.
“There seems to be a actual push for the people, as opposed to just, you know, the regular rich people stuff,” the Phoenix native said, adding he was supporting Harris.
Sage Allen, who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, is leaning toward voting for Trump this cycle.
“I took issue with the way the Democrats handled Joe Biden and his what appeared to be infirmary,” said Allen, referring to what she perceives as Biden’s cognitive decline.
Trump has “really toned down a lot of his rhetoric,” Allen said, adding that the assassination attempts against him have led her to view him in a different light.
“I also think the shootings kind of humanized him in my eyes. Before, I had a lot of difficulty sympathizing with him. The shooting humanized him in my eyes,” she said.
Juan Zoppetti, 48, of Gilbert, Arizona, said that he's supporting Trump because he believes the world was a safer place and the economy was better under his presidency.
"The Middle East was on the road to peace instead of the chaos like right now," he said. "And then you also have a party that is weaponizing everything that they can weaponize, you know, the branches of government, the IRS, the judiciary, everything they can do to weaponize and go after their opponents."
Zachary O'Haire, 42, of Phoenix, said he's "not sure I'm ready for four more years" of Trump.
"I think that there is a lot of negative global impact that comes from that — not just what happens in our country, but also global relations and how they view that," he said.
Harris considering visit to border when in Arizona on Friday
Harris is considering a visit to the southern border when she travels to Arizona on Friday, two people familiar with her schedule told NBC News.
Harris’ possible trip to the border has not been finalized, and the logistics are still being worked out, they cautioned.
Harris plans to address immigration and the border this week in her campaign messaging, a third person familiar with her schedule said.
The Harris campaign declined to comment on the potential border visit.
Schumer to host Zelenskyy for meeting with senators at the Capitol on Thursday
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Capitol for a bipartisan meeting with senators on Thursday, Schumer’s office told NBC News.
The meeting comes as Zelenskyy is set to attend sessions of the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly this week. Zelenskyy also plans to meet Biden and Harris in separate meetings at the White House on Thursday.
House will bring up government spending bill under expedited procedure
The House Rules Committee did not vote last night on a resolution that would fund the government for three months, meaning the measure will come to the floor under suspension of the rules rather than through regular order.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told reporters last night that leadership might use the procedure, which will require a two-thirds supermajority to approve the measure. The resolution faced opposition in the Rules Committee from several conservatives, including Reps. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, Rep. Ralph Norman, of South Carolina, and Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas. It was unclear if the rule for consideration of the measure was going to be linked to other Republican bills, which meant Democrats might not have voted for it.
The resolution will now need significant Democratic support for approval. The text cannot be amended. The floor vote is expected tomorrow, according to Scalise.
Harris campaign launches new ads featuring Pennsylvania farmers who voted for Trump twice
A pair of ads from the Harris campaign features Pennsylvania farmers who voted for Trump in the past two presidential elections but now support Harris. The ads are part of the campaign’s outreach to rural and Republican voters.
In an ad titled “Not Again,” Pennsylvanians Bob and Kristina Lange, whose family farm has been in operation since 1896, said they believe Harris will unify Americans, but Trump divides people.
“I voted for him twice. I won’t vote for him again. January 6 was a wake up call for me,” Bob Lange says, referring to Trump and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack of the Capitol by his supporters.
“He didn’t do anything to help us,” he adds. “Kamala Harris, she cares about the American people. I think she’s got the wherewithal to make a difference. I’ve never voted for a Democrat.”
Another ad, titled “Common Sense,” features Bob Lange saying that farmers are “the backbone of the economy” before going on to say that he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, but has become disillusioned with his economic policies.
“This election, I’m voting on what I feel. I think Trump cares for his cronies, the people that are very wealthy. Never thought I’d say this, but the Democrats are the party of common sense,” he says, adding that he thinks Trump’s economic plans “only benefit billionaires and huge corporations,” but Harris and Walz are “focusing on the needs of everyday Americans.”
The ads are set to air on digital platforms and more than 130 rural radio stations across Pennsylvania.
Half of voters plan to cast ballots early, with a huge partisan split
Half of registered voters plan to vote early this fall, new figures from the September NBC News poll show, with Democrats continuing to run up the score among early voters and Republicans getting stronger backing from those who plan to vote in person on Election Day.
Fifty-one percent of voters say they’ll vote early, either by mail or in person, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump 61%-35% (a 26-point margin) among those voters.
By comparison, Trump leads by 20 points, 57%-37%, with the group of voters who plan to vote on Election Day, which accounts for 45% of the electorate in the poll. It’s a smaller lead among a slightly smaller share of the electorate than Harris has over those early voters.
“Either the margin has to close among [those] voting early, or Republican margins on Election Day have to be bigger than this to win,” said Bill McInturff, the Republican pollster who conducted the NBC News poll with Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates.
Federal prosecutors revealed new details of the alleged plot to kill Trump in Florida. According to a new filing, the suspect, Ryan Routh arrived in Florida weeks before his arrest, and gave someone a letter about “an assassination attempt.” A federal judge in ordered Routh to be held in jail until his trial starts. NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch reports.
What Trump is doing today
Trump is holding a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, at 1 p.m., as both he and Harris battle for the key swing state. Harris visited Georgia last week.
Biden and Harris flipped the state in the 2020 presidential election.
Biden to deliver final U.N. General Assembly speech amid global turmoil as election nears
President Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly for the final time as commander in chief Tuesday morning amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing global concerns about China’s influence.
His speech comes against the backdrop of the presidential race on its final leg before Election Day, knowing that his successor — Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump — will face the same issues in the White House and may deal with them very differently.
They are also Biden’s first remarks before the General Assembly since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October and the conflict that has ensued in Gaza, killing thousands of civilians. He’ll speak to the leaders of other nations as hope for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas has dimmed.