August 27, 2024

• A New Hope for Harris: Polls are showing that, with Vice President Harris replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket, the Democrats are slightly favored to take the White House. Their chances to maintain control of the Senate or re-take the House remain unlikely, but are appearing to have significantly improved from when Biden was still running. That being said, the top-of-the-ticket race remains extremely close. LINK
• The GOP Workforce Awakens: Nearly 240 Republicans who previously worked for former President George W. Bush, the late Senator John McCain, or Senator Mitt Romney have endorsed Harris in an open letter, published by USA Today. A similar group of 150 pledged support for Biden back in 2020, and this time state that “another four years of Donald Trump’s chaotic leadership […] will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions.” LINK
• The Special Counsel Strikes Back: Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed an appeal in regards to the recently-dismissed criminal case, charging former President Donald Trump with mishandling classified documents and obstructing a federal investigation. The judge overseeing the case, Aileen Cannon, declared in July that the appointment of the special counsel was unconstitutional, and dismissed the case. Smith, in his filing yesterday, argues that similar appointments have been made multiple times over the course of U.S. history — including the special prosecutor that investigated the Watergate scandal back in the 1970s. Attorney General Merrick Garland concurs with Smith’s position, stating that, “Until now, every single court including the Supreme Court that has considered the legality of a special counsel appointment has upheld it.” The decision now rests in the hands of a three-judge panel in Atlanta, but don’t expect swift action on this front. LINK
• Revenge of the (Former) Democrats: Briefly, and as a follow-up to the news of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. dropping out of the race for president and endorsing Trump’s bid, news came out today that both Kennedy and former Representative Tulsi Gabbard have joined Trump’s transition team. Since Gabbard attempted her own run for the presidency as a Democrat back in 2020 before endorsing Biden, she has veered significantly to the political right, and has endorsed Trump’s bid this year. LINK