Comment on Doomsday and Democracy: Former Trump Aides Warn of Secret Presidential Crisis Powers

Jonathan Last: “I believe that for all her political ambition, Kamala Harris is carrying this burden for us. She’s not Barack Obama, basking in the warmth of a cultural moment en route to becoming a cultural icon. She’s more like Frodo Baggins, walking toward Mordor while carrying a millstone around her neck, in an attempt to save all of Middle Earth from a dark fate.” “Here are two things I truly believe: (1) Kamala Harris has wanted to be president for a long time; and (2) Kamala Harris never wanted to run for president with the fate of democracy on the line.” “When Howard Stern interviewed Harris, he asked her about the pressure and she answered that she literally loses sleep over it.

J. D. Vance said Donald Trump’s recent warnings about the “enemy from within” is just part of Trump being an “unfiltered” candidate, when asked why his comments were necessary, Politico reports. Said Vance: “Donald Trump is unfiltered. This is one of the reasons why the campaign has gone well, is because he is not doing a basement campaign strategy.

“Billionaire Mark Cuban told CNBC on Monday that he offered to arrange a live X interview between Kamala Harris and fellow billionaire Elon Musk, but was told no by Harris’ campaign,” Politico reports.

“America’s politicians don’t agree often—but cannabis is emerging as an exception in this election,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “For the first time, marijuana reform has bipartisan support from presidential candidates, as both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have voiced support for easing restrictions around the drug and reclassifying it as a less dangerous substance.”

Politico: “As early voting has begun in North Carolina — drawing record-setting statewide turnout on Thursday — and the process of restoring water, electricity, road access and mail service is underway, both parties have resumed some of their campaign activities in the affected areas.” “Early GOP concerns that depressed turnout in the red-leaning region could cost Trump in the southern battleground have largely been replaced by resolve to mobilize his supporters to the polls, according to interviews with more than a dozen Republican campaign officials, operatives and county party chairs working in the state.”

Donald Trump on Monday said he would be in favor of Congress returning early from recess to pass additional aid following Hurricane Helene, The Hill reports. Said Trump: “I would be in favor of it, yeah. This is a very unusual situation, and I would be in favor of it.”