Harris Starts Policy Rollout; Trump Campaign Material Leaked | National News

Vice President Kamala Harris is working to outmaneuver former President Donald Trump and address previous vulnerabilities in her policy positions as she begins to outline how she would govern if elected in November.

Typically, vice presidents do not have their own policy agendas. However, after four years of following President Joe Biden’s lead, Harris is cautiously unveiling her own policy vision.

Meanwhile, confidential material from inside the Trump campaign, including a report vetting JD Vance as a vice presidential candidate, was leaked to at least three news outlets. Despite this, Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post have chosen not to disclose any specifics about the leaked material.

For more on AP’s coverage of the Election 2024, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

Here’s the Latest:

Georgia’s secretary of state says 3 independent and third-party candidates qualify for the state ballot

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that three independent and third-party candidates have qualified for Georgia’s presidential ballot, but legal challenges remain.

Independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Claudia De la Cruz of the Party for Socialism and Liberation have each gathered more than the required 7,500 signatures to qualify. While Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians have guaranteed spots on the Georgia ballot, other candidates must qualify through petition.

Legal challenges from Georgia Democrats aim to prevent the placement of these three candidates, along with Green Party nominee Jill Stein, on Georgia’s ballots. These challenges are part of a nationwide effort to impede candidates who could potentially draw votes away from Vice President Kamala Harris, which could impact the outcome in a closely-divided Georgia.

Hearings on the Georgia challenges are set to begin next Monday.

Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, former House Democratic leader, is recovering from mild stroke

Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the former House Democratic leader, is recovering after experiencing a mild stroke on Sunday. Hoyer, who is 85, underwent medical treatment and has shown no lingering symptoms. He plans to return to his normal schedule next week.

Hoyer, who has represented a Maryland district since 1981, was a prominent figure in House Democratic leadership for over a decade before stepping down in 2022.

Walz launches 5-state fundraising blitz in LA, warns Trump will wage ‘war’ on working people

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democratic vice presidential nominee, launched a fundraising tour across five states and warned union members about the threat of Donald Trump waging war on working people. Speaking at a union event, Walz emphasized the importance of strong unions in maintaining a robust America.

Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris aim to expand collective bargaining and worker protections across all states. Trump, on the other hand, has sought union support by promising to save industries from potential collapse.

Walz’s fundraising tour started in heavily Democratic California, where he addressed union members and emphasized the importance of strengthening union rights.

Auto workers union seeks NLRB investigation of Trump and Musk comments regarding firing striking workers

The United Auto Workers union has filed unfair labor practice charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk after they discussed firing striking workers on social media. The union alleges that these comments could intimidate workers who want to unionize.

Trump praised Musk for his actions against striking workers, which the union believes could discourage workers from exercising their right to join a union. The NLRB has agreed to investigate the charges filed by the union.

UAW President Shawn Fain, who has endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris, criticized Trump and Musk for their anti-labor sentiments. Trump’s campaign advisor dismissed the allegations as a political stunt to undermine Trump’s support among American workers.

US approves $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel amid threat of wider Middle East war

The US has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including fighter jets and advanced missiles. This decision comes at a time of heightened concern about Israel’s involvement in a potential wider conflict in the Middle East.

Congress has been notified of the planned sale, which includes various military equipment to enhance Israel’s defense capabilities in the long term. The Biden administration emphasized the importance of supporting Israel’s security while also balancing calls to limit military aid due to civilian casualties in Gaza.

For more details on the US’s weapons sale to Israel, read here.

Apostrophe debate arises among grammar enthusiasts. Is it Harris’ or Harris’s?

An apostrophe debate has emerged among grammar nerds regarding the possessive form of Vice President Kamala Harris’s name. The Associated Press Stylebook advises using only an apostrophe for singular proper names ending in S, such as “Harris’ positive vision.” However, there is disagreement on this rule.

Recent releases from the Harris campaign have shown inconsistency in the use of apostrophes, with some referring to “Harris’s positive vision” and others to “Harris’ seventh trip to Nevada.” This inconsistency has sparked a lively debate among grammar enthusiasts.

For more on the Harris grammar wars, click here.

Initiative to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri constitution qualifies for November ballot

Missouri voters will have the opportunity in November to vote on a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion. This initiative aims to reverse the near-total ban on abortion in the state by enshrining abortion rights in the Missouri constitution.

The initiative received enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for the general election ballot. It will require majority approval from voters to become part of the state constitution.

Missouri joins several states voting on abortion rights during the presidential election, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota. Additionally, a New York ballot measure addresses discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare.

Georgia election interference case against Trump stalls a year later

A year after a Georgia grand jury accused Donald Trump and others of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state, the case has stalled and is unlikely to go to trial before the end of the year. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis secured the indictment using Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, alleging that Trump and 18 others participated in a scheme to subvert the state’s voters’ will.

Early victories in the case have been overshadowed by explosive allegations made by one of Trump’s co-defendants, causing delays and potentially jeopardizing the prosecution.

Conservative gathering provides space for Republicans not aligned with Trump

While former President Donald Trump has received enthusiastic support at Republican events, a recent conservative conference in Georgia took a different approach. Hosted by radio host Erick Erickson, “The Gathering” featured discussions critiquing the GOP’s direction in the Trump era.

Many attendees expressed concerns about a potential Kamala Harris presidency and spent more time analyzing the GOP’s future than praising Trump. This dynamic poses challenges for Trump in states like Georgia, where his support is not universal.

Burglary reported at Trump campaign office in Virginia

A burglary was reported at a Virginia campaign office for former President Donald Trump over the weekend. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine if anything was stolen. Surveillance footage shows an individual wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack at the office.

News outlets receive leaked material from Trump campaign, choose not to publish

Three news outlets received confidential material from the Donald Trump campaign, including a report on JD Vance as a potential vice presidential candidate. Despite this, Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post have decided not to disclose the specifics of the leaked material.

Their choice not to publish the information contrasts with the 2016 presidential campaign, where mainstream news organizations extensively covered hacked emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager. This time, the decision has been made to withhold details about the leaked material.

Harris cautiously unveils policy plans to outsmart Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris is strategically revealing her policy positions to outmaneuver former President Donald Trump and address past vulnerabilities. While vice presidents traditionally align with the president’s policies, Harris is now navigating the process of unveiling her own policy vision.

As she transitions to the top of the ticket, Harris is swiftly developing her policy platform. Her recent speeches have outlined broad goals, such as building up the middle class, and she has advocated for federal laws on issues like abortion access and gun control without delving into specific details.