Special counsel filings reveal allegations of Trump’s ‘increasingly desperate efforts’ to overturn 2020 election: Live
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
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.
Trump shares rapid-fire, all-caps reactions on Truth Social during Vance-Walz debate
JD Vance and Tim Walz have mics cut as VP candidates spar over immigration
A Springfield business owner defended his Haitian employees. Now Trumpers are sending him death threats
JD Vance plays Trump’s anger translator on the debate stage – but he is no less extreme
Harris vs. Trump: who will make history? Join our exclusive US election event
Harris, Biden and Obama cheer Walz after debate
Here’s how Kamala Harris and the 46th and 44th presidents reacted to last night’s encounter in New York.
Snap polls after VP debate reveal what voters think of Vance and Walz’s performances
The general consensus among network pundits from both sides of the political aisle last night was that the Ohio Senator came across as more confident, polished and well-prepared than his Democratic rival.
But, according to a CBS/YouGov flash poll of 1,630 voters who tuned into the VP clash, it was an almost even match.
James Liddell has this report.
Snap polls after VP debate reveal what voters think of Vance and Walz’s performances
Voters watching the debate gave their verdicts on who won and lost the vice presidential debate
Walz celebrates with slice of sausage pizza after debate
While JD Vance remained in the spin room talking to the media in the aftermath of last night’s encounter, Tim Walz and his wife Gwen huddled with their team before stepping out for pizza.
Here he is leaning into his “coach” persona to sum up the evening:
Watch: The VP debate highlights, as chosen by the candidates
Here’s a look back at the night’s key exchanges according to JD Vance and Tim Walz themselves, judging by the excerpts they chose to post on their social media accounts.
These are the moments the Republican was most pleased with…
…and here are the Democrat’s personal favourites.
Trump live-trolls debate and brands Walz ‘Low IQ Disaster’
Despite making a fool of himself at his own debate against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia last month (“In Springfield, they’re eating the dawgs!”), Trump was on crowing form on Truth Social as he spent his evening posting along to the Vance-Walz showdown.
This is the sort of high-calibre meme he’s been firing out.
Other notable posts from the Republican nominee included his claim that “JD crushed it!”, his angry all-caps denial that he would support a federal abortion ban and his leaping on Walz for misspeaking about gun violence.
Here’s Mike Bedigan’s report.
Trump shares rapid-fire, all-caps reactions on Truth Social during Vance-Walz debate
Walz and Trump’s running mate JD Vance were quizzed on hot-button issues including abortion, economy, immigration and gun control
Trump campaign insists Vance ‘absolutely torched’ Walz
In the interests of balance, here’s what the Trump campaign had to say about their man’s performance:
“Tonight, Senator JD Vance succinctly outlined the Trump-Vance plan for restoring prosperity, safety, and security to the American people after four years of destruction at the hands of Kamala Harris.
“Tampon Tim Walz, meanwhile, humiliated himself by offering the same failed, weak, radical leftism that has failed us — unable to answer the most basic question: why hasn't Kamala done any of what she's proposing during her 3.5 years in the White House?”
The statement goes on to list 16 bullet points of supposed Walz “fails” before concluding:
“Walz made clear why Americans will reject the Harris-Walz ticket in November: Kamala Harris has had three-and-a-half years in the White House — and Americans are worse off because of it.
“Why would Americans reward her with another term?”
Harris campaign urges Trump to agree to another debate
Shortly after the vice presidential debate ended, the Harris–Walz campaign ‘s chair Jen O’Malley Dillon released a statement asking Donald Trump to debate Vice President Kamala Harris again:
“The choice facing the American people in November was on full display tonight: between charting a new way forward, or going backwards. Vice President Harris believes that the American people deserve to see her and Trump on the debate stage one more time. She will be in Atlanta on October 23 – Donald Trump should step up and face the voters.
“Tonight, Governor Walz showed exactly why Vice President Harris picked him: he is a leader who cares about the issues that matter most to the American people. In the debate, Americans got to see a real contrast: a straight talker focused on sharing real solutions, and a slick politician who spent the whole night defending Donald Trump’s division and failures.
“On every single issue – the economy, health care, foreign policy, reproductive freedom, gun violence – Governor Walz won. He spoke passionately about the Vice President’s vision for a new way forward for the country. And in what was the most critical moment of the entire debate, which came in its final exchange, he stood up for our Constitution, while JD Vance admitted he’d put Trump ahead of the country.”
This was Trump’s response to that on Truth Social:
JD Vance and Tim Walz keep it cordial in policy-driven debate but Trump is inescapable
Good morning!
If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of what happened as the US vice presidential nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz went head-to-head on the CBS debate stage in New York City on Tuesday night.
In what was a largely cordial encounter in which actual policy discussions broke out on immigration, abortion and gun control, Vance largely got the best of Walz, delivering a smooth, calm and assured performance.
Things were so civil, in fact, that statements like this were heard as the two men found common ground while attacking each other’s respective running mates:
Walz: “I agree with a lot of what Senator Vance said about what’s happening – his running mate, though, does not. And that’s the problem.”
Vance: “Tim just mentioned a bunch of ideas. Now some of those ideas I actually think are halfway decent, and some of them I disagree with. But the most important thing here is: Kamala Harris is not running as a newcomer to politics. She is the sitting VP.”
The Republican did particularly well during a portion of the debate on gun control when he expressed genuine compassion after Walz mentioned his son witnessing a school shooting incident, responding: “I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, it is awful.”
Walz meanwhile was more nervous and tentative but did grow into the 90-minute contest, forcing Vance into a corner over his false claim about Haitian immigrants eating residents’ pets in Springfield, Ohio, January 6 and Donald Trump’s 2020 election denialism, slamming his rival’s evasive response to that as “a damning non-answer”.
Walz was forced to admit he had been a “knucklehead” in misspeaking about having been in attendance during the Tiananmen Square protest in China in 1989 but fired back at Vance for suggesting abortion rights should be decided by the states because “California has a different viewpoint on this than Georgia”.
“The states will decide what’s right for Texas might not be right for Washington? That’s not how this works. This is basic human rights,” the Minnesota Governor shot back.
Here’s Alex Woodward’s report on a fascinating evening.
Vance and Walz keep it cordial in policy-driven debate but Trump is inescapable
Candidates juggled detailed questions covering starkly different visions for America before sparring about democracy’s future
Watch: Vance claims that Harris 'use children as drug mules'
Even on Vance's big debate night in New York, Trump is still center stage for MAGA's faithful
Though many Republicans gathered outside the CBS studios on Tuesday were confident of the Ohio Senator’s debating skills, there was one person who could not escape a mention. Mike Bedigan got their views
On JD Vance’s big night in New York, it’s still Donald Trump who takes center stage
Though many Republicans gathered outside the CBS studios on Tuesday were confident of the Ohio Senator’s debating skills, there was one person who could not escape a mention. Mike Bedigan got their views
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments