#Election 2024 Merchandise

[noisycowboyglitter]

"How to Style the Trump Best Not Miss Tee for Any Occasion"

The "Trump Best Not Miss Tee" likely refers to a t-shirt design featuring a phrase or image related to former President Donald Trump, combined with the colloquial expression "best not miss." This merchandise item is part of the broader landscape of political apparel that has become increasingly popular, especially among Trump supporters.

Buy now:19.95$

The phrase "best not miss" is often used as a warning or a boast, suggesting that someone shouldn't fail or make a mistake when attempting something important. In the context of Trump-related merchandise, this could have several interpretations:

It might imply that Trump's political opponents or critics should be careful in their attacks or opposition, as Trump is perceived by his supporters as a formidable adversary.

It could be a reference to Trump's potential return to politics, suggesting that he shouldn't be underestimated or overlooked in future elections.

The phrase might allude to Trump's confrontational political style, framing him as someone who doesn't miss opportunities to challenge his opponents or promote his agenda.

It could be seen as a rallying cry for Trump supporters, encouraging them to be active and engaged in political processes to ensure their voices are heard.

Buy now

The t-shirt format makes this message wearable and visible, allowing supporters to publicly display their allegiance to Trump and his political movement. T-shirts are casual, accessible, and often associated with personal expression, making them an ideal medium for political statements.

This type of merchandise serves several purposes within political culture:

Identity signaling: Wearing such a t-shirt allows supporters to publicly declare their political allegiance and find like-minded individuals.

Conversation starter: The bold or provocative message can provoke discussions about Trump, his policies, and his impact on American politics.

Community building: It fosters a sense of belonging among Trump supporters, creating visual unity at events or in daily life.

Ongoing campaign tool: Even out of office, such merchandise keeps Trump and his political brand in the public eye.

Fundraising: Sales of official merchandise often contribute to political campaigns or associated organizations.

The popularity of items like the "Trump Best Not Miss Tee" reflects the intense personalization of politics in the Trump era, where support for a political figure extends beyond voting to become part of one's personal brand and daily attire. It also demonstrates the melding of political expression with consumer culture, where political beliefs are marketed and sold as products.

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Critics might view such merchandise as contributing to the polarization of political discourse or as an oversimplification of complex political issues. They could argue that it prioritizes confrontational rhetoric over substantive policy discussions.

Supporters, on the other hand, might see it as a way to show unwavering support for Trump and his political movement, especially in a post-presidency context. They might view wearing such apparel as an act of defiance against mainstream media narratives or the current administration.

Buy now

The existence and popularity of items like the "Trump Best Not Miss Tee" underscore the ongoing influence of Trump in American politics, the polarized nature of the current political climate, and the ways in which political expression has become intertwined with personal style and consumer choices.

[krudekraft]

"These Guys Are Weird" Collection available at Redbubble

[kellelkallel]

Y'ALL. A FAMILY FRIEND WHO'S IN THE USA GOT ME THESE???

Iconic. One of my friends saw this and just replied with 'femininominon' my life is on the up & up

[enyoalkis]

I just voted early! 🗳️💙

Americans, if you haven't yet, please vote for this presidential and local elections! This is one of the most consequential elections in American history so far.

[bosscovers]

Show your support for the 2024 election with our Trump White House Phone Case! Featuring a bold design with the White House backdrop and "Trump 2024" prominently displayed, this case is perfect for any political enthusiast. Available in three striking colors—red, black, and blue—and in both glossy and matte finishes, this case offers premium protection for your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel device. Made with durable materials, this phone case is built to last while making a statement. Carry your political pride everywhere with this standout accessory!

[speedygal]

[aishangotome]

Matthias Ausprink: As Long As You Don't Break The Law...

From A Hidden Oath: King of the BEAST (2024 Election) - Collection Event

—

(What is she doing now?)

As I walk through the familiar streets, the face of my only female friend comes to mind.

(Is she looking at this falling snow, just like me?)

(Is she breathing out white breaths, shivering from the cold?)

(If so, I wish I was there. If I was by her side, I would gently take her hand and warm her cold fingertips...)

At that moment, the image of her in my mind smiled softly -

Emma: No, it wasn't me!

When I turned my gaze, the woman I had been picturing was there, but with a bewildered expression, different from what I had imagined.

(Miss Emma, I'm glad to see you, but...)

Shopkeeper: Someone saw you break my merchandise. Confess.

Shopkeeper: If you try to run, I'll hand you over to the officials as a criminal.

(Is she being falsely accused?)

Emma: But...

The moment I saw her face turn pale as if she had lost all hope, my body moved on instinct.

Matthias: Wait, let me hear her side of the story.

When I stood in front of her protectively, she blinked in surprise.

Emma: Prince Matthias!

Matthias: You are not a person who would break the law. Therefore, I am on your side.

Matthias: It's okay, calm down and explain the situation to me.

When she looked straight into my large eyes and slowly spoke, the tension in her expression eased a little.

Afterward, I heard the situation from her, the store owner, and the people around them, and investigated the scene ---

-

Emma: Prince Matthias, thank you very much.

After clearing her name of the false accusation of "breaking the merchandise" and catching the real culprit, she bowed deeply with a formal expression.

Matthias: You don't need to thank me.

Matthias: Maintaining order is one of my jobs.

Matthias: Protecting good and righteous people is a natural thing to do as a man of Ausprink.

"Righteous people should be protected," it is also stipulated in the family precepts.

No matter who the other person was, I would have done the same thing.

(But, I may have lacked composure.)

(Normally, I would have checked the situation a little more before stepping in...)

Emma: I can't help but express my gratitude.

Emma: I was relieved when you came, Prince Matthias, when I was feeling uneasy.

Emma: Also, I was very happy when you said you were on my side.

The moment she smiled like a blooming flower, it felt like the temperature in this place suddenly rose.

For a moment, I was surprised to think that the falling snow had stopped, but there was no way that could happen.

(Is it me who is hot...?)

At the same time that I became aware of it, the question that had just arisen was also solved.

(The reason my body moved before I checked the situation was probably because I wanted to bring back this smile as soon as possible.)

Matthias: You and I are friends.

(It's not uncommon for women I meet at evening parties to smile at me, but I've never felt this way.)

(...Female friends are great.)

Emma: Hehe, you're right. But if that's the case, I feel the same way.

Emma: No matter when, no matter what happens, I am on Prince Matthias's side. Because we are friends.

(No matter when, no matter what happens, huh...)

The reason I ruminated on it in my heart was that I couldn't agree with those words.

(It's true that I think friends are allies. But there are exceptions.)

(If the other person breaks the law.)

In the past, I have judged many "former" friends who broke the law.

They were uniformly despairing when I imposed harsh sentences on my former friends.

(What I did was right. Criminals are not allies, but enemies.)

After thinking that far, I glanced at her smiling in front of me.

(She is not a person who would break the law. But if she did break the law...)

(Would I capture her, consider her an "enemy," and punish her?)

(...Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't be a guardian of the law.)

(If you commit a crime, I will take away your warm smile myself.)

(No, not just a smile...)

Matthias: ...................

Matthias: ...Miss Emma, please never do anything that would break the law.

(I promise to be on your side as long as you don't break the law.)

(So... please.)

Emma: Of course, that's my intention... but that was very sudden, wasn't it?

Matthias: No, I just thought of it again. That's right, I'll give you a lecture again sometime.

Matthias: If you don't have enough knowledge, you might unconsciously break the law.

Emma: Um, thank you, but...

Matthias: After the lecture, why don't we eat sweets at a café? After using your brain a lot, it's best to take in sugar.

Matthias: There's a shop with an interior that you'd like, with a snowflake motif.

Matthias: In a romantic atmosphere, the two of us snuggled up... ahem, how about sometime next week?

Emma: Hehe, I'd love to join you. I'm looking forward to it.

Matthias: Yes, I'm very much... looking forward to it too.

Just having a plan with her makes the future seem even brighter.

(As expected, female friends are great.)

As I walked slowly through the snowy city, I gently tucked away the treasure-like moment in my heart.

FIN

[noisycowboyglitter]

"The Implications of Trump Vance 2024 for Swing State Voters"

"Trump Vance 2024" represents a speculative presidential ticket combining former President Donald Trump with J.D. Vance, the newly elected U.S. Senator from Ohio. This hypothetical pairing reflects the evolving dynamics within the Republican Party and ongoing discussions about its future direction.

Buy no:19.95$

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, remains a dominant force in Republican politics despite his 2020 election loss. His potential return to the presidential race in 2024 continues to be a subject of intense speculation and debate.

J.D. Vance, author of the bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," transitioned from Trump critic to supporter during his successful 2022 Senate campaign. His journey mirrors shifts within segments of the Republican Party, potentially making him an attractive running mate option.

This theoretical ticket would aim to blend Trump's established base and populist appeal with Vance's credentials as a younger, intellectual conservative voice. It could potentially broaden the party's appeal, particularly in crucial Midwest swing states like Ohio.

Buy now

The "Trump Vance 2024" concept also highlights the Republican Party's efforts to unite different factions - from Trump loyalists to more traditional conservatives. It suggests a strategy of combining Trump's confrontational style with Vance's ability to articulate conservative ideas to a different audience.

However, it's important to note that this pairing remains purely speculative. Trump has not officially announced a 2024 run, and vice presidential selections typically occur much later in the campaign process. The concept primarily serves as a talking point, reflecting ongoing discussions about the future of Republican leadership and strategy.

Buy now

"Election Donald Trump JD Vance 2024" refers to a potential presidential ticket for the upcoming 2024 U.S. election, pairing former President Donald Trump with Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio. This hypothetical combination represents a notable blend of established political influence and emerging conservative leadership.

Trump, the 45th President, maintains significant sway over the Republican base despite his 2020 loss. His potential return to the presidential race continues to dominate political discussions.

Vance, a former Trump critic turned supporter, won his Senate seat in 2022. His background as the author of "Hillbilly Elegy" and his appeal to working-class voters could complement Trump's political brand.

Buy now

This speculative ticket aims to unite different factions within the Republican Party - from Trump loyalists to more traditional conservatives. It could potentially strengthen the party's position in crucial swing states like Ohio.

The pairing reflects ongoing debates about the future direction of the Republican Party and its leadership. However, it's important to note that this remains hypothetical, as neither Trump nor Vance has officially announced intentions for a 2024 presidential run.

[theflowergothic]

Kelly Piquet Master Timeline - Part 17 (Even Kelly's nonsense is bigger in Texas)

(Masterlist)

(I am so so sorry I couldn't think of another opening photo)

Hey guys, it's Flowergothic. Welcome to the first add-on to #kellytimeline! This is just a quick recap of the United States Grand Prix (as well as the shirt controversy that popped up today, including context on why some people are taking issue to it).

I'm gonna spend the rest of today making more of those mini-videos promoting the timeline, but focusing on the Piquet family in general. They'll drop the days leading up to the Brazilian GP.

Let's go!

As always, you can find the full timeline here.

--------------

2024

October 18-20, 2024: The 2024 United States Grand Prix. Max achieves poll position and wins the Saturday sprint race, his first victory since Austria. (Archive)

 Kelly, Nelson Jr, and Nelson Jr’s wife accompany Max to the sprint race. Kelly posts several stories on Instagram celebrating Max’s victory, including a video of them kissing. The video is taken by Nelson Jr’s wife, and is criticized for looking staged and awkward. 

A couple hours later, Kelly posts an ad video to her Instagram to promote the skincare company Clarins. Some comments point out how she intentionally posted the ad after Max’s victory for maximum engagement. Those comments disappear shortly afterwards. (Archive)

Max would finish the main race in third place. Kelly makes no posts about it and instead makes another post advertising Clarins. (Archive)

Coincidentally, Nara Smith and her husband are invited to this race as VIP guests. But, they visit and sit with the Aston Martin Aramco F1 team. Nara still doesn’t follow anything F1-related on her social media.

October 22, 2024: Nara Smith makes an Instagram post about her time at the USGP. Kelly likes the post and makes a reply, implying they met in person. Nara does not like or reply to Kelly’s comment, despite liking and commenting on other replies.

October 24, 2024: Kelly posts a recap of her time in Austin during the USGP. While it is mostly reuploads from her Instagram stories, it includes three angles of the kiss she and Max shared after the Saturday sprint race. People who question why in the comments, even jokingly, are met with hostility by Kelly fans. (Archive)

October 25, 2024: Kelly is revealed to be in Miami with multiple people, including her daughter. Her daughter’s school would have started fall break on or around October 23rd, just two days before. This leads to speculation that Kelly secretly brought her child to the states with her. (Archive)

October 28, 2024: Max releases exclusive merch ahead of the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix. This is not without controversy, as some claim the colors used are the same colors associated with Bolsonaro (the justifiably controversial former president of Brazil several Piquet family members support, including Kelly). Others come to his defense, noting the colors are also on the Brazilian flag. (Archive 1, 2, 3)

The merchandise seems to be based off the iconic Brazilian football jersey, which has been tied (at least to an extent) to Bolsonaro and his campaign since he got elected in 2018. More information on the controversies surrounding it can be found here and here. (Archive 1, 2)

[dgtlprdcdsbyer]

Show your support for Trump 2024 with our exclusive collection of patriotic products! 🇺🇸 From custom embroidered hats and stylish patches to bold pinback buttons and tough phone cases, our products are perfect for every proud MAGA supporter. Whether you're gearing up for a rally, looking for the perfect gift, or just want to show off your American pride, our high-quality items are designed to make a statement. Stand out, support your values, and keep America great with our unique Trump 2024 merchandise! 🗽✨

[mariacallous]

“Make cats safe again” read the MAGA-style baseball caps perched on the heads of five AI-generated felines printed on a black T-shirt alongside a Trump 2024 banner. It’s yours for just $29.99 (10 percent off if you order three) from United Patriot, an online store that proclaims it is “not afraid to speak the truth!”

The T-shirt may seem innocuous enough. But its slogan references a racist lie, spread by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, had been eating local pets. The false claims have led to a wave of xenophobic abuse including bomb threats and vandalism against the local Haitian community.

The item is also one of thousands being sold by a group of online operators who are targeting the US election using hate, lies, and conspiracy theories, all to make a quick buck.

United Patriot is one of four ecommerce companies identified by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) that have been advertising merchandise, often aimed at Trump supporters, using different levels of misinformation and hate speech.

They have collectively paid to publish over 15,000 “political” ads that have racked up millions of impressions on Facebook. And though the operations present themselves as patriotic outlets selling US products, TBIJ has found evidence suggesting many are being at least partly run from overseas.

Both operations are just examples of a bigger global problem that goes far beyond one election in one country.

“Evidence has shown that we engage more with content that is provocative and emotionally charged,” says Hannah Perry, digital policy head of research at think tank Demos. “Because algorithms on platforms such as Facebook are designed to optimize for engagement—keeping us on platforms for longer and prolonging our exposure to advertising—such algorithms disproportionately surface inflammatory and divisive content.

“Actors will no doubt target the US election to attract an outsized audience relative to other domestic stories.”

The operations we identified are all enabled by the economics of the internet, which encourage workers from Nigeria to the Philippines to the US to amplify hate and falsehoods to millions in the pursuit of profit. And they show how people simply out to make money currently have their sights set on one of the most finely balanced elections in history.

From Biden to Betting Scams

“A White House video in which Joe Biden goes 45 seconds without blinking is raising serious questions about who is currently serving as president of the United States,” says a presenter over a picture of the current president, claiming he has been dead since June 2022.

The video, produced by The People’s Voice channel on the video platform Rumble, is clearly aimed at capturing conspiracy-minded Americans. It is just one of hundreds of US-focused posts hosted on a network of Facebook pages run largely from Nigeria aimed at extracting money for sports betting scams. Twenty-five of the most active pages identified by TBIJ have amassed more than 669,000 followers, more than doubling from 290,000 followers last year.

An investigation by Nigerian media outlet HumAngle reported in September that the wider network, which may be as large as 240 Facebook pages, appears to scam people out of money by offering them the opportunity to profit from high-odd bets placed on what the pages say are “fixed” sports matches. Despite HumAngle’s reporting, 199 of the accounts remained active with a combined following of more than 2.7 million accounts.

To attract users to these scams, the pages have been boosting engagement by publishing political content—in particular, conspiracy theories and false claims about the US presidential race. Some posts falsely claimed Kamala Harris, the sitting US vice president and 2024 Democratic nominee, is a man. Others focused on the idea that natural disasters such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton were engineered by Democratic leaders to prevent people from voting in swing states. Both are conspiracy theories that have gained traction in the last few months.

The pages have co-opted the branding of hacktivist movement Anonymous, an ostensibly anti-establishment group of online activists and hackers that rose to prominence in the early 2000s. Wearing masks similar to those adopted by the movement (originally taken from the film and comic book series V for Vendetta), those behind the scams will often overlay footage of themselves over clips pushing disinformation.

But while they align themselves with a political movement and push political falsehoods, they are using them to make money.

Daniel Roberts, a spokesperson for Facebook parent company Meta, tells TBIJ: “Scammers persistently target people online and in the real world—and that’s why we work with governments, NGOs, and law enforcement agencies to deter bad actors. This is a highly adversarial space, and we continue to update our enforcement systems to respond to evolving scammer behavior. We are reviewing the accounts shared with us and will enforce against any that violate our policies.”

Promoting Popularity

Online marketing, whether it is promoting legitimate goods, hateful T-shirts, or attempts to scam people out of their money, relies on getting people to see posts. Social media algorithms tend to boost content that they predict will attract a lot of attention.

In recent years, it has become clear that conspiracy theories, misinformation, and hate are very good at tapping into the emotions that drive this kind of engagement. And that, in turn, means that anyone with something to sell is incentivized to push that kind of content to boost their profits. Post something that receives a high level of engagement (say, a conspiracy theory) and it’s more likely that your other content will be promoted by the algorithm.

Other posts on the Nigerian network’s pages claim to be able to foresee the future. Predictions about politics or natural disasters are published alongside their claims to deliver returns on high-risk bets. They also often post “testimonials”—short videos depicting people thanking the pages’ operators for “changing their lives” through fixed sports betting. All are gimmicks to lure in new targets for sports bettings scams.

According to a conversation with the admins of one of the pages, a ticket to participate in the fixed betting would cost someone $4,250. A “mini-ticket” costs $2,100. TBIJ obtained a bitcoin address used by one such page with about 70,000 followers and found that the wallet had facilitated nearly $1 million worth of transactions. These schemes have been used to scam many Nigerians and others over the years, according to HumAngle.

The target market, however, is far more global.

As the US election has gained pace, the volume of content on the network of sites aimed at US citizens has ramped up, with the pages trying to remain relevant by referencing new events.

Many posts piggyback on false claims about US government relief available to hurricane victims, such as the Trump campaign’s claims that relief funding was restricted because the money was instead going to immigrants or to the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. “I hate that our government never runs out of money for illegals and foreign wars. But runs out of money to help struggling Americans,” one post reads.

Another shows an AI-generated picture of Trump standing in a flooded area and handing toilet paper to the victims, captioned, “a picture they don’t want you to see.”

Profiting off Patriotism

Like the Nigerian network, other similar ecommerce merch stores rely heavily on Facebook for their marketing and promote similar conspiracy theories in order to gain traction.

Many of the ads run by United Patriot include graphics that reference and promote destroying the pride flag, misogynistic slurs against Harris, transphobia, anti-vaccine logos, anti-Ukrainian sentiment, gun ownership, and mentions of the “stolen election.”

Misogyny aimed at Harris regularly featured in ads run by another of the sites, which also sells merchandise containing anti-trans slurs. Another of the sites posted a video falsely claiming Dominion voting machines helped steal the election from Trump.

The messages, potentially misleading US citizens or stoking hate towards various groups, will have been seen by many times more people than actually made a purchase.

Those running the network of Facebook pages in Nigeria may simply believe that US-focused clickbait is the best way to boost the number of people who see their scams. In contrast, the ecommerce operations identified by TBIJ give every impression that they are proudly American.

Yet analysis of their listed physical addresses and online presence suggests that the businesses are at least partly run from Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, and Croatia (with Facebook page admins based in those countries). None of the ecommerce sites identified by TBIJ provided a US address that could be tied to their business.

United Patriot, which says its “patriotic collection of amazing apparel items … are all printed locally here in America,” claims on its Facebook page and website to be located at an address in Gardena, California. However, TBIJ could not find proof of that business registered at the address. The only other commercial activity found at the address was a warehouse providing services for wholesale shipments for people based overseas, as well as two online stores that have been accused in Google reviews of being scams.

The Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit focused on “marketplace trust,” told United Patriots in November 2022 that it should change or substantiate claims made on its website about items “printed in the US.”

Another such site, Red First LLC, says it is based in Carrollton, Texas, at the same address as a fraudulent merchant claiming to resell Ralph Lauren clothing. This does not necessarily mean the companies are owned by the same person, but suggests the address may have been used by scammers.

Nor are all these operations strictly pushing right-wing messages. Red First LLC (which trafficks notably less in hate and misinformation than the other three companies) has created at least 5,000 ads over the last two years. While it promotes mostly right-wing merchandise and content, such as T-shirts bearing misogynistic insults toward Harris and signs suggesting the 2020 election was stolen, it has also in a small number of cases posted pro-Harris content. The commercial imperative behind the operation means it isn’t averse to backing the other side.

Meta Under Scrutiny

As attempts to influence public opinion and elections have ramped up across social media, companies such as Facebook owner Meta have come under scrutiny for the role they play in hosting bad actors trying to polarize public opinion on their platforms.

In 2021, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, blew the whistle on the company’s role in spreading disinformation and the increase in racial hatred. Numerous studies have also shown that social media platforms’ algorithms, including Facebook’s, create bigger engagement opportunities for far-right, conspiratorial, and hateful content.

“The US election is an already fraught and divisive political event. If the aim of these scammers is to bring people in, then appealing directly to emotion to circumvent media criticality is key,” says Joe Ondrak, senior research and technology lead at anti-disinformation startup Logically.

“There is likely a large pool of potential victims and easily exploitable narratives for them to choose from. The way algorithms reward engagement means that misinformation, conspiracy theory, and hate speech are easy ways to find a wide audience.”

[macleod]

This is a real ad Joe Biden's re-election campaign is running on Fox News (in the top right corner) right now. He is leaning hard into Dark Brandon and it may be the strangest, but best campaign decision I've ever seen.

One ad reads, "Get on board, folks. We're lowering prescription drug costs." Another reads, "Social Security cuts? Try me." And the final reads, "Tax cuts for yacht owners? Good luck with that, champ."

Dark Brandon has already been fashioned onto Biden 2024 merchandise, and products featuring the design now account for 44% of the campaign store's orders and 54% of its revenue, according to a campaign official. [People].

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Edward Helmore at The Guardian:

Secret Service officials are reported to be encouraging Donald Trump’s campaign to stop holding outdoor rallies in the wake of the 13 July assassination attempt on the former president at a fairground in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The move, reported by the Washington Post, comes as Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday following a combative grilling before a congressional committee by both Democrats and Republicans over apparent security failures before an attempt on Trump’s life by a 20-year-old gunman. [...] The Trump campaign, which may have favored outdoor venues until the shooting because of their larger crowd capacity, is not currently planning further outdoor events and instead is looking to book indoor venues, including basketball arenas, according to the outlet.

During a rally in an arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, Trump appeared to lament that some supporters had been left outside. The Republican candidate is also known for exaggerating crowd estimates, dating back at least to his inauguration in 2017. Since launching his first presidential bid, Trump has held hundreds of outdoor rallies that have become like festivals for his most ardent supporters, featuring tailgate parties and vendors hawking Trump memorabilia and campaign merchandise. According to the Post, Trump advisers had told the Secret Service the 2024 re-election campaign was planning to hold large events, and would need increased protection and assets. But the agency is believed to have turned down the requests, citing a lack of resources. If Trump now holds rallies in more secure locations, such as sports arenas, they will prove more expensive to the campaign.

The Secret Service has urged Donald Trump to stop holding outdoor rallies in the wake of the assassination attempt against him just outside of Butler, PA on July 13th.

Trump has long preferred outdoor rallies on most occasions, because they can get a larger crowd and are cheaper to obtain and also due to Trump’s history of stiffing venue operators.

With the Secret Service’s recommendations against outdoor rallies, Trump will now hold indoor rallies that will be more costly but more secure for his campaign.

See Also:

NBC News: Trump plans to stop holding outdoor rallies after assassination attempt

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

David Rowe, Australia Financial Review

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 27, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Aug 28, 2024

Sam Stein of The Bulwark reported yesterday that the Trump campaign is about to start running ads in the area around Mar-a-Lago. Trump insiders say the campaign has paid almost $50,000 to run ads to make Trump and local donors feel good. On August 14, Kevin Cate, former spokesperson for President Barack Obama, predicted that Trump would spend his first television dollars “in Florida (for his ego and against his team’s advice). And that’s how you’ll know we’re in landslide territory.” 

Predictions about future elections and an average of $3.08 will get you a cup of coffee these days, but there are some interesting signs out there today. Pollster Tom Bonier noted what he called “the Harris Effect”: the 13 states that have updated their voters files since July 21—when Biden said he would not accept the Democratic nomination for president—have seen “incredible surges in voter registration relative to the same time period in 2020, driven by women, voters of color, and young voters.”

The registrations of young Black women have almost tripled compared with the same period in 2020. The registrations of young Hispanic women are up by 150%. “Black women overall have almost doubled their registration numbers from 2020,” Bonier wrote. 

These changes benefit Democrats, Bonier noted. “Democratic registration has increased by over 50%, as compared to only 7% for Republicans. These new registrants are modeled as +20 pts Dem, as compared to +6 during the same week in 2020.”

The Cook Political Report today moved the electoral votes of Minnesota, New Hampshire, and North Carolina, and the governor's races in North Carolina and Washington, toward the Democrats. Minnesota, New Hampshire, and the Washington governor have gone from leaning Democratic to likely Democratic wins; the North Carolina governor’s race has gone from Toss Up to Lean Democratic; North Carolina has gone from Lean Republican to Toss Up. 

Meanwhile, Trump began the day by posting an advertisement for the fourth “series of Trump digital trading cards,” or NFTs (which are unique digital tokens) featuring heroic images of Trump. People who buy 15 or more of them—at $99 apiece—get a physical trading card as well. Trump said that the physical card has a piece of the suit he wore at the presidential debate, and Trump promises to sign five of them, randomly. Up to 25 people who buy $25,750 worth of the cards with cryptocurrency will be invited to a gala next month at his Jupiter, Florida, golf club.

In the ad, Trump made it a point to emphasize his enthusiasm for cryptocurrency, an emphasis that dovetails with Trump’s recent promotion of an “official” cryptocurrency project. He linked to a Telegram channel run by his sons Don Jr. and Eric that, at the time, was called “The DeFiant Ones” but has been renamed “World Liberty Financial.” While there is little public information about the project, the channel has almost 50,000 subscribers.  

Hawking merchandise was an odd move for a presidential candidate, and it suggested his focus is elsewhere than on the election. Also today, Trump announced that he plans to make former Democrats Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, both of whom have endorsed him, honorary members of his transition team. Kennedy told right-wing personality Tucker Carlson that he would “help pick the people who will be running the government.” 

This afternoon, Trump announced that the terms for the September 10 presidential debate had been set, but the fact it came from him alone suggested he was trying to get his way by simply declaring he had won. Indeed, the Harris campaign said the issue hadn’t been settled, and ABC News, which is holding the debate, did not comment. 

Late this afternoon, special counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding indictment against Trump in the federal criminal case concerning Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. After the Supreme Court decided on July 1, 2024, in the aptly-named case of Donald J. Trump v. United States, that Trump cannot be charged with crimes committed as part of his official duties, the criminal case Smith had filed against him for his attempt to steal the election had to be reworked to eliminate those actions the court deemed official. 

A new grand jury heard the evidence for this indictment, avoiding concerns that the previous grand jury might be swayed by evidence that they had heard before but was no longer admissible. The new indictment removes those matters but retains the four original charges and clarifies that they concern actions that are not official duties. Legal analyst Joyce White Vance of Civil Discourse notes that while the old indictment referred to Trump as a former president, this one refers to him as “a candidate for president.” 

Trump greeted the announcement with a long, unhinged rant on his social media company, saying that “[t]he people of our country will see what is happening with all of these corrupt lawsuits against me, and will REJECT them by giving me an overwhelming Victory on November 5th for President of the United States….”

“For those counting,” legal analyst Andrew Weismann wrote, “FIVE separate grand juries (scores of citizens) have now found probable cause that Trump committed multiple felonies.” 

And then, this evening, Quil Lawrence and Tom Bowman of NPR explained the story behind the surprising photos of Trump on Monday giving a thumbs-up over a grave in Arlington National Cemetery. The reporters wrote that “[t]wo members of Donald Trump's campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official” at the cemetery, where “[f]ederal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities.” When a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering the section where the grave was located, “campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside.” A Trump campaign spokesperson said the official who tried to prevent the staff from holding a political event in the cemetery was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.” 

The elephant in the room these days is that most Republicans, along with many pundits, are pretending that Trump is a normal presidential candidate. They are ignoring his mental lapses, calls for authoritarianism, grifting, lack of grasp on any sort of policy, and criminality, even as he has hollowed out the once grand Republican Party and threatens American democracy itself.

It’s hard to look away from the reality that the Republican senators could have stopped this catastrophe at many points in Trump’s term, at the very least by voting to convict Trump at his first impeachment trial. At the time, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said, “Out of one hundred senators, you have zero who believe you that there was no quid pro quo. None. There’s not a single one.” Republican senators nonetheless stood behind Trump. “This is not about this president. It’s not about anything he’s been accused of doing,” then–majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told his colleagues. “It has always been about November 3, 2020. It’s about flipping the Senate.”

When the Framers wrote the Constitution, they did not foresee senators abandoning the principles of the country in order to support a president they thought would enhance their own careers. Assuming that lawmakers would jealously guard their own power, the Framers gave to the members of the House of Representatives the power to impeach a president. To the members of the Senate they gave the sole power to try impeachments. They assumed that lawmakers, who had just fought a war to break free of a monarch, would understand that their own interests would always require stopping the rise of an authoritarian leader. 

But the Framers did not foresee the rise of political partisanship. 

In the modern era, extreme partisanship has led to voter suppression to keep Republicans in power, the weaponization of the filibuster to stop Democratic legislation, and gerrymandering to enable Republicans to take far more legislative seats than they have earned. The demands of this extreme partisanship also mean that members of one of the nation’s major political parties have lined up behind a man whom, were he running this sort of a campaign even ten years ago, they would have dismissed with derision. 

Finally, devastatingly, the partisanship that made senators keep Trump in office enabled him to name to the Supreme Court three justices. Those three justices were key to making up the majority that overturned the nation’s fundamental principle that all people must be equal before the law. In July 2024 they ruled that unlike anyone else, a president is above it.  

In May 2016, South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham famously observed: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

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