Democrats, grappling with years of border crises, have tried to gain ground by pointing to the bipartisan border measure that congressional Republicans blocked earlier this year after Trump came out against it. Harris on Friday lambasted Trump for his role in stymying that bill.

“It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades. It was endorsed by the Border Patrol union. And it should be in effect today, producing results in real time, right now, for our country,” she said at a rally in Douglas, a town on the US-Mexico border.

“But Donald Trump tanked it. He picked up the phone and called some friends in Congress and said, ‘Stop the bill,’” she said. “He prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. And the American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games and their personal political future.”

The tech magnate’s more than 195 million followers on X frequently see him sharing posts endorsing conspiracy theories that claim the Biden administration has deliberately allowed undocumented immigrants to cross the border to gain political advantage. It’s also common to see posts referring to his own background as an immigrant and advocating for increased legal immigration to the US.

But it’s far less common to hear Musk talking about a chapter of his family’s immigration story that’s been described by his younger brother in several interviews — an anecdote that raises questions about the billionaire tech tycoon’s own immigration status when he was starting his first company in the United States.

When Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said during the presidential debate on Sept. 10, 2024, that Haitian immigrants are eating pets, food historians like me were not surprised at the slur. Trump’s lie followed a long American history of peddling ugly rumors about immigrants stealing and eating pets.

Dietary rules that unite and define American cuisine can so easily be perverted to use disgust to divide Americans. In the U.S., cow is food and dog is friend. Chicken is food. Cat is companion. The sharp lines between the animals Americans eat, love, protect and exterminate help write the dietary rules that define American norms.

What we eat, what we don’t and with whom we break bread are just some of the food rules that unite and define Americans. Think of how turkey – or tofurkey – unites Americans behind the Thanksgiving ritual. Bottled water. Ice. Ballpark hot dogs. Airplane pretzels. Movie theater popcorn.

Food can also establish group identity apart from the mainstream. Think of the many factions of vegan, vegetarian, paleo, grain-free and carnivore dieters who use food to express a political position. Also, of course, religious dietary proscriptions have worried scholars for centuries so that Jews, Muslims and Christians may never share a meal.

For Gov. Mike DeWine, the attacks on Haitians near his Ohio hometown are personal – and so is the cost of Trump’s and J.D. Vance’s vicious demonization of legal immigrants.

Neither DeWine speaks, and few in the sanctuary even know the governor is in their presence until after the homily. That’s when a Haitian layman, speaking his native language, recognizes the visitor and necks crane to glimpse of one of the few white people present before the congregation collectively rises to give him an ovation. DeWine stands long enough to acknowledge the ovation, offers an appreciative wave and quickly sits back down. It’s his second consecutive Sunday attending the afternoon service at St. Raphael’s, but he’s heartened this time to see more Haitians worshiping with him: few showed up the previous week because they were so frightened.

The next morning, the DeWines are visiting Springfield’s McGregor Metal, a family-owned manufacturer of auto and farm parts. The company’s third-generation owner, Jamie McGregor, has had to close the bay doors he usually keeps open out of safety concerns. There’s a flyer that’s been posted in Springfield with an image of McGregor and “TRAITOR” branded on his forehead. That’s because McGregor employs Haitians and has praised their dedication and reliability.

After touring the factory floor and saying hello to the workers, a mix of white Ohioans and Haitians, DeWine is sitting at a conference room table with the same mix. The locals extol their co-workers — and one lightens the mood by joking about their forebears eating possum. The Haitians say they’ve felt welcome and are grateful for their jobs, but that recent weeks have been difficult, and they know people are wondering about them now.

Conflict Expands to Central Beirut, Associated Press
Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut for the first time in nearly a year, killing dozens, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, amid escalating conflict and increased Hezbollah rocket fire.

Dozens Dead, Millions Without Power, Weather.com
Hurricane Helene has left at least 61 dead, nearly 3 million without power, and parts of western NC isolated by flooding and landslides, prompting a federal disaster declaration for recovery efforts.

CBS Questioned on Fact-Checking Debate, The Wrap
CBS is facing backlash for its decision to not have moderators fact-check the upcoming VP debate between Vance and Walz, prompting widespread criticism of its journalistic integrity.

Why the U.S. Hails Nasrallah‘s Killing, NPR
The U.S. government hails the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as “justice” for his role in orchestrating attacks that killed hundreds, including Americans, and for destabilizing the region.

What Insiders Say About Eric Adams, Politico
Insiders warn NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ political future is in jeopardy as he faces bribery charges and ongoing investigations, with longtime concerns about his conduct resurfacing.

Ground News

Kerry: Free Speech a Misinformation Hurdle, For the Left
John Kerry called the First Amendment a “major block” to combating climate change misinformation, highlighting the challenges democracies face without a clear truth arbiter.

Newsom Vetoes Bill for AI Regulations, For the Right
California Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1047, an AI safety bill requiring testing for high-cost models, citing it as an inadequate solution, a move seen as a win for tech companies.

SB 1047 was vetoed yesterday by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill would have imposed a liability regime for large AI models (proponents would say it clarifies existing liability), mandated Know Your Customer (KYC) rules for data centers, created an AI safety auditing industry and an accompanying regulator to oversee that industry, granted broad whistleblower protections to AI company staff, initiated a California-owned public compute infrastructure, and more.

It was a sweeping bill, no matter what how many different ways proponents discovered to say the bill was “light touch.” Indeed, of the major provisions listed above, really only the first (liability) was a subject of significant public debate. The fact that a major issue like data center KYC barely warranted discussion is a signal of just how ambitious SB 1047 was.

Governor Newsom is therefore wise to have vetoed the bill; at the end of the day, it was simply biting off more than it could chew.

In the realm of modern buzzwords, few are as pervasive—and as misunderstood—as “AI Literacy.” It’s the kind of term that gets tossed around in every meeting, every conference, every article that dares to touch on the future of technology. We hear it constantly: “You must learn AI,” “AI won’t replace you, but someone who knows how to use it will,” and “We need proper AI training.”

These statements, while repetitive, point to an emerging reality: the pressing need to define and teach AI Literacy. According to researchers at Georgia Tech, AI Literacy encompasses a range of competencies that enable individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies, collaborate with them effectively, and use them as tools in various aspects of life.

Yet, when you dig into the details, the concept starts to feel overwhelming. The infographic produced by these researchers attempts to capture the essence of AI Literacy, but instead of clarity, it offers a labyrinth of skills, competencies, and knowledge areas—each as intricate as the next.

A Foreign Policy Election—William Kristol

Events this election year have often called to mind Lenin’s apocryphal remark: “There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen.” Events these past few days have also called to mind the perhaps equally apocryphal remark of his comrade, Leon Trotsky: “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.”

It’s obvious that, from Europe to the Middle East and perhaps beyond, we’re living in a world of wars or potential wars. It’s also obvious that dealing with the challenges of such a world will have to be a major focus of the next American president.

But, we’re often told, American voters aren’t very interested in wars or potential wars abroad. We vote on inflation, or immigration, or abortion. Foreign policy isn’t our thing.

The editorial board ≠ the political staff. I know I am fighting a losing battle with spin and public perception here but it is important to note that the political reporters of the New York Times have ZERO to do with the editorial board’s decision to endorse Harris. They are entirely separate staffs. They do not interact in any meaningful way.

Again, I KNOW I am shouting (or doing something else) into the wind here. But, in my experience it’s 100% true. Editorial boards exist. But they do not represent the people actually covering the campaign.