North Carolina begins sending out absentee ballots for presidential election
With Election Day exactly six weeks away, one key swing state is getting the process rolling Tuesday, Sept. 24. North Carolina has started to send out absentee ballots to voters who requested them.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections received more than 200,000 requests including almost 20,000 from military and overseas voters. Those ballots to military members actually went out late last week, electronically.
State law had directed the first absentee ballots to be distributed earlier this month. However, things became complicated and delayed.
The withdrawal of Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the presidential race turned into a court matter. Appeals court judges prevented ballots that contained his name from going out, because Kennedy wanted his name removed. He has since endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Elections offices statewide were forced to print new ballots and redo absentee voter packets. Those mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on election night. Military and overseas voters have different rules and deadlines.
North Carolina is a swing state with 16 electoral votes. Donald Trump won the state in both 2020 and 2016. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll shows Trump with a slight two point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris. As a result of the tight race, both candidates have spent time campaigning in the state.
Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers: FBI
Both parties are responding after the FBI said Iranian hackers sent stolen information from the Trump campaign to members of President Biden’s campaign. And a second round of explosions in Lebanon — this time involving walkie-talkies — leaves at least 20 dead. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
FBI: Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers
Iranian hackers stole information from former President Donald Trump’s campaign over the summer and sent it to people affiliated with then-Democratic candidate President Joe Biden’s campaign. That’s according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The statement said there is no indication Biden’s campaign ever replied to the emails.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign said a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails but were not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign. Her campaign also said it condemns any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections.
During a rally in Uniondale, New York Wednesday night, Sept. 18, former President Trump addressed the hack.
“Iran hacked into my campaign,” he told his supporters. “I don’t know what the hell they found. I’d like to find out, couldn’t have been too exciting, but they gave it to the Biden campaign. I can’t believe it. Oh yes, I can. But this is really foreign election interference. This is real election interference.”
U.S. officials said this was just one of several attempts by Iran to “undermine the confidence of our electoral process.” Earlier this year, it was reported that Iranian-backed hackers stole Trump campaign documents and shared them with news agencies including Politico, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
The Iranian government has denied the allegations of meddling in the U.S. elections.
It’s not only Iran as Microsoft said this week that Russia has targeted Vice President Harris’ campaign by spreading conspiracy theories online.
Executives from tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet testified in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday on foreign threats to U.S. elections.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said while the presidential race is between Trump and Harris, it has become an election of “Iran versus Trump and Russia versus Harris.”
Second wave of explosions hit Lebanon; Israel declares ‘new era’ of war
Like the pager explosions on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that left a dozen people dead and thousands hurt, the walkie-talkie explosions are believed to have been orchestrated by Israel, according to the United States and other countries briefed on the incident.
Israel has not commented but the country’s military leader did say a “new era” of war is beginning and said its “center of gravity is moving north,” potentially a reference to Israel’s border with Lebanon.
The attacks, which are believed to have been targeting Hezbollah, have left dozens of fighters and civilians dead.
Israel, a key ally to the U.S., did warn Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday it was going to carry out an operation in Lebanon, but multiple sources familiar with the matter said details were not given.
Teamsters union not endorsing a 2024 presidential candidate
The Teamsters have opted not to endorse former President Trump or Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election. It’s the first time in decades the union has chosen not to endorse any candidate.
The decision came just two days after union leaders met with Harris and months after meeting with Trump.
While opting not to endorse anyone, the Teamsters did release data from internal surveys showing most of its members support Trump (59%) over Harris (34%).
House GOP fails to pass Johnson’s stopgap funding bill
Three Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the stopgap bill, but 14 Republicans voted against it, ultimately causing it to fail. Johnson said afterward he’d draft a new bill to keep the government funded past Oct. 1.
Body found during search for Kentucky highway shooter
Authorities had been searching for 32-year-old Joseph Couch since Sept. 7, when police say Couch shot and injured five people on Interstate 75.
On Wednesday afternoon, the remains were found by two state troopers alongside two civilians who said they were trying to help find the suspect. The troopers were drawn to the site after noticing vultures circling above and a strong odor in the search area.
Authorities said a weapon was discovered alongside the body believed to be Couch. The remains have been sent to the coroner’s office for positive identification.
Lionsgate announces deal with AI company Runway to ‘augment’ films
Artificial intelligence is coming to a theater near you. Lionsgate — the studio behind film franchises like “John Wick” and “The Hunger Games” has announced a deal with AI research company Runway, whose backers include Google and chipmaker NVIDIA.
The deal involves Runway’s creation and training of a new AI model that Lionsgate’s filmmakers can use to “augment their work.” Lionsgate said it expects to save “millions and millions of dollars” using Runway’s technology.
Lionsgate Vice Chair Michael Burns said AI is seen as a great tool for “enhancing and supplementing” the studio’s current operations. Burns told The Wall Street Journal, “We do a lot of action movies, so we blow a lot of things up and that is one of the things Runway does.”
Error in Arizona’s voter registration system affects nearly 100,000 residents
A significant administrative error in Arizona’s voter registration system led to uncertainty over the voting rights of nearly 100,000 residents in upcoming state and local elections. This issue prompted legal action and raised concerns about voter access in a key battleground state.
The error incorrectly registered almost 100,000 voters as having provided proof of U.S. citizenship, which is required for state and local election participation in Arizona. The glitch primarily affects voters who obtained Arizona driver’s licenses before October 1996.
While not affecting federal election voting, including the 2024 presidential race, the issue could exclude affected voters from state and local contests, potentially impacting crucial state races and a ballot measure on abortion rights.
Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer discovered the error. He asked the state Supreme Court to stop Secretary of State Adrian Fontes from providing full ballots to the affected voters. Richer argues those voters should get federal-only ballots.
Arizona faces a critical deadline as it prepares to send its first ballots to military and overseas voters on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“We’re hoping the Supreme Court will act swiftly once we get our response in to the lawsuit that’s been filed,” Fontes said. “And under that guidance, then we can move forward, in conjunction with all Arizona elections officials.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered the Motor Vehicle Division to rectify the error. She also initiated an independent audit of Arizona’s voter registration systems.
USPS gears up for surge in mail-in ballots ahead of 2024 election
The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots with the 2024 election less than two months away. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy addressed concerns raised by election officials.
The National Association of State Election Directors wrote a letter to DeJoy, concerned the surge in mail-in ballots would cause exceptionally long delivery times and an increase in mail returned as undeliverable.
DeJoy responded by assuring election officials that the USPS is prepared for that expected surge.
The postmaster general reported intensified training for postal employees to address quality issues that led to incorrect deliveries in the past.
DeJoy also said the USPS established dedicated teams to manage mail flagged as “undeliverable as addressed” and to swiftly resolve election mail-related challenges.
Both the Postal Service and state election officials are urging voters to return ballots well before Election Day or utilize available drop boxes.
Political parties are mobilizing supporters to vote early, either through mail-in ballots or in-person voting, signaling a strategic shift in campaign tactics.
The 2020 election saw over 69 million ballots sent through the postal system, setting a precedent that continues to influence voting patterns.
Growing number of voters won’t accept election results if their candidate loses
A new survey revealed how Americans would react if their candidate were to lose the 2024 presidential election. According to the new data, nearly half of Republicans said they would not accept the results if former President Donald Trump loses the election. About a quarter of Democrats said they would not accept the results if Vice President Kamala Harris loses.
The nonpartisan organization, World Justice Project (WJP), surveyed 1,046 American Households between June 10 and June 18.
While the report did not ask the specific “action” they would take to overturn the election results, 14% of Republicans said they would “take action,” compared to 11% of Democrats. As far as how many will choose to not accept the results, 46% of Republicans and 27% of Democrats said they would not consider the outcome to be legitimate if the other party’s presidential candidate won the election.
The report also found that 29% of Republicans said the electoral process is free from corruption, compared to 56% of Democrats. One of the biggest gaps in the survey between the two parties was in response to the statement, “Votes are counted accurately.” Of Republicans polled, only 43% agreed, while 84% of Democrats agreed.
“Today, trust in many U.S. institutions, government accountability, and overall rule of law is considerably lower than it was ahead of the 2020 election,” Elizabeth Anderson, WJP’s executive director, said in a press release.
Despite their concerns, 88% of Americans surveyed said they planned to vote this fall.
RNC and North Carolina GOP sue over digital student IDs for voting
The Republican National Committee (RNC) and North Carolina Republican Party launched their fourth lawsuit in a month against the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE). The latest suit challenges the board’s recent decision to accept digital student IDs for voting.
The lawsuit specifically targets the approval of the “Mobile UNC One Card” generated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, marking the first instance of a smartphone-based ID qualifying for voting purposes in the state.
Republicans argued that state law requires physical identification, not digital versions, for voting purposes.
The lawsuit cites a February 2024 statement from the elections board.
“An image of a photo ID, either as a photocopy or a photo on a mobile device, is not one of the permitted forms of photo ID when voting in person,” the statement said.
The attorney for the elections board countered that the law does not explicitly prohibit digital IDs.
Over 130 traditional student and employee IDs have been approved for voting in 2024, but the inclusion of digital versions raises questions about security and verification processes.
North Carolina’s status as one of seven crucial battleground states elevates the significance of this legal challenge. North Carolina’s electoral college votes could influence the outcome of the presidential election.
Republicans asked a judge to issue a preliminary injunction declaring that digital IDs are unacceptable under state law when issuing identification to vote in the upcoming election.
In-person early voting is set to begin on Oct. 17, adding urgency to the resolution of this dispute.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana, Francine is on the move. We have the latest track. And the mother of the 14-year-old suspect in last week’s deadly school shooting in Georgia apologizes in an open letter to the victims’ families. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
Francine has weakened to a tropical storm, hours after it made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The storm is now trekking over Mississippi.
Power outages have left more than 350,000 Louisiana residents in the dark and flash flood warnings are still in effect in parts of the state, as the storm batters parts of Mississippi with 70mph winds.
In Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, the powerful storm brought down power lines, snapped trees, and caused flooding. Partial 911 outages were also reported in areas impacted by the storm. Wireless companies have said they’re working on the issue.
High winds and a potentially dangerous storm surge from a now weakened Francine are expected to also continue into Mississippi and Alabama Thursday, Sept. 12, with the potential for deadly tornadoes and flash flooding as well.
According to the National Weather Service, Francine is expected to continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, downgrading to a tropical cyclone by Friday, Sept. 13, as it moves across the south.
Mother of Georgia school shooting suspect apologizes to families in letter
One week after a school shooting in Georgia left two students and two teachers dead, the 14-year-old suspect’s mother has now come forward. She penned an open letter apologizing to victims’ families that was first obtained by CNN.
Marcee Gray is the mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been arrested and charged with murder in the Apalachee High School shooting. This week, we also learned she made a phone call to the school the morning of the shooting, just moments before the gunfire.
In her open letter, Marcee Gray said she is “sorry from the bottom of my heart” to the parents and families impacted. She also said if she could take the place of the two students who died she would “without a second thought.”
While offering her condolences, she also wrote that her son Colt is “not a monster. He is my oldest baby.” She asked the community for prayers while offering her own.
His mother’s letter comes after it was reported Colt sent her a text message the morning of the shooting, saying only three words: “I’m sorry, mom.”
Marcee Gray said she called the school to warn of “an extreme emergency” at 9:50 a.m. ET last Wednesday, Sept. 4, and asked school officials to go get her son. Thirty minutes later, police responded to reports of the school shooting.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin, has also been charged in connection with the deadly shooting. He faces two second-degree murder charges, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of child cruelty. The next court hearing for Colt and Colin Gray is set for Dec. 4.
Trump, Biden, Harris come together for 9/11 memorial event
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump all marked 23 years since 9/11 together. Trump and Harris could be seen shaking hands ahead of the annual memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York on Wednesday, just hours after their first debate.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was also in attendance.
After the Ground Zero ceremony, the candidates went their separate ways. Trump and Vance visited a New York City firehouse, and Biden and Harris went to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Trump also visited the memorial later in the day.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, marked the somber anniversary at a 9/11 volunteer event in his home state.
Secret Service to increase security for Jan. 6 electoral vote counting
As Election Day nears, the Secret Service has announced there will be increased security during Congress’ counting and certification of electoral votes. The beefed-up security is a precaution after the riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
The designation unlocks federal, state and local resources. The Secret Service will be leading the planning of the event.
The counting and certification of electoral votes will take place on Jan. 6, 2025.
67 million Americans watched Tuesday’s debate
More than 67 million Americans tuned in for the first debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris Tuesday. That was more viewers than the 51 million who watched the debate between Trump and President Biden in June.
However, it’s still far fewer people compared to modern general election debates, like the one in 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Trump that drew in 84 million viewers.
Tuesday’s debate marked the first time Americans got to see Harris and Trump go head-to-head. It’s still up in the air if there will be a second debate between the two.
Campbell Soup Company changing its name after 155 years
Campbell’s soup has been a staple in American kitchens for more than a hundred years. Now, after 155 years in business, the company is changing its name — slightly.
Its dropping “soup” from their official title and re-branding as The Campbell’s Company. That’s because instead of just soup, the company owns other iconic American eats like Goldfish, Cape Cod, and Pepperidge Farm.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris closed out the Democratic National Convention (DNC) by accepting her party’s nomination for president. And one of the largest diamonds ever found was just unearthed in Botswana. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted her party’s nomination for president. The Democratic National Convention came to a close Thursday night, Aug. 22, after Harris addressed the crowd, laying out more of her policy vision for the nation and going after her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
During her speech, Harris vowed to create what she called an “opportunity economy.” She also reiterated her stance that Israel has a right to defend itself but pressed for a cease-fire deal and pledged to reform the U.S. immigration system.
When Harris turned her attention to the former president, she blamed Trump for Republicans voting against a bipartisan border bill, said he sent a mob to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and highlighted his now-criminal record.
“The biggest reaction is why didn’t she do the things she’s complaining about,” he questioned. “She could’ve done it three and a half years ago. She could do it tonight, by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington D.C. and closing the border. She doesn’t need a bill. I didn’t have a bill; I closed the border. She could still do them. She’s got four and a half to five months left.”
All eyes will be on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party candidate, on Friday, Aug. 23, as he’s set to hold a press conference. The speculation is Kennedy will be dropping out of the presidential race and potentially endorsing Trump.
They had planned to march toward the convention center but were blocked by rows of police in riot gear.
#WATCH : More videos of Massive pro-Palestine protest engulfs DNC convention
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, outraged over Dems' backing for Israel in the Gaza war.
The group of about 40 unconfirmed delegates and supporters spent Wednesday night, Aug. 21, outside the United Center on the sidewalk and remained there until after 8 p.m. Thursday before finally going back inside to the convention.
Supreme Court allows Arizona to enforce proof-of-citizenship law
The United States Supreme Court agreed to temporarily reinstate a portion of a 2022 Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when people register to vote. In a 5-4 ruling, the high court gave a partial victory to Republicans who have been trying to enforce proof of citizenship as a requirement to cast a vote in November.
While the justices ruled the state can enforce the requirement of proof of citizenship to vote using the state’s registration form, the court turned down other requests that would bar voters who registered using a federal form or by mail unless they showed proof of citizenship.
This is only a temporary ruling while litigation continues. So, it’s unclear as of now if, come November, voters in the state will have to show documentation they’re a legal resident to cast a ballot.
Canadian government orders arbitration to end rail labor dispute
The Canadian government has intervened in a labor dispute involving thousands of freight train workers. The deadlock on workers’ contract negotiations could have led to a major economic disruption, impacting goods coming into the United States.
The trains are expected to resume running in a few days.
FDA approves updated COVID vaccines
The FDA has approved updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This puts the new shots on track to reach most Americans within days.
Today, we approved and granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. https://t.co/pul33IEnIw
These shots target a strain called KP.2, which was the dominant COVID strain in May when a summer surge of the virus began, but now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases, according to the CDC. Still, Pfizer and Moderna said their KP.2 vaccines can produce stronger immune responses against other circulating sub-variants than last year’s shots.
Second largest diamond ever found is discovered in Botswana
The second largest diamond ever found was just unearthed in Botswana, according to the Canadian mining company that discovered the gem in one of its mines in Africa. The massive, 2,492-carat diamond is the biggest to be found in more than a century and it was located using X-ray technology.
The mining company presented Botswana’s president with the huge stone on Thursday, Aug. 22. The diamond will be evaluated over the next several weeks and will likely sell for tens of millions of dollars.
The colossal stone is believed to be the biggest one found since a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and cut into smaller stones — some of which make up the British royal family’s crown jewels.
Texas AG investigates claims of nonprofits registering noncitizens to vote
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, R, has announced an investigation into claims that organizations in the state might be unlawfully registering noncitizens to vote. Paxton’s investigation follows an undercover operation by his Election Integrity Unit, which reportedly found nonprofit groups outside the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices offering voter registration assistance to individuals seeking driver’s licenses or ID cards.
Paxton questioned the necessity of these groups, noting that voters already have the opportunity to register inside DPS offices.
“Texans are deeply troubled by the possibility that organizations purporting to assist with voter registration are illegally registering noncitizens to vote in our elections,” Paxton said.
He also asked, “If eligible citizens can legally register to vote when conducting their business at a DPS office, why would they need a second opportunity to register with a booth outside?”
In Texas, lying about citizenship on voter registration forms can result in up to 180 days in jail and fines up to $10,000. It is also illegal to assist noncitizens in registering to vote, with violators facing up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Noncitizen voting has become a partisan issue ahead of the November presidential election. Republicans introduced the SAVE Act in the House, which would require U.S. voters to provide proof of citizenship to cast a ballot. The GOP-led House passed the bill, but the Senate did not vote on the proposal, with a majority of Democrats, including President Biden, opposing it. They argue that it would make voting more difficult for U.S. citizens while Republicans argue it would make U.S. elections more secure.
Iran steps up attempts to interfere with 2024 US election: Microsoft
Iran is stepping up its attempts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. According to a new report from Microsoft, Iranian operatives created fake news outlets targeting liberal and conservative voters and tried to hack a presidential campaign – though Microsoft did not specify which one.
Microsoft compiled open-source information on top of its own internal data for its latest threat intelligence report. The report offers some of the clearest public examples yet of what U.S. intelligence officials called “an ongoing covert social media campaign” by Iran to undercut former President Donald Trump’s candidacy and increase “social discord” ahead of the November election.
According to Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, Iran “laid the groundwork for influence campaigns on trending election-related topics and began to activate these campaigns in an apparent effort to stir up controversy or sway voters – especially in swing states.”
Microsoft’s report also showed Russian operatives have been trying to “drive headlines with fake scandals” since April. Some of those headlines falsely claim the CIA told a Ukrainian troll farm to disrupt the upcoming U.S. election, the FBI wiretapped Trump’s residence and Ukrainian soldiers burned an effigy of Trump.
Microsoft also said Chinese online operatives tried to use hundreds of thousands of online accounts to amplify outrage around the pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities a couple months ago.
The Iranian, Russian and Chinese governments all deny doing anything to influence the election.