Harris rallies on the Ellipse
Harris rallies on the Ellipse
Plus: There’s books at this year’s White House Halloween party
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Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally Tuesday night on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., where her opponent famously rallied on Jan. 6, 2021. The location was chosen to draw a contrast, and Harris made a patriotic closing message promising to find common ground.
Welcome to today’s issue of Whig. Read to the end for how much 50 Cent turned down to perform for Trump. — Hunter
Top headlines:
🔎 NASA chief and Democratic lawmakers urge investigation into reports of Musk-Putin conversations. NASA's administrator, Bill Nelson, and a growing number of Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the Wall Street Journal's report that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been in contact with Putin. [Business Insider]
📈 U.S. deficit tops $1.8 trillion in 2024 as interest on debt surpasses trillion-dollar mark. Interest expense for the year totaled $1.16 trillion, the first time that figure has topped the trillion-dollar level. [CNBC]
👾 X algorithm feeds users political content whether they want it or not. New X users with interests in topics such as crafts, sports, and cooking are being blanketed with political content and fed a steady diet of posts that lean toward Donald Trump and that sow doubt about the integrity of the Nov. 5 election. [Wall Street Journal]
🍦 McDonald’s can legally fix its own McFlurry machines now. McDonald’s franchise owners can now use third parties to legally diagnose and repair their busted ice cream machines. [Vice]
Biden votes:
President Joe Biden voted early on Monday in New Castle, Del., where he waited in line like everybody else, handed an election worker his ID, and got an “I Voted Early!” sticker to put on his lapel after casting his ballot. See photos here. Biden visited Baltimore Tuesday where he announced $3 billion for port infrastructure and equipment.
There’s books at this year’s White House Halloween party:
Of course First Lady Jill Biden’s last White House Halloween will be book themed. Guest at the White House “Hallo-READ!” event on Wednesday with POTUS and FLOTUS will get candy and books, the White House said.
Dr. Biden spent Monday in Michigan with Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, the wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), where they spoke to volunteers in Bay City and Traverse City.
“Ultimately, this election will profoundly affect women — our ability to make health care decisions, to buy homes and to put food on our tables and to live in a country where we celebrate that our differences are precious and our similarities are infinite,” Biden said.
Trump calls MSG rally “lovefest”:
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is facing fallout over crass jokes and comments made by opening speakers at his rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden (read more below in today’s Culture Matters). Though Trump’s campaign distanced itself from some of the remarks, the candidate himself seems unperturbed, saying it was an “honor to be involved” in such a “lovefest.” “The love in that room, it was breathtaking,” Trump said, speaking from Mar-a-Lago Tuesday.
Melania says if she’s FLOTUS again, it will be different:
Former First Lady Melania Trump returned to Fox News Tuesday and said she is “feeling good” about her husband’s chances. “I feel it’s kind of the same as 2016,” she said. “The support out there is incredible. It’s just, you know, people see what’s going on in the country and what kind of leadership they want.”
Trump, who made a rare appearance at her husband’s MSG rally, also said if she becomes first lady again, things will be “different” because she’s done it before.
“I have much more experience, much more knowledge,” Trump said. “I was in the White House before, so when you go in you know exactly what to expect. You know what kind of people you need to get. You need people who are on your team.”
Harris rallies on the Ellipse:
Harris told attendees Tuesday night at her rally on the Ellipse, “it’s time to turn the page on the drama and the conflict, the fear and division. It’s time for a new generation of leadership in America and I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.”
While Harris opened her remarks criticizing Trump — if reelected, Trump would enter the Oval Office with an enemies list, she said, while she would enter with a to-do list — the speech was mostly optimistic and forward looking.
Promising to “always put country above party and self,” Harris said she would seek common ground and delivered a love letter to the promise of America, a country she said “wrested freedom from a petty tyrant.” Asking voters for their vote, she cast her potential administration as a chance to turn the page and write, “the next chapter of the greatest story ever told.”
This fitness app could track bodyguards for Biden and world leaders:
Well this seems concerning. U.S. Secret Service agents and bodyguards for world leaders could be tracked through the fitness app Strava, according to Le Monde, a French newspaper that was able to track the movements of security for French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Melania Trump, and Dr. Jill Biden.
In one instance, the magazine located a hotel where President Biden stayed in San Francisco in 2023 to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping because a Secret Service officer went for a jog from the hotel and used the app. The Secret Service and Macron’s office both said security hadn’t been compromised.
There’s “zero” chance Ivanka campaigns for her dad:
Former first daughter Ivanka Trump said she’s not getting back into politics, and she means it. Her husband Jared Kushner told the New York Times there was “zero” chance she makes an appearance in the final stretch of the campaign.
“We’re rooting for him — obviously, we’re proud of him,” Kushner said. “But, you know, either way, our life will just continue to move forward.”
Barbara Pierce Bush knocks doors for Harris:
Former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and granddaughter of George H.W. Bush, was in Pennsylvania over the weekend crossing family party lines to canvas for Harris.
“It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend,” she told People. “I’m hopeful they'll move our country forward and protect women’s rights.”
This replica White House in California just sold for $23 million:
A 24,400-square-foot “Western White House” built in Hillsborough, Calif., outside San Francisco has sold for $23 million after being listed in June 2023 for $38.9 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the sale. The home has 11 bedrooms and its own version of the Oval Office. See more photos here.
Britney’s memoir has sold 3 million copies:
Last week marked one year since Britney Spears published her bestselling memoir The Woman In Me, and it’s now sold more than 3 million copies, according to Britney, who celebrated by thanking her fans. “Wow wow wow ... thank you all for your support over the past year !!! It means the world to me !!!” she wrote on X.
Gaga’s giddy over “Disease” response:
Lady Gaga’s new single “Disease” is battling for the No. 1 spot in the U.K., while at home, Gaga says she’s “grateful and overwhelmed” for her fans. “I honestly am trying to find the right words to say--I have been so excited to release my new music and to see all the monsters come alive and dance and perform and smile and cry is such an insane joy,” she wrote, promising “a LOT more to come.” The “Disease” music video drops tonight.
Adele says she touches a picture of Celine Dion every night before she goes out on stage:
Celine Dion returned to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the same Las Vegas theater where she once performed, to see Adele’s residency. Adele was stunned.
“I have been performing in Celine Dion's room at the Colosseum for almost 2 years now," Adele wrote on social media. “It was the only venue I wanted to play in Vegas because it was built for her. I have a picture of her right next to the stage that I touch every night before I walk on and she came to the show this weekend and it was a surprise and it was a MOMENT!!”
Beyoncé plays in cool in Harris endorsement:
If you were hoping for a full performance of “Freedom” complete with lights, wind machines, and backup dancers, I’m sorry to disappoint, but Beyoncé’s appearance in support of Harris last week was low key. Appearing with Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé downplayed her stardom, telling attendees, “I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother.” It’s part of a larger trend of celebs being more sheepish in speaking out on politics.
We’re getting a memoir from Beyoncé’s mom:
Tina Knowles will be out next April with Matriarch, and I know we’re not supposed to do this, but judging by the cover it looks great (there’s also a European cover that’s slightly less ostentatious but equally iconic).
“I am calling this book MATRIARCH because what inspires me is the wisdom that women pass on to each other, generation to generation—and the inner wisdom we long to uncover in ourselves,” Knowles wrote. “Even at 70 I am still learning valuable lessons—revelations that I wish that I would have had at 40 or even 20.”
The comedian who made the racist Puerto Rico joke at Trump’s MSG rally workshopped it the night before:
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who called the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” among other jokes made in poor taste during his set at Madison Square Garden before Trump took the stage, practiced the line the night before at The Stand comedy club in New York, according to one NBC News producer who was there. No one laughed, and Hinchcliffe said it’d get a better reaction “tomorrow at the rally.” Oof!
Puerto Rican pop stars come out against Trump:
Hinchcliffe’s bad jokes didn’t just bomb, they inspired some of the biggest pop stars from Puerto Rico to come out publicly and vocally in support of Harris. Bad Bunny, Luis Fonsi, and Ricky Martin all reposted Harris videos on social media following the rally. “Are you serious?” Fonsi wrote, resharing a video of Hinchcliffe’s joke.
50 Cent says he turned down $3 million to perform for Trump’s MSG rally:
Rapper 50 Cent told The Breakfast Club Tuesday that Trump’s team reached out to ask whether he’d do a paid performance of his song “Many Men” at the Republican National Convention, and they also offered $3 million for him to perform at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Mr. Cent said he turned them down because he doesn’t like politics.
“I do not like politics, you understand that?” 50 said. “I do not like no part of politics… when you do get involved in it, no matter how you feel, someone passionately disagrees with you.” He has a valid point.
The arrested Timothée Chalamet lookalike speaks out:
Matt Mannix, a 24-year-old Timoethée Chalamet lookalike who was arrested while attending the Timoethée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City Sunday, is looking for a lawyer. “I kept being like, ‘What crime did I commit?’” Mannix said to police, he told Teen Vogue. “And they never really said why, they just kept saying I failed to disperse, but it was really unclear to me what I needed to disperse for and why they just picked on me randomly. There were a whole lot of people there.”
Every One Direction album has recharted on the Billboard 200 following Liam Payne’s death:
Billboard announced One Direction’s entire studio album discography re-entered this week’s Billboard 200 album chart, lead by 2014’s FOUR at No. 31.
Thanks for reading! See you next time. ⭐