Tim Walz responds to proposal to debate J.D. Vance

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signaled on Wednesday he will participate in a vice presidential debate on October 1.

'See you on October 1, JD,' Walz posted on X.

The Democratic VP nominee included the invite to participate in a debate hosted by CBS in New York City.

A Harris campaign official confirmed they accepted the invitation.

'Governor Walz looks forward to debating JD Vance if he shows,' the official said.

Trump's running mate J.D. Vance has said he also wants to debate his opponent.

Donald Trump backtracked on his previous remark claiming Kamala Harris's campaign used artificial intelligence to exaggerate her crowd size.

'Has anyone noticed that Kamala cheated at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.’d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, but they didn't exist!' he wrote on Truth Social this week.

After casting his vote in Florida Wednesday, a reporter pressed the former president on his past remarks, asking 'You said Harris's crowd sizes were AI... can you tell us why you made that claim?'

'I can’t say what was there, who was there. I can only tell you about ours. We have the biggest crowds ever in the history of politics,' Trump responded, notably leaving AI out of his answer.

In a speech billed as an economic address in North Carolina, Trump didn't hold back from personal attacks on VP Kamala Harris.

'She's not a brilliant person. She's not a smart person. She is not very smart,' Trump said.

He made the comment in a speech where he accussed her of copying his ideas and held up a box of Tic Tacs to speak about inflation.

Former President Donald Trump ridiculed Kamala Harris for seeking to 'copy' his campaign ideas, in a speech billed as an economy event where he brandished a box of tic tacs.

Trump is still whinging that Harris lifted one of his campaign talking points by declaring in Las Vegas that she will end taxes on tips for waiters and other tipped workers.

In campaign that features Trump vowing to deport millions of undocumented migrants and Harris issuing vague promises about the future, Trump said he is holding back his own detailed proposals for fear they'll get copied.

'Kamala Harris won’t end the economic crisis. She will only make it worse. And why hasn’t she done it? She talks about it. She’s doing a plan. You know she’s going to announce it this week. Maybe she’s waiting for me to announce it so she can copy it,' he joked.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be in Chicago doing counter-programming during next week's Democratic National Convention, his campaign announced Wednesday.

The former Democrat will appear at a 'Restorative Justice Peace Circle' on Sunday night, on the eve of the four-day convention's kick-off.

The event includes several leaders of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.

And then on Monday, Kennedy will headline a 'Peace & Restoration' town hall, where criminal justice reform will be discussed.

Kennedy planned counter-programming for last month's Republican National Convention too - but ended up scrapping campaign events in Wisconsin.

DailyMail.com reported on him being spotted at two Milwaukee gyms instead of holding events with voters.

That week, video footage was leaked by RFK Jr.'s son of the candidate on the phone with Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

In the course of the conversation, it was clear that Trump was courting Kennedy for an endorsement and to push the third-party hopeful out of the 2024 race.

Kennedy has remained defiant despite decreasing support in the polls and a number of wild stories about him in the press, including his admission that he left a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park.

False claims of a 'deep state' conspiracy spread rapidly in the hours after a gunman tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

And an exclusive poll reveals the shocking number of people who believe the shooting was an inside job.

Some 21 percent of people surveyed for Dailymail.com said they believed the FBI was responsible for the attempted assassination.

That number includes a third of Republicans.

In contrast, less than half (46 percent) accept the official explanation that the attack was carried out by a lone shooter.

The Taliban marked the three-year anniversary of taking over Afghanistan Wednesday with a military parade showcasing military hardware left behind by American forces as they raced for the exit.

Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters thundered through the blue skies over Bagram airbase—once the hub for U.S. forces—as armored personnel carriers, Humvees and trucks loaded with rockets rumbled past dignitaries as the Taliban's white flag fluttered in the breeze.

Some of the equipment came from supplies seized by the Taliban from Afghan government forces, which collapsed as the U.S. withdrew in 2021.

Others were left behind by U.S. troops after being rendered inoperable.

In all, some $7 billion worth of weapons, gear and ammunition were abandoned.

Former President Donald Trump continues to argue that Joe Biden is angry and mistreated – this time suggesting he got a lousy spot at the Democratic convention.

‘In fact, they’re not even giving him a good spot to speak. You know when he’s speaking? On Monday,’ Trump told his crowd in Asheville, North Carolina, where he said he would be doing well in new polls in a state where Kamala Harris is seeing gains compared to Biden.

‘Monday’s not the – that’s the worst day. But that’s what they do. It’s their own form of – it’s just another I guess relatively it’s a minor form of cheating by comparison to what they really do,’ Trump said at a speech billed as an economic address.

The speaking lineup on the first day of Trump's own Republican Convention in Milwaukee featured Sens. Katie Britt (Ala.), Tim Scott (S.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. His daughter-in-law Lara Trump headlined the second night.

Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, is expected to join Biden in speaking Monday in Chicago.

Bo Loudon, a 17-year-old conservative influencer, shared tips for Gen Z voters who are considering Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

The social media star who often posts images with popular Republicans like Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Barron Trump - one of his best friends - joined Fox News Wednesday to talk about who Gen Z may vote for come November.

Speaking on Fox & Friends First, the influencer, who himself is currently too young to vote, touted former President Trump's support and highlighted Harris's past critiques of Gen Z.

'I wouldn't put my biggest support in someone that thinks I'm stupid, because that's what Kamala said, '18 to 24-year-olds are stupid,'' Loudon told the network. 'Trump loves the youth, Gen Z loves Trump, and he's got the support.'

Top Republican James Comer has demanded information on why Google and Facebook's search options were 'potentially censored' in their results for the Trump assassination attempt.

After shots were fired at Trump on July 13, Google users reported that autocompleted search prompts produced results for failed assassination attempts of former Presidents, including Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan—or even assassinations of historical figures such as Archduke Franz Ferdinand - but did not auto-generate the attempt on Trump's life.

In a letter to Google, the Kentucky Republican thanked the company for being cooperatove and said it had offered a staff-level briefing last week, where Google said that auto-complete results omitted the Trump assassination attempt as a 'safety protocol concerning predicted assassination attempts of current political leaders.'

President Joe Biden came armed with jokes Wednesday when he appeared before a group of influencers at the White House who were invited to attend the first 'Creator Economy Conference.'

I invited you to the White House because I’m looking for a job.'

The president was speaking before about 100 digital creators.

He took a selfie with the group as he came into the Indian Treaty Room.

During his brief appearance, Biden's comments took a serious turn too - as he talked about how Americans have lost faith in the media and the responsibility the TikTokkers had to be truth-tellers.

'The fact is, you are the future,' he said. 'You’re the source of the news.'

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor for DailyMail.com

Attorney General Merrick Garland is on a swing through five states to talk about efforts to combat drugs and violence as President Biden is touting a ‘record decrease’ in crime.

Garland has been meeting with U.S. Attorney’s offices in states including New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Kansas, before his planned retuirn to D.C. Thursday.

In New Mexico, he talked up efforts to put behind bars a man convicted of shooting his ex-wife in the head. ‘Last month, working with the Albuquerque Police Department, ATF and FBI, this U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted a felon who unlawfully possessed a firearm and shot a woman in the back of the head at a Walmart. She survived, but she required emergency surgery and extensive rehabilitation,’ Garland said.

According to DOJ spopkeswoman Catherine Morris, Garland ‘has been and will continue to discuss efforts by the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to combat violent crime, the fentanyl epidemic, and other recent cases and issues of importance to the district. This is part of his routine visits to U.S. Attorneys’ Office.'

The U.S. has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including scores of fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles, the State Department announced on Tuesday.

Congress was notified of the impending sale, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars and tactical vehicles and comes at a time of intense concern that Israel may become involved in a wider Middle East war.

However, the weapons are not expected to get to Israel anytime soon, they are contracts that will take years to fulfill.

Much of what is being sold is to help Israel increase its military capability in the long term, the earliest systems being delivered under the contract aren’t expected until the 2026 timeframe.

'The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,' the State Department said in a release on the sale.

Reporting with the Associated Press.

Hunter Biden wanted help from the U.S. government to secure a profitable energy deal while his father was vice president, but the documents revealing this scheme suspiciously came to light just days after the elder Biden canceled his campaign.

Those very documents were at the center of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for years, the New York Times reports, but were only made available shortly after the president decided not to run for office.

They unveil that Hunter Biden, while sitting on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma, and then the sitting vice president's son, wrote at least one letter to the U.S. ambassador to Italy, John R. Phillips, for help.

Hunter wanted to get in contact with the president of Tuscany, a region in central Italy where Burisma sought to arrange a geothermal energy venture, clearly working to forward the company's interests in the area.

Now, just days after Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid, the State Department's release of the long-awaited files is raising questions.

New polling shows enthusiasm among Democrats for the Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump race has skyrocketed since the shake-up at the top of the Democratic ticket.

In June, just 46 percent of Democrats were enthusiastic with Biden in the race, but it has surged to 85 percent with Harris as the nominee, according to Monmouth.

Enthusiasm among Republicans has remained steady at 71 percent.

There has also been a noticable increase in enthusiasm among Independent voters from 48 percent in June to 68 percent in August.

The top Democrat in the Senate, and highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, has announced a book on Jewish prejudice.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will release 'Antisemitism in America: A Warning' in February 2025.

'Senator Chuck Schumer tackles the historical, political, cultural, and international forces that have led to the alarming rise of antisemitism in America in the 21st Century,' the announcement states.

Earlier this year, the leader waded through hot water after sharply criticizing Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - the world's foremost Jewish leader.

Schumer called on Israel to hold new elections to boot Netanyahu in March, prompting a firestorm of outcry against Schumer for demanding new leadership while the country is fighting a war.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Joe Biden on Wednesday called for American journalist Austin Tice to be released.

Tice was working as a freelance journalist when he was abducted in Syria 12 years ago.

‘This week marks 12 long, terrible years since American Austin Tice was abducted in Syria. We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home. Today, I once again call for his immediate release,’ Biden said in a statement.

‘The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role informing the public and holding those in power accountable. We stand in solidarity with Austin, his family, and all Americans wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. I will continue to do everything possible to advocate for and pursue his release and support his loved ones until he is safely returned home.’

Tice, a former Marine, disappeared in Syria in August 2012 while covering the country’s civil war as a freelance journalist for McClatchy, The Washington Post, and other publications. U.S. officials believe he was detained at a Syrian government checkpoint southwest of Damascus on Aug. 14 of that year.

Biden has successfully released other Americans wrongfully detained by hostile states, including the recent release of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich from Russia.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

Vice President Kamala Harris' spokesperson Michael Tyler remained noncommittal when pressed on CNN Wednesday for the Democratic nominee to hold a press conference.

The @TrumpWarRoom X account highlighted the conversation, suggesting Harris 'holds rallies so she can read from her teleprompter!'

When CNN's Jim Acosta asked Tyler why Harris had yet to hold a press conference, the spokesperson laughed.

'Listen, the vice president and Gov. Walz have been busy criss-crossing this country since the launch of this campaign,' Tyler said, noting that thousands of supporters have been coming out to the Harris-Walz campaign rallies.

Acosta interjected, noting: 'A campaign rally is not a press conference.'

Tyler then said 'we absolutely are going to do it,' but then pointed to how Harris has answered questions from her traveling pool of reporters during recent campaign travel.

He also said that Harris would sit down for an interview by the end of the month.

'Can you commit to a press conference before the end of the month?' Acosta asked.

Tyler said Harris would 'directly engage with the voters who are actually going to decide this election.'

'And that is going to be complete with rallies, with sit-down interviews, with press conferences, with all the digital assets we have at our disposal.'

Harris' rival, former President Donald Trump, held a press conference last week at Mar-a-Lago and announced Wednesday that he would hold a press conference Thursday at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club.

Shocking new instances of rampant telework abuse under the Biden administration are coming to light over four years since the COVID pandemic started.

A whistleblower came forward to reveal that a longtime former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal bureaucrat Tracy Vargas may have been collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck for four days she spent behind bars.

In March 2020, the agency enacted 'mandatory telework' to deal with the rising rates of COVID-19 infection nationwide.

Just two months later, Vargas, who worked for HUD for 20 years, was arrested in May 2020 at 3:28 p.m. local time for 'driving under the influence of alcohol.' She spent four days in county jail in Oklahoma and did not submit any leave request, according to the whistleblower.

Vargas was allegedly 'successfully paid' during that period, claiming she was 'engaged in union activities' that is covered under taxpayer-funded union time.

New York Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw Donald Trump’s hush money trial, has declined a request from the former president to recuse himself from the case because his daughter has done work for Democrats.

It marks the third time that Judge Merchan has refused to recuse himself. He says there is no conflict of interest.

Merchan’s daughter Loren is an executive at Authentic, a progressive digital agency. She has worked for Democratic clients including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris and Trump are competing for the White House.

The judge noted the state ethics advisory committee last year provided guidance that he didn’t need to step aside.

Merchan oversaw the trial that saw the former president convicted on 34 counts tied to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

There are more rulings to come.

On Sept. 16, Merchan is scheduled to determine whether or not to throw out Trump’s conviction following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump broad immunity for official actions as president.

If Merchan denies Trump’s immunity motion, which he is expected to do, Trump could mount an emergency appeal. But, if that fails, the judge would then proceed with Trump’s sentencing on Sept. 18.

The former president faces up to four years in prison, but could receive a far shorter sentence, or even probation.

One of them is too young to vote and the other only graduated high school just a couple of months ago.

But Donald Trump has a secret weapon in his bid to reach Gen Z voters – his youngest son Barron, 18, and the teen's influencer best friend Bo Loudon, 17.

The tech-savvy teens are busily briefing the 78-year-old former President behind the scenes on the new landscape of streamers and YouTube stars with millions of followers.

They are now acting as a de-facto social media outreach team, according to DailyMail.com sources, wooing online stars who older aides might have never heard of to the Trump cause.

It was Barron and Bo who lined up his 90-minute interview last week with Kick influencer Adin Ross which was watched live by 500,000 people – or 100 million total listeners if you believe the figures promoted on Trump's Truth Social account.

On Fox News Wednesday morning, Loudon touted Trump's record and slammed VP Kamala Harris.

'With President Trump people know that their pockets will be full, their families will be protected, their door will be secure.'

'His no tax on tips will be great for Gen-Z,' the 17-year-old continued.

'Now [Kamala Harris is] saying no tax on tips,' Loudon continued. 'You're in the office now why not do it now?'

Kamala Harris has closed the gap on Donald Trump but the former president still holds a two-point lead over the new Democratic nominee, according to an exclusive poll for DailyMail.com.

It shows how Joe Biden's decision to step aside has upended the race for the White House.

But where other recent polls show the vice president surging ahead, our survey of 1001 likely voters found that 43 percent would vote for Trump if the election were tomorrow, compared with 41 percent who would vote for Harris.

With a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent it sets the stage for a nail-biter of an election in November.

A separate online survey teased out the attributes responsible for Trump's lead. It found that voters still see him as the stronger, more charismatic candidate, who is more likely to get things done.

Kamala Harris has wiped away Donald Trump’s leads in battleground states, according to new Cook Political Report surveys.

Harris has made gains in the ‘blue wall’ states, leading Trump 49 to 46 percent in Michigan, 49 to 46 in Wisconsin, and edging Trump 49 to 48 in Pennsylvania in the poll, conducted with BSG and GS Strategy Group.

Nevada is the only one of the seven battlegrounds where Harris isn’t leading or tied with Trump.

She has also seized a narrow lead in Arizona, tied in him Georgia, trails him by three 48 to 45 in Nevada, and even edges him 48 to 47 in North Carolina.

That is a state Harris plans to visit Friday, in the latest sign she has slightly expanded the map over President Biden’s narrowing pathways to victory. It comes as the Harris camp announced a $90 million ad by in battleground states.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and their spouses will kick off their runup to the Democratic National Convention with a bus tour of Pennsylvania.

Harris, Walz, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Gwen Walz will make several stops across western Pennsylvania on Sunday.

The state is part of the Democrats 'blue wall.' The campaign sees a victory there are crucial to winning the White House.

The tour will be the first time all four principals campaign together, Harris' team noted.

The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago.

Kamala Harris' campaign has been putting news headlines in search ads on Google which could give readers the impression she is being backed by major news outlets, according to a report by Axios.

The ads, which have 'Sponsored - paid for by Harris campaign' at the top, include links to stories by outlets including CNN, USA Today and NPR.

In one example a headline reads 'Harris will lower health costs' and a link to an NPR story.

John Gable, co-founder and CEO of AllSides, which rates media bias, told Axios:

Some of these news organizations might not want to be positioned as promoting one campaign, and this implies that they have a bias towards that campaign, potentially.