Morning Report — Trump safe after another apparent assassination attempt

by Alexis Simendinger and Kristina Karisch - 09/16/24 6:21 AM ET

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Harry Reid International Airport to board a plane after a campaign trip, Saturday, Sept.14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Former President Trump said he was uninjured Sunday after the Secret Service disrupted what the FBI described as an “apparent assassination attempt” at a Florida golf course where he was playing.

A Secret Service agent saw a rifle muzzle sticking out of shrubbery and fired at a suspect, later located and taken into custody, who dropped the weapon and fled in an SUV, leaving behind two backpacks, a scope used for aiming and a GoPro camera, Palm Beach County authorities said Sunday.

The alleged gunman in the incident is Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, according to multiple news outlets. The New York Times, which interviewed him last year because of his interest in fighting in Ukraine, described him as a former roofing contractor from Greensboro, N.C., who had moved to Hawaii.

Trump suffered a wounded ear in a July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., after a gunman fired 8 rounds during an outdoor campaign rally, killing a 50-year-old bystander while injuring two others. A Secret Service sniper killed the gunman, age 20, who was positioned on a nearby roof.

“Violence has no place in America,” Vice President Harris wrote on X after being briefed about the incident and issuing a formal statement. “I am glad he is safe,” she said of her election opponent.

President Biden issued a statement expressing relief that Trump was unharmed and commending law enforcement and the Secret Service. “As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,” he said.

The New York Times: A gunman Sunday was able to get a semiautomatic rifle with a telescopic sight roughly 300 to 500 yards away from Trump, raising new questions about the Secret Service.

The former president told supporters in a social media post, “Before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I am safe and well!”

Within hours Sunday, Trump released a fundraising entreaty. “I wanted you to hear this first,” Trump said in an email describing his uninjured status. “Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me,” he wrote.

As the FBI described the Florida event as an assassination attempt, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), had been on the defensive for days after repeating false tales about pet-eating Haitian migrants living in Springfield, Ohio. Following their debunked narratives, bomb threats plagued Springfield last week and racist accusations about Haitians circulated on the internet.

Vance, who, like Trump and Harris has Secret Service protection, was pressed during a Sunday interview about his decision as an Ohio senator to publicly repeat stories he heard from constituents but did not verify about migrants in Springfield who allegedly captured and ate geese and residents’ pets.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do … because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast,” Vance told CNN before backpedaling.

“I say that we’re creating a story, meaning we’re creating the American media focusing on it,” he added.

The public uproar following assertions floated by Trump and Vance is not new in TV-age politics, although today’s election-targeted stakes are enormous.

Disgraced Sen. Joe McCarthy, who peddled lies and innuendo about supposed communist sympathizers before his death in 1957, had in common with a younger Trump a hard-charging adviser, the attorney Roy Cohn, who died in 1986. Cohn served as the senator’s investigative chief counsel.

McCarthy “learned early that there was no worse a penalty for a big lie than for a little one, but that only the big ones drew a crowd, so he told whoppers,” Larry Tye wrote in his 2020 biography of the senator titled, “Demagogue.”

The New York Times’s “The Daily” podcast explained the history of Springfield, Ohio, and the facts leading up to Trump’s unsubstantiated assertion last week that Haitian immigrants “are eating the pets.”

The Hill: Neo-Nazi extremists stoked anti-Haitian sentiment in Springfield, Ohio, before the Trump campaign gave a national platform to false allegations.

3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY

▪ Frustrated patients are increasingly making their own drugs, such pirated versions of weight loss medications, abortion pills and other treatments, after joining online DIY forums.

▪ New York Mayor Eric Adams (D), embroiled in controversy and investigations, is at a crossroads amid his reelection bid, agenda and political influence.

▪ SpaceX commercial spacecraft Polaris Dawn, with four amateur passengers aboard, splashed down Sunday near Key West, Fla., after making history in orbit.

LEADING THE DAY

POLITICS & CAMPAIGNS

STATE OF THE RACE: As of this writing, Harris has a 3.4 point lead over Trump nationally based on 187 polls in The Hill and DecisionDesk HQ’s polling average.

In Florida, ballot measures on abortion and recreational marijuana are turning the state’s elections upside down, worrying Republicans while giving Democrats hope in this year’s presidential battle and in a key Senate race. The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports polls have tightened in the battle between Trump and Harris, as well as the Senate race between GOP Sen. Rick Scott and former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. The ballot measures — Democrats hope and Republicans fear — could bring more Democratic-leaning voters to the polls.

The presidential race is tightening in North Carolina and Georgia is tightening, with both states firmly seen as swing states by both parties — a huge turnaround from before Harris joined the race.

In Montana, Republicans are feeling better and better about their chances of knocking off Sen. Jon Tester (D) in the state’s hotly contested Senate race, which would greatly increase their chances of winning back the chamber next year. Several recent polls have shown Republican businessman Tim Sheehy leading Tester by a few points, within the margin of error but not what Democrats are hoping for in a state seen as critical to their chances of keeping Senate control.

Democrats are feeling eager about the possibility of making inroads in the traditionally deep-red state of Texas this fall, and recent polling has suggested the party is competitive in the Lone Star State. But it remains a long shot: both parties have combined to spend $145,000 on general election presidential political advertising in Texas, Axios reports. By contrast, both parties’ spending in Pennsylvania totals more than $205 million.

TO THE LEFT? Democratic lawmakers are giving Harris a pass on her policy flip-flops and efforts to tack to the political center. They say they’re confident she’s still a progressive at heart and will fight hard to achieve their goals if elected. Some progressives, however, think she would win more votes by advocating for bigger and bolder reforms.

“What’s interesting about Harris to my view is I think the Harris campaign assessment that they will benefit by moving to the center or to the right on a variety of issues by being less bold and more centrist,” said Bob Borosage, a progressive activist and co-director of Campaign for America’s Future. “That is a strategic assumption that I think is probably mistaken.”

2024 ELECTION ROUNDUP

Trump-Vance schedule: Trump is scheduled to hold an evening rally in Flint, Mich., Tuesday, and another in Uniondale, N.Y., on Wednesday night. On Saturday, Trump is scheduled to hold an afternoon rally in Wilmington, N.C. … Running mate Vanceplans campaign events Tuesday in Sparta, Mich., and Eau Claire, Wis. He headlines an afternoon event in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday.

Harris-Walz schedule: The vice president is in Washington today and plans a campaign meeting at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Harris will join a panel discussion in Philadelphia at public broadcasting’s WHYY featuring members of the National Association of Black Journalists. On Wednesday, Harris, in her official capacity, will address the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s leadership conference.At approximately 8 p.m. ET, she will join Oprah Winfrey and other guests for a virtual “Unite for America” event across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitch and YouTube. On Thursday, Harris will campaign in Michigan and on Friday, she plans to campaign in Wisconsin. On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) will host campaign events in Georgia (Macon at 10 a.m. and in the afternoon in Atlanta). He’ll headline a rally in Asheville, N.C., in the evening.

Friends in high places: During the final push before Election Day, the Harris campaign will get as much help in key states and with specific voting blocs as it would like from former President Obama and former President Clinton as well as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, NBC News reports. Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be on the road to champion administration priorities and achievements and Democratic surrogates from Congress, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), have volunteered to barnstorm for the ticket.

Hillary Clinton, author of “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love and Liberty,” a memoir to be released Tuesday, told CBS “Sunday Morning” that she viewed Trump’s conviction in the hush money case in New York as evidence of election interference during a period in which they competed for the presidency and he sought to distance himself from Stormy Daniels, a porn star. She said Trump’s conviction this year “looks like karma” (video HERE).

WHERE AND WHEN

The House meets at 4 p.m. The Senate will be in session at 3 p.m.

The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 8 a.m. He will depart the White House at 9 a.m. to head to Philadelphia to deliver remarks at 2:30 p.m. at the 2024 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week conference. Biden will return to the White House this evening.

ZOOM IN

CONGRESS

SHUTDOWN WATCH continues this week as Congress faces a looming Sept. 30 government funding deadline. The House GOP’s inability to coalesce around a strategy to address the deadline is renewing lawmakers’ frustration with the right flank of the conference, write The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) opted to try the strategy favored by hardline conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus and Trump: Attach a conservative policy rider, a bill to require proof of citizenship to vote, to a six-month extension of funding as an opening salvo to the Democratic-controlled Senate. But Johnson was forced to pull a scheduled vote on the legislation because of internal opposition.

“It’s disappointing that we cannot get the majority of our own members to vote for a bill that they all support, which is attached, and support appropriations bill that are lower than their Democratic counterparts and are at the level that the law dictates,” said House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.). “I have no problem [with] what the Speaker is trying to do, I have a problem that members aren’t supporting what the Speaker is trying.”

The Hill’s Aris Folley breaks down what groups to watch as Republicans work on their starting line on budget negotiations.

The Hill: Senate Democrats are trying to put Republicans in a bind as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to hold another vote on access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) this week.

ECONOMY

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY? The Federal Reserve for the first time in four years is expected to cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday — and the only question in the minds of investors, economists and analysts is by how much. A Michigan consumer confidence report released Friday described a more upbeat national outlook. Inflation continues to ebb compared with a 2022 peak. Mortgage rates have dropped. Gasoline prices have fallen and are predicted to be below $3 per gallon by late October. The labor market at the moment is viewed as stable.

So why are some nervous Nellies still fretting about a possible recession? Answer in part: Employment is a lagging indicator and a slowdown in hiring more than big layoffs can be an early warning. A recession can creep into the picture before trouble is recognized. Because of lessons during the pandemic, employers may decide to hold onto their workers during a slowdown rather than risk being short staffed again if the economy rebounds. In other words, it is hiring (leaving positions unfilled), rather than layoffs that can signal a looming recession. And hiring has slowed.

The Hill: Big Oil, clean energy chart fraught future for geothermal energy.

ELSEWHERE

INTERNATIONAL

NEW RISK FOR ISRAEL: The Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile from Yemen that appeared to hit an open area of central Israel on Sunday, evading the country’s aerial shield. Israel signaled it would respond to the attack. The Yemen-based group has repeatedly fired drones and missiles toward central Israel in recent months (The Hill and Bloomberg News).

▪ PBS NewsHour: Israel said Sunday there is a “high probability” its own airstrike killed three hostages in Gaza last November.

▪ CNN: “We no longer study.” Gaza’s children lose out on school, as Israel’s war disrupts a year of education.

THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA is headed to a pivotal election at the end of October, a contest that American and European supporters warn is the best, last chance for pro-democracy forces to stand up to aspiring autocrats inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ruling Georgian Dream party is ridiculed as a nightmare by its opponents and detractors, writes The Hill’s Laura Kelly, promoting conspiracy theories that the U.S. and European leaders are working to institute a coup and push the country into opening a second-front of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“The regime is the instrument of Russia’s hybrid warfare,” said Tamara Chergoleishvili, co-founder of the “Federalists” party, one of more than a dozen political opposition groups which are united in their opposition to GD, but divided over a strategy to oust the ruling party.

The Hill: Russia and Ukraine both announced Saturday that more than 200 people were freed in a prisoner swap between the two countries.

COURTS

BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO BAN TikTok nationwide will be scrutinized by a federal appeals court today. The court is tasked with weighing whether axing the social media giant’s U.S. presence runs afoul of the First Amendment, write The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee. Though the case concerns multiple constitutional issues, front and center are the free speech concerns voiced by the social media platform and a handful of content creators who have sued over the law Congress passed, which would effectively ban the app.

“The government asks this Court to bless the most sweeping speech restriction in this country’s history — a law that singles out and shutters a speech platform used by 170 million Americans,” TikTok wrote in court filings.

The Hill: Republicans sued three battleground states this week. Here’s what you need to know.

OPINION

■ Trump in the cross-hairs again: A second apparent assassination attempt calls for Biden-level protection for the former president, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

■ Harris Is good on abortion rights. Now she needs to turn up the volume, by Cecile Richards, guest essayist, The New York Times.

THE CLOSER

© The Associated Press / Jae C. Hong | Emmy Award winners in Los Angeles Sunday starring in the comedy series “The Bear” included Jeremy Allen White (outstanding lead actor), Liza Colón-Zayas (outstanding supporting actress) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (outstanding supporting actor).

And finally … 🎥 Hollywood gathered for the second Emmys of 2024 on Sunday (the 2023 Emmys were held in January due to the actors and writers strikes), celebrating the best of television.

As predicted, FX’s “Shōgun” swept in the drama category, winning a combined 18 Emmys between Sunday’s primetime ceremony and the Creative Arts Emmys. Of Sunday’s four wins, two came for best actor (Hiroyuki Sanada) and actress in a drama Series. Anna Sawai made history as the first actress of Asian descent to win for lead actress in a drama series.

Shōgun and FX’s “The Bear” both set records for the most awarded shows ever for a drama and a comedy, respectively. Jeremy Allen White won his second Emmy for best actor in a comedy on Sunday. Costars Liza Colón-Zayas (the first Latina to win a supporting actress Emmy) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach took home awards for supporting actors.

The surprise snub for “The Bear” came when HBO’s “Hacks” won the award for best comedy (star Jean Smart took home the statuette for best actress in a comedy).

Variety has a complete winners list HERE.

▪ The New York Times: Takeaways from the Emmys.

▪ The Washington Post: See the Emmys red carpet looks.

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