News

Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “deeply touched” by a photo of her young grandniece, in pigtails, watching her speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week.

Though Harris hasn’t emphasized it — she said she is running to be president for “all Americans” — the photo captured the potential of her candidacy to make history.

“It’s very humbling. Very humbling in many ways,” she told CNN’s Dana Bash on Thursday.

Her comments came during the first joint interview of Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. The Minnesota governor added that he’d seen video of his son Gus emotionally reacting to his convention speech.

Former President Trump is seeking to shift the conversation about fertility treatment with a promise that his administration would fund in vitro fertilization treatments (IVF), an expensive proposal that goes beyond even most Democratic positions on the issue.

Trump told NBC News this week, “We are going to be — under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment.”

“So, we’re going to be paying for that treatment, or we’re going to be mandating that the insurance companies pay,” he added.

Months after Donald Trump declared the debate over reproductive rights in America settled, the former president is still straining to navigate the new era of post-Roe politics that he helped create.

The latest display of his unease came Thursday, when the former president infuriated religious conservatives with an inartful attempt to sidestep questions about a Florida referendum that will decide the future of abortion access in his home state. The campaign quickly clarified in a statement that Trump had not, in fact, picked a side.

Later that day, surrounded by steel and machinery inside a Michigan warehouse, Trump abruptly detoured from remarks on manufacturing to offer women a new incentive to vote for him: a promise for universal coverage of in vitro fertilization if he is elected. But senators in his own party, including his running mate, JD Vance, had defeated a bill with a similar provision earlier this summer.

His disregard for military tradition and his disdain for military service members is well documented.

Serving in a unit like the 101st Airborne Division can feel like a job. It’s a normal, everyday thing. Even in combat. It’s not until after you leave a famous unit like that — after you leave the Army, in fact — that you realize it is a privilege to lead and serve alongside such soldiers.

It’s not until much later, among the regular people at the office, that you realize how unlikely it is that anyone around you would ever grab three guys and come running if you were pinned down or out of ammo. In the Army, you take those things for granted because everybody does it. They do it. They don’t question it. They don’t all survive.

Poll question
Did you find Kamala Harris’ assertion that her values have not changed despite her change in positions convincing?

Selection of Smerconish Daily Headlines

Silver: Trump Has 52.4% Chance To Win, Silver Bulletin
Silver reports Trump with a 52.4% chance of winning the Electoral College, noting Harris faces challenges in PA, where tight polls threaten her path despite a 3.8-point national lead.

USA TODAY: Harris Ahead 48-43, USA Today
Harris leads Trump 48%-43% in a new poll, an eight-point swing since June, driven by gains among young voters, Hispanics, Black voters, and low-income households after the DNC.

Army Blasts Trump’s Cemetery Trip, Military Times
Army officials criticized Trump’s campaign for violating decorum and assaulting a cemetery worker at Arlington, but no charges were pursued after the employee declined to press.

Tension Within Harris’ Team, Axios
Tensions have emerged within Harris’ campaign as factions from her team, Obama alumni, and Biden’s staff create a “Frankenstein” team, sparking internal power struggles.

Dems Driving Voter Enthusiasm, Gallup
Democratic enthusiasm for the upcoming election has surged to its highest since 2008, with 78% of more excited to vote following Biden’s withdrawal, surpassing Republicans’ 64% enthusiasm.

GA Will Have 6 Presidential Choices, U.S. News & World Report
Georgia voters will have six presidential choices on the ballot, including Cornel West, Jill Stein, and Claudia De La Cruz, after the Secretary of State overruled a decision to remove them.

Abba Says No to Trump, BBC
Abba condemned Trump for using their songs, including “The Winner Takes It All,” at his rallies, joining other artists opposing the unauthorized use of their music in his campaign.