Comment on Election Spending Projected to Hit $16 Billion

Hurricane Milton explosively intensified Monday into one of the strongest hurricanes on record as it hurtles toward a highly developed stretch of Florida’s coast where residents are still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Via the Washington Post: Counties that line the Gulf Coast ordered scores of people to leave in what is expected to be the largest evacuation in the state since at least Hurricane Irma in 2017.

JD Vance has terrifying views about women but Vance's opinions are tame compared to a rising group in in MAGA world. The growing influence of the TheoBros should scare every American. This group of white Christian Nationalist young men want to take away women's voting rights and bring back public flogging. Mother Jones wrote an excellent exposé on the TheoBros.

Ainsley Earhardt, co-host of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” morning show, expressed concern on Monday morning that if women hear a recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, they may decide to vote for her in the presidential election. Over the weekend, Harris gave an interview to “Call Her Daddy,” which the Associated Press reports is “the most-listened-to podcast for women,” with millions of fans. During an interview with a Republican strategist, Earhardt said the interview was a problem. “If you don’t know the issues, you really think, ‘Okay, she’s selling herself, she’s talking about women’s rights and how Donald Trump has stacked the court with all these conservative justices’—and if you’re a woman listening to that podcast and you don’t know how progressive she is, you might vote for her,” Earhardt said.read more

First Draft - we have a misinformation crisis; Pharyngula - straight up Nazi shit; Strangely Blogged - Trump Fans and the Book of Marks; The Mahablog - if all else fails, start some riots; You Might Notice a Trend - what Trump threatens. Send tips, requests, and suggestions to mbru@crooksandliars.com (with 'for MBRU' in the subject line). read more

There are multiple reports that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis refused a call from Vice President Harris about Hurricane Milton. As the category five Hurricane Milton heads toward the west Florida coast, ABC News reported that DeSantis was playing politics. During the October 7 White House press conference, Karine Jean-Pierre responded to a reporter about DeSantis not answering the Vice President's call.

Trump needs more messaging discipline to drive home to voters his tremendous economic record, I&I believes, following an astonishing polling result.