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Journalist Maria Shriver admitted during a town hall event for Vice President Kamala Harris in Michigan that only questions that had been “predetermined” would be allowed to be asked.When asked by a member of the audience during the Monday event if voters would be able to ask questions to the presidential candidate directly, Shriver admitted that those in attendance would have to settle for her asking questions that “might be in your head.””You’re not, unfortunately. We have some predetermined questions, and hopefully, I’ll be able to ask some of the questions that might be in your head. I hope so,” Shriver told the audience.FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: VOTER OUTREACH, BALLOT EFFICIENCY AND A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPINGThe Michigan event also featured a long-time adversary of former President Donald Trump, former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who has hit the trail for the vice president in hopes of winning over Republican moderates who are still skeptical of the former president.The former Republican lawmaker joined Harris for a three-state battleground tour Monday, according to The Associated Press, telling voters in Wisconsin that the vice president was the candidate people from both parties could trust.”We might not agree on every issue,” she said at an event near Milwaukee. “But she is somebody you can trust.”TRUMP MYSTERY MAKES ELECTION OUTCOME EVEN MURKIERNevertheless, some critics piled on Harris for holding a town hall, which typically features a more open question and answer session, with mostly predetermined questions.”They’re not even hiding it anymore,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung wrote in a social media post along with a video of the exchange.Harris has faced accusations of avoiding interviews and questions throughout the campaign, though the Democratic candidate has looked to put those issues to bed during a string of high-profile media appearances, including interviews with Fox News and CBS’ “60 Minutes” and appearances on popular radio shows and podcasts such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Call Her Daddy.”The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.



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Publish date : 2024-10-22 14:48:22

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Election night is two weeks away. As Vice President Harris and former President Trump dash to the finish line, this week’s forecast looks at their outreach efforts and the latest evidence of a smaller divide between national and state polling. Plus, rankings changes in six competitive House districts.Last week’s Power Rankings showed that both parties’ coalitions have changed meaningfully since 2020.For Democrats, the chief concern is that Harris still has fewer Black voters in her corner than President Biden.To help fix that problem, the campaign dispatched its strongest surrogate, former President Obama, to Arizona and Nevada, and Harris spent an hour with Charlamagne Tha God to talk about policy, race, and religion.The Vice President also went head-to-head with Fox News’ Bret Baier, part of an effort by her campaign to frame the candidate as tough and pragmatic. It was Harris’ highest-profile interview yet, but it will take another week before the effects show up in polls.Meanwhile, Trump’s coalition has fewer women than in the last election, so the former President participated in a town hall with Fox News’ Harris Faulkner and an all-female audience.Trump also continues to search for young and working-class voters. His appearance at a local McDonald’s in Pennsylvania produced some compelling imagery and was designed to paint Trump as an energetic and likable candidate.FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: HARRIS LOSES HER LEAD AND A NEW ELECTORATE EMERGESRight-wing voters with reservations about Trump could also make the difference on election night. That is why Harris spent the beginning of the week with Republican former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who urged conservatives to vote for the Democratic ticket this year. It also explains why there are rumblings about Nikki Haley joining Trump on the campaign trail.Two polls of the national popular vote released last week show a uniquely tight race. Suffolk has Harris one point ahead of Trump at 50% to 49%; the Fox News Poll has Trump up by two, with the former president at 50% and Harris at 48%.Results like that should make this Trump’s race to lose. In 2020, Biden won the national vote by 4.5 points (51%-47%). That translated to very thin margins of victory in the battleground states. The president won Georgia, for example, by 0.2 points, and his largest victory in any battleground was by 2.8 points in Michigan.Close national polls should therefore put Trump in the lead in the battlegrounds. But the statewide polls are close too.A new set of polls show Harris ahead by 2-4 points in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia, a tied race in Nevada, and Trump ahead by 3 in Arizona and North Carolina (Washington Post/Schar).The Power Rankings call all those states toss-ups.Last week, the same Fox poll that put Trump ahead by two points nationally had Harris up six points among voters who live in the battleground states (52%-46%, with a 6.5-point subgroup margin of error).Trump’s advantage primarily came from a larger share in counties he won by more than 10 points in 2020 (64-35%) than Harris had in counties Biden won by more than 10 points (58-39%).A TRUMP MYSTERY MAKES ELECTION OUTCOME EVEN MURKIERThe results suggest that Trump could be banking “inefficient vote.” In other words, while the former president is performing better nationally than he was four years ago, the gains are concentrated in places he is already winning, like Florida, or rural counties.While Harris may have lost some ground in safe Democratic states like New York, she remains competitive in the battlegrounds that decide the presidential election.Other polls have raised the same question, but the most compelling evidence comes from the midterms.Republicans received about 3 million more votes than Democrats in the national House vote (Cook), but eked out a balance of power win, with 222 seats to Democrats’ 213.Put another way, the GOP banked a lot of votes in areas where it didn’t need them, and just enough in the battleground House races that would give them victory (a problem that has plagued the Democrats in the national vote for years).The polls are all within the margin of error, and this is just one theory about the direction of the race. But on election night, a Trump blowout in Florida or a narrower spread in Virginia may not mean the race is over.The House is still a toss-up, with 208 seats in the Republican columns, 205 for the Democrats, and 22 districts that could go either way.In today’s forecast, six races move to new categories:First, New York’s 17th district, in the Hudson Valley, is home to one of the most competitive races on the map. Incumbent GOP Rep. Mike Lawler has a strong bipartisan brand in a centrist district. While Democratic challenger and former Rep. Mondaire Jones has tried to head in the same direction, he’s still dogged by his previous support for defunding the police and a spat with the Working Families Party (Jones will not appear on the ballot under that party’s name, though the party is now telling voters to support him anyway). This race moves from Toss Up to Lean R.New York’s 1st district, home to both the Hamptons and rural farmland on Long Island, remains a competitive race between Republican Rep. Nick LaLota and the Democrat, former CNN anchor John Avlon. But the majority of this district’s voters backed Trump in 2020 and 2016, and Avlon has faced questions over the extent of his residency in the district. The race moves from Lean R to Likely R.In the battleground Rust Belt states, a pair of districts held by pro-Trump Republicans have become even more competitive. First, Wisconsin’s 3rd district flipped to Rep. Derrick Van Orden in the midterms by a tight margin. The incumbent’s presence at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riots is a theme in his opponent’s ads. This race moves from Likely R to Lean R.Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s 10th district has been held by Freedom Caucus Rep. Scott Perry since 2013. Perry is the only sitting member of Congress whose cellphone was seized by the FBI in its investigation into efforts to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and that has also become a theme in television ads. It moves from Lean R to Toss Up.Nevada’s 3rd district is still the best opportunity for Republicans to flip a seat in the Silver State, but a hotly competitive presidential race hasn’t so far translated into downballot success, particularly in the Senate race. This district almost touches Las Vegas, and includes Henderson. That’s favorable territory for Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in this Biden-majority district. She faces Republican Drew Johnson. It moves from Lean D to Likely D.Finally, a sleeper race to watch in the northeast: Maryland’s 6th district, where Democrat April McClain Delaney faces Republican Neil Parrott. This should be safe territory for the left, but the party is investing here, and even made it part of one of its frontline programs. It moves from Solid D to Likely D.As an anxious electorate counts down to election night, the political class is filling the void with data. Some numbers are more useful than others.Harris dominates in fundraising and the ground game. Her campaign raised more than $1 billion this quarter and more than double what Trump raised in the last month, and Democrats have a much stronger get-out-the-vote operation. These are important advantages. In a tight race, they may get Harris over the line. On the other hand, Trump has won with deficits in both areas.Comparing early vote figures to previous cycles is generally unhelpful. We expect fewer Americans to vote early, Democrats and Republicans are less likely to be divided on how they cast ballots, and breakdowns tell us the party registration of some voters, not how they voted.Finally, since internal polls survey the same electorate as any other poll, they’re unlikely to produce a clearly different result. When they do, people should question whether the poll is an outlier, or whether the campaign that paid for the poll has a motive to characterize the race differently. Early voting is underway in every state, with more than fifteen million voters now casting a ballot.Next week, check back for the final Power Rankings forecast.



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Publish date : 2024-10-22 13:06:16

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An Iranian plot to assassinate a “senior Israeli scientist and a mayor of a major Israeli city” has been busted, with seven suspects from Jerusalem being taken into custody, officials say. The individuals from Jerusalem’s Beit Safafa neighborhood – who also were tasked with bombing a police car and throwing a grenade at a house — were promised a $53,000 payment for their efforts, according to a joint statement from Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, and the Israeli Police. “These individuals, under Iranian direction, planned to assassinate a senior Israeli scientist and a mayor of a major Israeli city,” the statement said. “An investigation revealed an Iranian intelligence network aiming to recruit Israeli citizens for missions in Israel,” it added. “A 23-year-old suspect from Jerusalem was in contact with a foreign agent, recruiting others for tasks like graffiti spraying, vehicle arson in Ein Kerem, and intelligence gathering.” ISRAEL BREAKS UP IRANIAN SPY RING, ARRESTS 7 OF ITS OWN CITIZENS Israeli officials say the suspects were arrested near the scientist’s home after photographing it in exchange for around $132, as part of the leadup to the assassination attempt. “Searches revealed 50,000 shekels, a fake police license plate, and numerous credit cards,” the officials added, noting that “charges for serious security offenses” are expected to be filed.A senior Shin Bet official said “Scientists, mayors, security officials, and other prominent Israelis are targets for Iranian agents” and that the investigation “underscores Iran’s efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for terrorism.” BLINKEN ARRIVES IN ISRAEL AS BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FACES SCRUTINY OVER COMPROMISING JERUSALEM’S SECURITY The arrests come after Israeli security agencies on Monday said they had uncovered and stopped an Iranian spy ring operating out of northern Israel. Those seven suspects, residents of Haifa and other areas across northern Israel, are suspected of gathering intelligence on Israeli military bases, including air force and naval installations, as well as Israel’s infamous Iron Dome defense system. The accused are also suspected of relaying information to Iranian intelligence on Israel’s critical energy infrastructure, including its largest power station in Hadera – a tactic that could suggest Iran may look to utilize a strategy long held by its top ally Russia, which has frequently targeted Ukraine’s energy systems. According to Shin Bet, the spy network provided Iranian intelligence agents with critical information using sophisticated equipment to photograph sensitive locations in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars, some made using cryptocurrency, reported Israeli news agency TPS. Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report. 



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Publish date : 2024-10-22 12:45:59

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Israel targeted a Hezbollah naval base in Beirut overnight, the Israeli military said Tuesday, as Iran worked to rally Gulf Arab nations ahead of a potential retaliatory strike from the Jewish State.The Hezbollah naval base held a training center, an area to conduct experiments and military speedboats that were intended to be used in attacks on Israeli navy vessels and targets within Israel’s territorial waters, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.Israel also conducted strikes on Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, command centers and additional terrorist targets in Beirut, some of which were located underground, the IDF said.Israel took steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including issuing precise and advanced warnings to civilians in the area before launching the strikes, according to the IDF.HEZBOLLAH HIDING MORE THAN $500M IN GOLD, CASH UNDER HOSPITAL IN LEBANON, IDF SAYSThe strikes come as speculation grows over how Israel will retaliate for Tehran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Tehran’s neighbors wouldn’t allow their territory to be used for such an assault and that it would strike back just as hard.HEZBOLLAH GENERATES FUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES UNDER THE GUISE OF A NON-PROFIT: ISRAELI OFFICIALS”All the neighbors assured us that they will not allow their lands and air to be used against Iran,” Araghchi said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. “This is an expectation from all friendly and neighboring countries and we consider this a sign of friendship.”Gulf Arab nations have not made any public pledges like those described by Araghchi.The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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Publish date : 2024-10-22 11:24:48

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The top U.S. cities to celebrate Halloween and the spooky season have been revealed — and one popular location claimed first place. WalletHub gathered 100 of the most populated U.S. cities and compared the locations among three categories: trick-or-treater friendliness, Halloween fun and Halloween weather. Within each, the group also looked at other factors like population density, walk score, crime rate, Halloween costume stores per capita, Halloween party supply stores per capita, haunted houses per capita, pumpkin patches per capita, the forecasted Halloween precipitation and more. TRENDY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT IN 2025: REPORTData pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and others helped analysts rank the top cities for celebrating the spooky holiday. WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo noted the importance of the Halloween holiday for Americans as many celebrators go all out. “Halloween holds a big place in American popular culture, and we collectively spend billions of dollars celebrating every year,” he said. HALLOWEEN MOVIE LOVERS CAN ROAD TRIP ALONG THE EAST COAST TO THESE CREEPY SITES”At the same time, it’s also a holiday that comes with a certain amount of risk, given that children visit strangers’ houses in the dark,” he added — emphasizing the importance of caution when trick-or-treating in certain cities. In the countdown below, see the U.S. cities that topped the list of the best places to celebrate Halloween this year. NO 1 REASON TRAVELERS ARE DISAPPOINTED ON VACATION: BLOGGERRESERVATIONS FOR ELECTION WEEK GETAWAY SELL OUT IN SECONDS AS ‘UNPLUGGED’ TRAVEL SPOT OFFERS STEAL OF A DEALWalletHub named New York City the best spot to celebrate Halloween for a few reasons. For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyleThe popular Northeast city has the second-most Halloween costume shops and the most candy stores per capita, according to WalletHub. It also has the highest population density in the country and is the third-most walkable city — giving it a boost to hit No. 1 on the list. Jersey City and Miami came in second and third place, respectively, for their walkability and other factors. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThe city in New Jersey has the ninth-lowest violent crime rate and a high number of movie theaters per capita to celebrate the spooky holiday with a trip to the theaters. As for Miami, the Florida city has a high number of pumpkin patches and party supply stores per capita and has the 13th-most bars and clubs per capita. “The best cities for Halloween are those that provide the safest conditions for celebrating, along with an abundance of activities, Halloween-related stores and good weather,” Lupo said in a press release.Fox News Digital reached out to Lupo for further comment.



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Publish date : 2024-10-22 10:31:52

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