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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

🎤 JD Vance dominated Tim Walz in a shockingly civil debate. The two vice-presidential candidates engaged in a surprisingly substantive and civil debate, tackling key policy issues such as healthcare, manufacturing, and free speech with depth. Though Gov. Walz eventually found his footing, he initially appeared awkward and unprepared, while Sen. Vance articulately and sharply defended the Trump agenda.

💥 Israel was rocked by Iranian missile attacks and a mass shooting. Yesterday, Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israeli civilian centers and military bases following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, calling the attack “a big mistake.” Occurring almost simultaneously, two Palestinian terrorists murdered seven Israeli civilians and injured 17 in the city of Jaffa.

🪖 Thousands more American troops are heading to the Middle East. The Pentagon announced it is deploying several thousand US personnel to the Middle East, following President Biden’s statement that he wouldn’t send combat troops. This increase comes amid Iran’s strike against Israel and an imminent escalation of the conflict. US troop presence in the region is now around 43,000.

🔎 COVID subcommittee subpoenaed the NIH's “FOIA Lady.” The House of Representatives subpoenaed Margaret Moore, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer and close confidante of Dr. Antony Fauci, to testify on allegations she advised NIH officials on how to evade federal transparency laws during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT WE’RE HEARING

• Progressive commentator Krystal Ball observed there is a greater concern “for inanimate objects in Tel Aviv” (referring to Iranian rockets) than civilians dying in Lebanon.

• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), the highest-ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, stated, “The Ayatollah's regime must be eliminated.”

• Sec. of State Antony Blinken published an op-ed touting America’s geopolitical success, specifically with restraining Iran — less than 24 hours before their massive strike against Israel.

• Dennis Prager wrote an open letter condemning Candace Owens’ “growing antisemitism.”

IN THE LOOP

• RealClearPolitics Editor Charles McElwee discussed “Kamala Harris’ Pennsylvania Problem” on a new podcast.

• JD Vance was declared the debate winner by much of the media.

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• Tim Walz gave a nervous and muddled answer when asked why he lied regarding his whereabouts during China’s Tiananmen Square protests.

• President Biden authorized 125,000 more refugee admissions.

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MY THOUGHTS

More Than the "Childless Cat Lady" VP

Good morning. First off, I don't think this changes much about who will vote for whom in the election, but here’s the key takeaway: JD Vance crushed it. His introduction was sharp, his answers were well-thought-out, and he showed a clear grasp of policy, even earning praise from some liberal outlets.

Vance brought a refreshing level of respect and poise to the debate, shattering the "childless cat lady" narrative that the media has tried to pin on him for months. He outperformed Walz by a mile.

On nearly every topic — the economy, the border, and foreign policy chaos — Vance delivered a strong, nuanced defense for Republicans. Once again, it was a moment that proved the media completely wrong.

I'm predicting the media will soon pivot to a new line of attack: not that Vance is incompetent, but that he's competent enough to actually get done what they’re afraid of.

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WASHINGTON

Trump outmaneuvers Harris in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath

Following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, to meet with those affected by the storm that ravaged much of the southern United States. This move is significant for Trump, gaining him favor with the storm’s victims in a battleground state crucial for his success in November.

Over 160 people are presumed dead, with hundreds more missing. Critical infrastructure and countless homes have been destroyed, towns are flooded, and people are scrambling to find food and water.

Amid this devastation, Trump vowed to deliver essential relief supplies and took the opportunity to criticize the federal government’s response. “The federal government is not being responsive,” he told reporters. He accused Vice President Kamala Harris of prioritizing fundraising over emergency efforts.

Meanwhile, Harris canceled campaign events to return to Washington for a briefing on the federal response. The vice president opted not to visit the overwhelmingly Republican-voting states yet and instead gave a few remarks at FEMA’s headquarters in DC.

When Donald Trump was asked if he was in contact with President Joe Biden about relief efforts, he quipped, “I haven’t reached out to him. I think he’s sleeping right now, actually.”

The former president also met with Franklin Graham, son of the late Christian evangelist Bill Graham, and his charity workers, announcing that he would be working with them to distribute food, water, and supplies.

He then launched a GoFundMe with a $1,000,000 goal to help the victims of the hurricane. The fundraiser is currently nearing $4 million.

Additionally, Trump has been in talks with Elon Musk about providing Starlink internet service for those who have lost connection.

However, a FEMA fact sheet reported that 40 Starlink satellite systems were already being deployed by the federal government to aid first responders, with 140 more en route.

Some of Trump’s statements distracted from his visit by causing an uproar in the press, like saying Democrats such as North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Joe Biden were "going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.”

Misrepresented in the media

The mainstream media wants to convince Americans that Donald Trump is turning the natural disaster “political,” even though former Presidents Bush, Obama, and Clinton have all taken similar actions during past crises.

The left-leaning press also took aim at Trump for supposedly delaying disaster aid to Puerto Rico and redirecting FEMA funds to finance migrant deportations during his tenure as president.

They also redirected attention to policy proposals suggested in Project 2025, despite Trump’s repeatedly distancing himself from it.

The optics of Trump’s moves, however, are still powerful. His visits to hard-hit areas like Georgia following Hurricane Helene and East Palestine, Ohio, after the train derailment, resonate with many average Americans amid the crisis.

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OUR QUESTION TO YOU

POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY

Will you watch the vice presidential debate tonight?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👍 Yes (585)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ 👎 No (399)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (119)

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