Biden Admin’s Response to Hurricane Milton Could Be a ‘Huge Potential Problem’ for Harris Campaign
CNN ,
Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President George W. Bush, discussed the political implications of Hurricane Milton on CNN, suggesting that it could pose a “huge potential problem” for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign as the 2024 election draws near. McKinnon highlighted the risks Harris faces as an incumbent, noting that she would likely be held accountable for the federal response to the disaster. He emphasized that, with President Joe Biden and Harris in office, their management of this potentially catastrophic storm could significantly influence voter sentiment as the election approaches.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, following in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of destruction across the southern United States. The Biden administration’s response to Milton is being closely watched, as Florida braces for more damage. Harris, as part of the administration’s leadership, will face scrutiny over how well resources are mobilized, particularly with FEMA’s role in disaster relief already under the spotlight after mixed messages following Helene. This adds another layer of complexity to Harris’ campaign, which is already navigating a politically charged environment in the final stretch of the election season.
X is Reinstated in Brazil After Months-Long Legal Battle
Business Insider ,
Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has resumed operations in Brazil after paying a hefty $5.2 million fine and complying with court-ordered restrictions on flagged accounts. The platform had been banned in August for its refusal to comply with Brazil’s Supreme Court orders to block accounts associated with disinformation campaigns and far-right extremist groups. This legal standoff began when Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes demanded that X take action against certain accounts spreading harmful misinformation. Musk initially defied the orders, framing them as a form of censorship and arguing that X was committed to upholding free speech.
After months of negotiations, X agreed to comply with Brazilian law, lifting the ban that had been in place since August 31. The company announced in a statement that it will continue to defend free speech but within the “boundaries of the law.” The resolution of the conflict is seen as a victory for Brazil’s judiciary, which had argued that Musk’s refusal to comply with local content moderation laws posed a threat to democracy. The outcome of this legal battle sets a precedent for how global tech giants operate in countries with strict regulations around content and misinformation.
China’s Runaway Rally Stutters on Stimulus Uncertainty
Reuters ,
Chinese markets saw a sharp decline on Wednesday as investors grew anxious about the lack of clarity surrounding the government’s economic stimulus plans. The Shanghai Composite index dropped by 4%, and commodities struggled to regain footing after a disappointing press conference from China’s National Development and Reform Commission. Investors had been hoping for announcements of significant fiscal support, but the conference offered no new details on stimulus measures, leading to concerns about the country’s economic trajectory.
China’s stock markets, which had been riding a wave of optimism, suddenly turned fragile as uncertainty loomed over how much stimulus the government would inject into the economy. The finance ministry later scheduled another press conference on fiscal policy, raising hopes for future announcements. However, investors remain cautious, with some speculating that a stimulus package of between 2 to 10 trillion yuan ($280 billion to $1.4 trillion) may be necessary to boost GDP by at least two percentage points.
In addition to concerns about China’s economic recovery, global markets were rattled by a downbeat outlook from New Zealand’s central bank, which caused the New Zealand dollar to hit a seven-week low. The broader economic climate remains tense as China’s economy continues to face challenges from its property market slump, declining exports, and weak consumer demand.
European Spacecraft Launches for ‘Crash Scene Investigation’ of First Planetary Defense Test
CNN,
In a groundbreaking mission, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Hera spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday. The mission, which includes two CubeSat companions, aims to survey the aftermath of NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission. Two years ago, DART successfully impacted the asteroid Dimorphos, altering its orbit as part of a test to assess whether asteroid deflection technology could potentially protect Earth from future asteroid collisions.
The Hera spacecraft will conduct what ESA is calling a “crash scene investigation,” analyzing the effects of the DART impact on Dimorphos and the larger asteroid it orbits, Didymos. This data will help scientists better understand how to develop effective planetary defense systems that could prevent large-scale asteroid impacts in the future. The spacecraft is expected to reach Dimorphos in 2026, at which point the team will begin its detailed investigation of the asteroid’s surface and trajectory.
The mission comes after NASA’s success in proving that kinetic impact—crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid—can alter the path of a celestial body. While Dimorphos poses no threat to Earth, the information gained from the mission will be crucial in preparing for potential asteroid hazards that could pose a real danger to the planet in the future.
CBS ’60 Minutes’ Airs Two Different Answers from VP Harris to the Same Question
Fox News,
Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutes” has drawn attention after the network aired two different versions of her response to a question regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the original airing on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Harris gave a lengthy, somewhat unclear answer, which some critics have described as a “word salad.” However, the following day, during the prime-time “60 Minutes” special, CBS aired a shorter, more focused version of her response to the same question.
The discrepancy has led to criticism from conservatives, who have accused CBS of selectively editing the interview to present Harris in a more favorable light. The Trump campaign has called on the network to release the full, unedited interview, claiming that viewers deserve to see the complete context of Harris’ remarks. Harris had been asked about the United States’ role in the Middle East and why it seemed that Netanyahu was not listening to Washington’s advice on regional issues. The controversy over the two versions of Harris’ answer has added fuel to the ongoing debate about media bias and how political figures are portrayed in major network interviews.
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