[guest post by Dana]

Let’s go!

First news item:

That was then, this is now:

Pressed by Bash on her reversals on fracking and decriminalizing illegal border crossings, Harris sought to explain why her positions had changed.

“How should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made?” Bash asked Harris. “Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you were running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is going to be your policy moving forward?”

Harris said despite the shifts in position, her values had not changed.

“I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” she said. “You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.”

Her campaign later said Harris does not continue to support the Green New Deal, a wide-ranging proposal to address climate change first introduced in 2019.

Additionally:

Harris said she would renew a push for comprehensive border legislation that would tighten migration into the United States and vowed to “enforce our laws” against border crossings.

“We have laws that have to be followed and enforced, that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally, and there should be consequence,” she said.

She also hewed closely to President Joe Biden’s strong support of Israel and rejected calls from some in the Democratic Party that Washington should rethink sending weapons to Israel because of the heavy Palestinian death toll in Gaza.

She said she supports a strong Israel but “we must get a deal done” to get a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

Second news item

Trump making efforts to moderate his stand on abortion (to reach suburban women, who for some mysterious reason, just aren’t supporting him in massive numbers):

Trump, in a brief interview with NBC News, said he didn’t agree with the six-week ban adopted in Florida after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“I think the six week (ban) is too short — it has to be more time,” Trump told NBC News. “I told them I want more weeks.”

Trump also weighed in on IVF treatments:

“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment,” the former president said at a campaign event in Potterville, Michigan.

“Because we want more babies, to put it very nicely. And for this same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes, so that parents that have a beautiful baby will be able, so we’re pro family,” Trump continued.

Clearly, these positions are an affront to the pro-life community. And his willingness to expand Obamacare is an interesting move for someone who once tried to repeal Obamacare.

He's about two weeks from endorsing taxpayer funding for abortion. https://t.co/7pVlqAzUfg

— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) August 29, 2024

Apparently, Trump has changed his mind:

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has reversed his position on Florida’s restrictive abortion policies within just 24 hours. On Thursday, in an NBC News interview, Trump indicated he was against the state’s six-week abortion ban, calling it “too short” and stating his preference for allowing more time. “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” Trump said.

However, by Friday, facing intense backlash from his right-wing base, Trump changed course. Speaking to Fox News’ Bryan Llenas, Trump endorsed Florida’s six-week abortion ban and confirmed he would vote against Florida Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would protect abortion rights under the state constitution. Despite reiterating discomfort with the six-week limit, Trump dismissed Florida Amendment 4 by lying about the bill. “The nine months is just a ridiculous situation,” Trump claimed, adding, “I will be voting no for that reason.”

Third news item

When they tell you who they are, believe them. When they show you who they are, believe them, and then decide if they are someone who deserves your vote:

Former President Donald Trump spent Wednesday night reposting a string of pictures on Truth Social of Vice President Kamala Harris depicted as a communist, in an orange prison jumpsuit and hiding from reporters. But he’s under fire for one image in particular that implied his Democratic rival traded sexual favors to advance her political career.

The images originally posted by @Beware_of_penguin shows an older photograph of Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton followed by the comment: “Funny how blowjobs impacted both their careers differently,” referring to the fact that Harris once dated San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Clinton’s husband had an affair with a White House intern.

And the misogynistic pig wonders why suburban women aren’t supporting him. . .

Trump’s spokesperson stumbled when asked about the post.

Fourth news item

President Zelensky coming to US:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he would eventually present a peace plan to President Biden and the current White House candidates, Vice President Harris and former President Trump.

Zelensky, speaking at a news conference in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, touched on the four-stage plan, saying the country’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region was the first pillar.

“Second direction is Ukraine’s strategic place in the security infrastructure of the world,” Zelensky said, according to CNN. “Third direction is the powerful package of forcing Russia to end the war in a diplomatic way, and the fourth direction is economical.”

Ukraine’s leader said he plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. While there, he plans to meet with Biden and will present the plan. Due to the uncertainty of who is going to win the 2024 election, Zelensky said he planned to share the plan with both Trump, the GOP nominee, and Harris, the newly-minted Democratic nominee.

Fifth news item

Regarding Donald Trump using Section 60 at Arlington Cemetery for a photo op:

Federal law prohibits campaign or election-related activities within Army national military cemeteries. A defense official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said the Trump campaign was warned about not taking photographs in Section 60 before their arrival and the altercation.

Sixth news item

Asking federal court to “indefinitely delay” sentencing:

Donald Trump asked a federal court late Thursday to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, seeking a pathway to overturn his felony conviction and indefinitely delay his sentencing scheduled for next month.

Lawyers for the former president and current Republican nominee asked the federal court in Manhattan to seize the case from the state court where it was brought and tried, arguing that the historic prosecution violated Trump’s constitutional rights and ran afoul of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.

Have a great weekend.

–Dana