11 days to election day: A wild sprint to the finish line
Also: Gen Z politicians, AI radio hosts, top Halloween costumes, and gate lice
As Election Day 2024 barrels toward us, the candidates are pulling out all the stops with last-ditch efforts to sway every possible voter demographic, including some surprising ones.
Harris’ red-state detour to make the case on abortion
While both Harris and Trump continue to make their case in crucial swing states, their campaigns are strategically veering beyond familiar territory to places where they aren’t supposed to win. Texas might not be a swing state, but that hasn’t stopped both campaigns from treating it like prime electoral real estate.
On Friday, Harris is in the red state of Texas to shine a light on abortion rights at a Houston rally featuring women impacted by Texas' near-total abortion ban. Though Harris doesn’t plan to win Texas, her presence there sends a clear message: this election is about the future of women’s reproductive rights, and what could happen in other states if Trump wins. Beyonce will also join Harris at the rally, putting it even more in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Trump is hitting Austin to hammer home his border security rhetoric. Confident in Texas' Republican roots, his focus here isn't on flipping the state, but generating attention and reinforcing his stance on one of his key platform issues.
Trump attempts to steal headlines with splashy appearances
Trump has been no stranger to headline-grabbing stunts. Last weekend, he found himself working the fry station and drive-through at a Pennsylvania McDonald's, a move designed to appeal to everyday voters and poke fun at Harris, who once worked at the fast-food chain during college. Not only did the stunt play into Trump’s image as a man of the people, but it also generated buzz in both traditional media and social networks.
This Sunday, Trump is headed to familiar yet politically blue territory with a New York City rally at Madison Square Garden. Though Trump isn’t expecting to win New York, the optics of a packed rally in the city are sure to grab media attention, reinforcing his showmanship and larger-than-life persona.
Trump is called a fascist
While Trump focuses on media spectacles, a shadow looms over his campaign. Former Chief of Staff John Kelly made waves recently in a New York Times interview, where he described Trump as a fascist who, if re-elected, would govern like a dictator. Kelly, who worked closely with Trump, offered an inside view that stirred significant controversy and sparked fierce debate in the political sphere.
Kamala Harris seized on Kelly’s comments, calling them a “911 call to the American people.” Her campaign has doubled down on portraying Trump as a threat to democracy, women's rights, and minority groups. The “fascism” label has become a key talking point, particularly as Harris works to energize younger voters, especially women.
Courting bros and Latinos
In the final two weeks, both campaigns are trying to win over Latino voters, a group that could swing the outcome in battleground states like Arizona, Florida, and Nevada. In Miami, Trump held an economic roundtable with Latino voters, emphasizing job growth and wage gains seen during his previous term. He’s hoping to peel off support from Democrats by focusing on economic issues that resonate with Latino men, traditionally a more Democratic-leaning demographic.
Harris has been working to retain the Latino vote. She sat down for an interview on Telemundo, where she spoke about creating economic opportunities for Latino men, a key part of her campaign’s effort to highlight Democratic policies that could benefit this critical voting bloc.
Both candidates are also eyeing younger male voters. Trump is set to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast, a move aimed squarely at the young male demographic, a group where Trump holds a 20-point lead over Harris in recent polling. Harris has launched ads on sports-betting platform DraftKings, whose users are primarily men between the ages of 35-44. Last week, she sat down with influential radio host Charlamagne tha God in an effort to court Black male voters. Eminem, whose fan base skews male, introduced Barack Obama at a Detroit rally for Harris.
A generational divide: The battle for young voters
It’s clear that this election is more than just a battle between two political parties—it’s a generational war. In Arizona, Florida, and Texas, younger voters are grappling with economic realities that don’t align neatly with the policies of either party. Rising housing costs, healthcare expenses, and stagnant wages have left many Gen Z voters frustrated, with neither candidate seeming to fully address their concerns. As Harris focuses on reproductive rights and Trump on economic prosperity, it remains to be seen whether these talking points will be enough to drive young voters to the polls.
While Trump leads Harris among young men, Harris enjoys solid support among young women, particularly after high-profile endorsements from figures like Taylor Swift. The gender gap in this election is stark, with young women overwhelmingly backing Harris, while men seem more drawn to Trump’s promises of economic renewal.
The final countdown: bold moves and unpredictable strategies
From Harris’ non-traditional outreach efforts to Trump’s bizarre fascination with stunts like working at McDonald's, the race has become a surreal mix of serious policy issues and campaign antics.
Both campaigns are banking on the idea that they can inspire—or scare—voters into showing up. Trump’s team is focused on reminding voters of his pre-pandemic economic successes, while Harris’ camp is driving home the stakes of a second Trump term, particularly for women and minority groups.
It’s really anyone’s game. The next two weeks will be decisive, with each candidate sprinting toward the finish line, hoping that their message resonates just enough to swing the vote in their favor.
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⭐️ Gen Z Spotlight
🇺🇸 US News
➤ Helene caused at least $53 billion in damage in North Carolina, governor says
This figure puts Hurricane Helene as the 10th-costliest weather disaster in the U.S. since 1980, but it could be higher once the final tally from across the Southeast is completed. (Fox Weather)
➤ Most Americans anticipate post-Election Day violence: Poll
A majority of Americans anticipate that there will be violence in the aftermath of the November election, according to a new Scripps News/Ipsos poll out Thursday. (Axios)
🌎 Around the world
➤ U.S. says North Korea has sent troops to Russia for training
The U.S. said Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations, calling the move very serious and warning that those forces will be “fair game” if they go into combat in Ukraine. (NPR)
➤ Iranian hackers have probed US election websites for vulnerabilities, Microsoft says
Iranian government-linked hackers have researched and probed election-related websites in multiple US swing states, in a possible effort to discover vulnerabilities that could be used to influence the presidential election, Microsoft said in a report released Wednesday. (CNN)
➤ Russia amplified hurricane disinformation to drive Americans apart, researchers find
Russia has helped amplify and spread false and misleading internet claims about recent hurricanes in the United States and the federal government's response, part of a wider effort by the Kremlin to manipulate America's political discourse before the presidential election, new research shows. (AP)
⚕️Health and wellness
➤ If you’re biting your nails over the election, use these expert tips to reduce stress
As the countdown to a new presidency unfolds, here are some expert-approved methods on how to handle anxiety and stress. (CNN)
➤ What is 'pink cocaine'? Explaining the drug cocktail linked to Liam Payne's death
So-called pink cocaine is typically a powdery mix of ketamine and illegal substances such as methamphetamine, MDMA or opioids. (NBC News)
➤ This specific type of workout could suppress hunger, especially in women
For some, there’s nothing like a vigorous workout to prepare yourself for a hearty meal. But in fact, the contrary may actually be true: Exercise can stifle hunger. New research points to the science behind how exercise — one type of exercise in particular — can curb the desire to eat. (Inverse)
👩💻 Technology
➤ Radio station replaces journalists with AI 'presenters'
A Polish radio station, OFF Radio Krakow, has sparked controversy by replacing its journalists with artificial intelligence generated "presenters." The station, based in Krakow, recently relaunched with three AI avatars, in hopes of attracting younger listeners to talk about cultural, art and social topics like LGBTQ+ issues. (IBTimes)
➤ Google Photos will soon show you if an image was edited with AI
Now you’ll be able to see when generative AI has been used — or when multiple images are combined into one. (The Verge)
➤ Mother sues tech company after 'Game of Thrones' AI chatbot allegedly drove son to suicide
The mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III is suing Character.AI, the tech company that created a 'Game of Thrones' AI chatbot she believes drove him to commit suicide on Feb. 28. (USA Today)
💰 Money
➤ 3 reasons Gen Z Is getting fired from the workplace — A psychologist explains.
Gen Z took its first steps into the workforce at the height of the pandemic. However, 60% of employers have admitted to firing Gen Z employees they’ve hired this year, according to a recent article in Inc. (Forbes)
➤ Gen Z is leading the charge on an emerging vacation trend. Here's what's changing.
With Gen Z taking up a larger and larger share of the workforce in the years to come, it’s likely sabbaticals are going to become even more common. (via The Business Journals)
🍿 Pop Culture
➤ These are 2024’s top trending Halloween costumes, according to Google
An Olympic breakdancer, a Chipotle burrito and a pop star walk into a bar. This may sound like the start to a bad joke, but it could be a scene unfolding across the US on October 31, according to online search data. (CNN)
➤ Social Media Swallowed Gen Z. This Film Shows Exactly How
Lauren Greenfield, director of the docuseries Social Studies, says we have to have empathy for teens growing up online. “It's not fair to ask them to self-regulate when the apps have been designed to be addictive.” (WIRED)
📡 On the radar
➤ American Airlines is testing a new system to humiliate ‘gate lice,’ the people who try to board planes before their seating group is called
American Airlines is testing new technology to alert passengers and gate agents when someone tries to board before their seating group is called. The system will produce an “audible signal” when a passenger tries to board the plane before their seating group is announced, according to the airline. At that point, an alerted gate agent would send the passenger back to their appropriate group. (Fortune)
🎓 College Corner
➤ ‘It feels more isolating’: Northeastern Black students and staff express concerns amid drop in Black first-year enrollment
Northeastern wasn’t the only university that saw a decrease in Black student enrollment this academic year. The 35% drop reflects a nationwide trend of lower enrollment of Black students in the class of 2028 across colleges and universities following the 2023 Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action in college admissions. (The Huntington News)
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