It’s a quiet Monday morning. Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day. Are you off work? Either way, here’s a brief rundown before you return to your holiday: Trump suggested using the National Guard to combat “the enemy within.”
FEMA paused some North Carolina aid efforts because of alleged threats. There’s no longer a shortage of weight loss drugs. That complicates things.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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What do you mean the ‘enemy from within …’?:
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Former President Trump suggested using the National Guard or the military to combat “the enemy within,” which he said includes “radical left lunatics.”
How this came up: In an interview with Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump dismissed President Biden’s worries that Election Day wouldn’t be peaceful.
“I think the bigger problem are the people from within,” Trump claimed. “We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics.” (The Hill) 💡Why this matters: Political leaders seem concerned about Election Day and the potential aftermath … the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will do that. Trump suggesting he could use the military on political rivals will only increase tensions. |
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MORE NEWSY QUOTES FROM TRUMP IN THE PAST 48 HOURS: |
He wants Harris to take a cognitive test: He called for Vice President Harris to take a cognitive test this morning, baselessly claiming that “her actions have led many to believe that there could be something very wrong with her.” This is in response to Harris’s campaign hammering him for his refusal to release his own medical records. (The Hill)
Trump encouraged Arizonans to vote this week: “Early voting by mail and in-person opened in Arizona earlier this week—so if you have a ballot, return it immediately, and if not, GO VOTE the minute the polls open tomorrow, and get everyone you know to cast their ballots for Trump and Republicans at every level!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He bragged about his relationships with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin: In his Fox News appearance, Trump touted his working relationships with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin — two broad foes of Washington.
Trump isn’t a fan of ‘The Apprentice’ film: “It’s a cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out right before the 2024 Presidential Election, to try and hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country,” Trump posted this morning, describing the film portraying his early rise in New York featuring actor Sebastian Stan.
And he dismissed a national abortion ban … for now: In Trump’s Sunday Fox News interview, he said that a national abortion ban is “off the table.” Though he did leave the door open on the conversation.
Oh, and he may go on Joe Rogan’s podcast: Trump said that he “thinks” he is going on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast before Election Day. |
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Which Senate seats are most likely to flip?: |
Republicans need to win only one of two competitive Senate races in red states — Montana and Ohio — to win a majority in the upper chamber.
That seems pretty easy, right?: Yes. In fact, Decision Desk HQ and The Hill give Republicans a 72 percent chance of retaking the Senate.
But as The Hill’s Al Weaver points out: “The bigger question is whether Republicans can strike gold beyond those two contests and stretch their success across the battleground map.”
Read Weaver’s breakdown of what to expect in Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania: The 5 Senate seats most likely to flip |
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All Florida residents should have power restored today!: |
© AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell |
Nearly a week after Hurricane Milton pummeled Florida, power should be restored by this evening, according to state and company officials.
As of 9 a.m. Monday: More than 400,000 Floridians are still without power and roughly 3.25 million customers have power back.
MEANWHILE IN NORTH CAROLINA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) paused relief efforts in parts of North Carolina to assess alleged threats. |
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There’s no longer a Mounjaro shortage — and that actually complicates its availability: |
“Federal regulators shook up the booming weight loss drug marketplace when they announced Mounjaro and Zepbound to be no longer in shortage after nearly two years,” reports The Hill’s Joseph Choi.
Why this matters: When there was a shortage and high demand for the drug, compounding pharmacies were able to sell unbranded versions of the same active ingredient — and it cost significantly less than the original. But because the shortage ended on Oct. 2, it effectively cut off this lower-cost option. Now, those compounding pharmacies are trying to reverse the decision so they can continue to sell the unbranded version.
Read more on the saga: ‘FDA shakes up weight loss market as Mounjaro shortage ends’ |
The Washington Post’s Ariana Eunjung Cha reports that doctors and patients are struggling to make decisions about starting and stopping weight loss drugs because there is very little guidance.
Excerpt: “Some patients are starting, stopping and switching weight-loss medications based on what’s in stock, or stretching out doses far past the recommended weekly cycle, or stopping cold turkey when they can’t find supply. … The shortages have come in waves since last fall. They highlight weaknesses in America’s health-care system.” Read: ‘Weight-loss drugs are supposed to be forever. Until they run out.’ |
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in D.C. Harris heads to Pennsylvania and Michigan later today. (all times ET) |
- 4:25 p.m.: Harris leaves for Pennsylvania.
5:15 p.m.: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) campaigns in Green Bay, Wis. 💻 Livestream 6 p.m.: Former President Trump campaigns in Oaks, Pa.💻 Livestream
7:35 p.m.: Harris campaigns in Erie, Pa. 💻 Livestream 9 p.m.: Harris leaves Pennsylvania and flies to Detroit for the night.
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View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you tomorrow! |
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