Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated1729196957

Harris delivers presidential-style address on death of Hamas leader; NRA cancels Trump event: Live

Vice President Kamala Harris says Yahya Sinwar death presents opportunity to end Gaza war during Wisconsin campaign stop as Donald Trump set to speak at Al Smith dinner

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Thursday 17 October 2024 21:29
Comments
Kamala Harris reacts to Hamas Leader Sinwar’s death

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Kamala Harris delivered a presidential-style address on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar saying that now comes a moment “to finally end the war in Gaza”.

The vice president spoke during a campaign stop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as she continues to focus on the swing states, skipping Thursday’s Al Smith dinner for Catholic charities, at which presidential candidates usually make humorous remarks. Donald Trump will attend the event in New York accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, NBC reports.

Trump has again lashed out at CBS flagship news show 60 Minutes over standard edits it made to an interview with Harris. The former president baselessly claims the conduct was criminal and wants the network’s license revoked.

The Harris campaign mocked Trump’s refusal to debate the vice president again and his ducking of interviews and appearances. On Thursday the National Rifle Association announced it has canceled a “Defend the 2nd” event due to “campaign scheduling changes”.

Meanwhile, Trump has reacted in gloating fashion to rival Harris’s tense interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, in which the Democrat clashed with the host on illegal immigration, Joe Biden, and the threat posed by Trump himself.

1729196957

Walz defends LGBT+ rights in appearance on ‘We Can Do Hard Things’

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is getting his own media blitz off the ground with upcoming appearances on The View and The Daily Show, but his most recent interview was with the podcast We Can Do Hard Things with author and queer activist Glennon Doyle, her wife Abby Wambach, and her sister, Amanda.

Walz spent a good chunk of his time on the podcast defending trans people and queer youth and saying that a Harris administration could reshape the federal judiciary to support LGBT+ rights undermined by the judges confirmed under Donald Trump.

“We need to appoint judges who uphold the right to marriage, uphold the right to be who you are, making sure that’s the case, uphold the right to get the medical care that you need. We should not be naive. Those appointments are really, really important. I think that’s what the vice president is committed to.”

“We see it now; the hate has shifted to the trans community. They see that as an opportunity. If you’re watching any sporting events right now, you see that Donald Trump’s closing arguments are to demonize a group of people for being who they are … We’re out there trying to make the case that access to healthcare, a clean environment, manufacturing jobs, and keeping your local hospital open are what people are really concerned about. They’re running millions of dollars of ads demonizing folks who are just trying to live their lives.”

Here’s an excerpt in which Walz discusses reproductive rights:

Alex Woodward17 October 2024 21:29
1729196409

Vance policy adviser made wild posts about using drugs for years, investigation says

A policy advisor for JD Vance allegedly made online posts for many years in which he proclaimed his love of drugs including cocaine, weed and opiates.

An investigation by WIRED found that Aaron Kofsky was behind the Reddit account “PsychoticMammal”, which had also posted specific details that matched his resume and education.

Kofsky’s LinkedIn page lists him as a financial policy advisor working in Vance’s office, with prior experience as a senior legislative assistant and banking legislative assistant. According to Politico he has helped Vance flesh out his opposition to some cryptocurrency regulation among other things.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Vance policy adviser made wild posts about using drugs for years: ‘I love coke’

An investigation found that Aaron Kofsky was behind the Reddit account ‘PsychoticMammal’, which had also posted specific details that matched his resume and education

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 21:20
1729195968

Watch LIVE: Bill Clinton joins Tim Walz on campaign trail in North Carolina as early voting gets underway

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 21:12
1729195809

Watch: Trump’s contradictory statement on January 6 deaths baffles audience

Audience’s baffled reaction to Trump’s contradictory statement on January 6 deaths

Univision audience members were baffled at Donald Trump’s statement about people who died during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. The former president took a question from a former Republican who is no longer registered, who asked Mr Trump how he would win back his vote. Speaking about January 6, Mr Trump appeared to contradict himself and said: “Ashli Babbitt was killed, nobody was killed.” As he spoke, a group of women behind him appeared confused, with one audience member moving her head up and widening her eyes at this statement.

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 21:10
1729195514

Melania Trump to accompany husband to Al Smith dinner, report says

Former first lady Melania Trump joins Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump after he officially accepted the Republican presidential nomination on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024
Former first lady Melania Trump joins Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump after he officially accepted the Republican presidential nomination on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024 (Getty Images)

NBC News reports:

Melania Trump will accompany former President Donald Trump to Thursday’s Al Smith dinner in New York City, two sources familiar with her plans told NBC News.

The former first lady has been noticeably absent on the campaign trail for much of the 2024 race. The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July was the last time she appeared alongside her husband at a political event.

One source familiar with the plans said that Melania Trump decided to attend the dinner because “it’s tradition,” adding that, “this could be a precursor to more activity.”

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 21:05
1729195209

Racist billboards in Chicago pretended they were paid for by Mr Beast. Why?

John Bowden writes:

Sometimes, politics is a game of subtlety. Other times, it’s not.

On Wednesday, a series of billboards in a Chicago suburb were “hacked”, according to police, to display a series of shocking anti-Israeli messages, including “death to Israel” and “f**k Israel”.

Even stranger, they featured references to YouTube megastar Mr Beast: “paid for by Mr Beast LLC”, they declared. The YouTuber quickly rejected any suggestion of involvement in a statement.

The billboards were also condemned by a local Democratic congressman in a statement, and quickly deactivated by owner OUTFRONT Media, which told a local news station: “We are aware of this incident. The copy has been removed and the situation is being investigated.”

Continue reading to find out what is going on...

Racist billboards in Chicago pretended they were paid for by Mr Beast. Why?

Hacked billboards displayed a series of anti-Israel messages on Wednesday night. But they’re just the latest in a slew of controversial, Israel-focused messages appearing in the Midwest, John Bowden reports

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 21:00
1729194411

‘Envy of the world’

The latest edition of The Economist appears to have a very different take on the condition of the US economy to that which former President Donald Trump extols at his rallies.

And earlier today the White House threw a little shade at Bloomberg’s prediction two years ago today that “a US recession is effectively certain in the next 12 months”.

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 20:46
1729194009

Former porn store worker hits back at ‘bizarre’ allegations by North Carolina lieutenant governor

A former porn shop worker who was accused by North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson of defamation has asked a court to throw out the lawsuit against him, calling the politician’s allegations “bizarre”.

Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, filed a lawsuit in Wake County court Tuesday against CNN and Louis Love Money, of Greensboro, saying they published “disgusting lies” about him.

Continue reading...

Porn store worker hits back at ‘bizarre’ allegations by North Carolina Lt. governor

Mark Robinson is running against Democratic Josh Stein in the campaign to succeed Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper

AP17 October 2024 20:40
1729193317

Recap: Harris says the killing of Sinwar is an opportunity 'to finally end the war in Gaza'

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak about the killing of Hamas' top leader Yahya Sinwar in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak about the killing of Hamas' top leader Yahya Sinwar in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 (AP)

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said Thursday the killing of Hamas‘ top leader, Yahya Sinwar, by Israel “gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza.”

Speaking from a Wisconsin college campus where she was campaigning, Harris said the war “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,” she said.

As she arrived to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, protesters shouted outside “Free, free Palestine.”

Israel says Sinwar was killed in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza. Iaraeli Foreign Minister Katz called Sinwar’s killing a “military and moral achievement for the Israeli army.”

Sinwar was a chief architect of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that precipitated the war and escalating conflicts across the Middle East.

AP17 October 2024 20:28
1729192827

Full story: NFL owner says Trump was like ‘having a drunk fraternity brother’ become president

Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots NFL team, has said that having Donald Trump as president was like “having a drunk fraternity brother” as commander-in-chief.

Speaking on Charlamagne tha God’s iHeartRadio show The Breakfast Club, Kraft, 83, explained that, although he has been a lifelong Democrat, he became “a social friend” of the Republican presidential nominee in Florida in the early 1990s.

Joe Sommerlad has the story.

NFL owner says Trump was like ‘having a drunk fraternity brother’ become president

Robert Kraft reflected on earlier friendship with Republican presidential nominee – but told Charlamagne tha God he has not spoken to him since the Capitol riot

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 20:20

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in