John Carter

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign this week is launching its clearest effort yet to target Black men, announcing a new set of policy proposals.

Tensions in the Middle East following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah are spiraling and tipping toward what the Biden administration has feared for months: a broader regional war. Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, September 29.1. Cotton dismisses Middle East ceasefire Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) speaks on CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sept. 29.Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said it isn't the right time for Israel to broker a ceasefire, taking a stance at odds with efforts by the Biden administration and several U.S. allies to halt the fighting. What he's saying: "Hezbollah is on its knees," Cotton said on CBS News' "Face the Nation. "The United States should help Israel drive Hezbollah to the mat and choke it out and finish it off once and for all."He called for the U.S. to "let Israel win rather than continue to make these feckless demands for ceasefires and de-escalation."Cotton added he'd support an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon if "that's what Israel needs to do to eliminate the remnants of Hezbollah's leadership and arsenal."The big picture: The proposed 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah would allow a pause for negotiations in the escalating conflict, where hundreds have reportedly been killed in just days.Thousands in Gaza and Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes in nearly a year since Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200.Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who served as the head of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, offered a word of caution when asked about Cotton's suggestion: "Just spiraling the violence is unlikely to produce a good outcome."But he added: "I can sympathize with both sides, the visceral desire to go after the other."As Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to wage war against Iranian proxies with mounting civilian casualties, McChrystal noted, "The long-term outcome in Palestine writ large is going to be from a statesman-like view."He continued: "If he's [Netanyahu] taking a wartime view only, I think at some point he's either going to have to widen that aperture or take a longer view of it."National Security spokesman John Kirby said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that there "needs to be an effort to de-escalate."He noted, "Hezbollah under Mr. Nasrallah was a lethal threat to the Israeli people — they want to get their families back to those homes and kibbutzes in the north," but said the U.S. believes "an all-out war with Hezbollah, certainly with Iran, is not the way to do that."Zoom out: Asked by CNN's Jake Tapper about a possible ground incursion into Lebanon, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia — a cause he has continuously advocated for — saying, "Without some diplomatic solution, Israel is going to be occupying parts ... of Lebanon to create a buffer zone."He added: "That to me is not the outcome I desire."2. The GOP's new ICE talking point Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" on Sept. 29.Several Republicans making the Sunday show rounds brought up the same talking point when asked about the border — that hundreds of thousands of migrants have committed crimes while President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been in office. Why it matters: The data the GOP members are referencing was released last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). The statistics span decades, including the Trump administration years, and some of the individuals counted are serving prison sentences, not living freely.What they're saying: "400,000 people have been let loose in our country, 16,000 people convicted of being a rapist, 13,000 convicted murderers and 400,000 people generally convicted of crimes were released on her watch," Graham said on "State of the Union," before being fact-checked by CNN anchor Jake Tapper about the data. Cotton cited the same numbers during his appearance on "Face the Nation," telling CBS's Robert Costa, claiming the administration "acknowledged" it "released more than 13,000 convicted murderers" and other criminals "who Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have let roam our streets."Donald Trump Jr., the former president's eldest son, accused Harris of "literally letting in 16,000 rapists across the border that she was in charge of. 13,000 murderers as part of the millions of people they've let into this country unchecked" during his appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."And then there's Trump, who took to Truth Social Friday, the same day Harris visited the border, to slam her record on immigration using the data: "Kamala should immediately cancel her News Conference because it was just revealed that 13,000 convicted murderers entered our Country during her three and a half year period as Border Czar."Between the lines: Despite Republican claims, Harris was never appointed to be in charge of the border or its security. Biden appointed her to lead diplomatic efforts related to immigration, including meeting officials from Central American countries to work on solutions to ease migration to the U.S.Worth noting: CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale writes that the "non-detained" list includes people who are behind bars serving criminal sentences but are not being held in "immigration detention in particular," meaning criminals are not necessarily being allowed to "openly roam" the country (as Trump said).However, the total number on the non-detained docket — including those not convicted of any crimes — CNN notes, did spike under the Biden administration.3. Another GOP endorsement for Harris Former Sen. Jeff Flake speaks on ABC's "This Week" on Sept. 29.Jeff Flake, the former Arizona senator and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, is the latest GOP member to endorse Harris.Driving the news: Flake didn't call Trump by name when explaining his reasoning in an appearance on ABC News' "This Week" but said he couldn't endorse a candidate who "tries to use the powers of the presidency to overturn" an election.He said he thought Republicans "believe in the rule of law in particular" and that overturning an election is "anything but respect for the rule of law."Flake also highlighted the former president's tariff policy as going against conservative viewpoints on free trade.Zoom out: Given Flake's connection to a border state, ABC News' Martha Raddatz pressed the former senator on his views about Harris' immigration policies.Flake conceded Harris could be tougher on the border "particularly with asylum policies."More from Axios' Sunday coverage:"You've been a good friend": Biden honors Jimmy Carter ahead of 100th birthdayHarris sticks with Biden on foreign policy — for now"Our hearts are heavy": NWS writes emotional letter to Carolinas, Georgia

Perhaps that’s the main thing the Service would like to keep Secret.

Here’s a look at some highs, lows and curveballs from presidential debates past.

Meanwhile, I’m singing 1960s protester Phil Ochs’ ballad, “I Ain’t Marching Anymore.”

EXCLUSIVE: The widow of Michael Crichton – creator of ER, Jurassic Park, Westworld, Twister, The Andromeda Strain and many other hits that blended grounded science with propulsive pop culture narratives – filed a potentially explosive lawsuit in California State Superior Court this morning. Led by Crichton’s widow Sherri Crichton on behalf of John Michael Crichton [...]

All nine City Council district seats and two city charter amendments also are on the ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. on election day.

Take a look at a few soaring scenes, floor fights, street battles and other memorable convention moments that were uplifting, outlandish or just plain awkward.

By The Associated Press The Democratic National Convention heads into its second day Tuesday. Former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama’s vice president. Biden won’t be in the hall to [...]

Rep. Ken Calvert would need a waiver to remain the top Republican on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee if he wins reelection. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Valley residents and visitors sought to catch a glimpse of former President Donald Trump as he twice traversed Jackson Hole in a motorcade to attend an expensive invitation-only fundraiser at the Four Seasons Resort on Saturday.The Republican presidential nominee made no public appearances, but handsfull of people waited along streets and roads to watch his procession of some 15 vehicles drive by. By all accounts, Trump remains deeply popular in Wyoming, having won the state by wide margins in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.He landed at the Jackson Hole Airport very early Saturday morning after attending a rally in Bozeman, Montana. He then went from his lodging at the Rusty Parrot Lodge to Teton Village for the luncheon fundraiser, then back to the airport to depart at 3:40 p.m.Flight tracking services said the Gulfstream 550 twin jet with “Trump 2024” painted on the side was headed for Aspen, Colorado.“I came here to see my president,” said Margie Aeckerle, a 50-year Jackson resident who was roadside near the airport Saturday afternoon sporting a patriotic blouse, MAGA cap over her sun bonnet, and waving two American flags.“I’m so excited my mouth is dry,” she said.Aeckerle was hoping her red, white and blue would attract Trump’s attention.“If I had my flags out,” she said, “he might roll down the window.”But police asked her and others to move along before the motorcade arrived.On the squareTrump’s private appearance was counterbalanced by a public rally supporting the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.About 200 people assembled on the Jackson Town Square on Friday evening to wave signs at passing motorists and pedestrians for about an hour.Leslie Petersen, a longtime Democratic party member, office holder and activist in Teton County and Wyoming who attended the rally, said her party’s “return to joy” theme was not just a slogan.She characterized the sentiment as “an honest to God fact,” in a text message sent after the rally. “The joy and conviviality in the crowd was evident and the number of hugs uncountable.”Drive-by supporters honked horns regularly as they passed the rally, which took place in the heart of one of Wyoming’s few left-leaning communities. A group of about five Trump supporters briefly shouted their views from across the street. Rally goers reported at least one instance of being flipped off.“The number of honks and thumbs-up from cars and passersby was further evidence of widespread Harris support,” Petersen said.Diehard Democrat and Hawaii native Brian Tanabe couldn’t pass up the chance to try and get a photograph of Trump’s plane in front of the Tetons on Saturday afternoon. After being rained out of a hike in the hills, he and companion Rick Knori hung out on the access road to the airport hoping to snag a picture of Trump’s big jet with a mountain backdrop.“We just thought it would be special – for his wife,” Tanabi said, pointing to Knori. She’s a Trump fan, they said.“Nothing like a Trump keepsake,” Tanabe said.Trump’s big jet, a Boeing 757, had a mechanical problem Friday and landed in Billings instead of Bozeman. After his rally there, he took the smaller jet to Jackson Hole. The Gulfstream presented a less impressive scene than its larger cousin presumably would have.That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Greg Falk, 82, who was roadside north of the airport when the plane took off. He was returning from the Bozeman rally with two friends.A Star Valley resident who has operated an outdoor guide service in Jackson Hole for 30 years, he was still high on the excitement from the night before.“He was fantastic,” Falk said of Trump. “The crowd was fantastic.“He’s our kind of person,” Falk said. He’s strong. He cares about our country.”

Minnesota’s second vice president set a precedent that’s endured since.

More than a dozen House Republicans on Tuesday wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asking him not to axe clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) if the GOP maintains or expands its House majority next year. In the letter, first shared with Politico’s E&E News and led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino [...]

From geographic balancing to making up for what the presidential candidate lacks, the considerations for picking a vice presidential candidate have changed and evolved since the 19th century.

“Freedom,” a cut from Beyoncé’s landmark album, “Lemonade,” soundtracks Kamala Harris’ first presidential campaign video. Here’s what to know about the iconic anthem.

Harris stepped onto the national political stage as Obama was leaving. Harris’ first effort showed potential on the debate stage but also involved a struggle to find a core message.