Presidential campaigns react to comedian’s controversial remarks

With exactly one week until Election Day, we’re hearing more of the fallout from a comedian’s controversial comments amid the big push by both presidential campaigns in key battleground states. And details on what happened during a U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Iran after Israeli air strikes over the weekend. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Presidential campaigns react to comedian’s controversial remarks

The fallout from a comedian’s controversial comments about Puerto Rico at former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally continued Monday, Oct. 28. Despite a Trump campaign spokesperson distancing the former president from Tony Hinchcliffe, Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies centered their messages around the comedian’s remarks about Puerto Rico and their connection to Trump.

At a rally in Philadelphia alongside entertainers Bruce Springsteen and John Legend, former President Barack Obama said Trump’s MSG rally was an example of the other former president looking to divide the country to boost his chances of getting elected. 

“So, the man holds this big rally at Madison Square Garden and the warm-up speakers were saying the most, were trotting out and pedaling the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes,” Obama said. “One guy called Puerto Rico quote ‘an island of garbage.’ These are fellow citizens he’s talking about.” 

He added, “Here’s a good rule: if somebody does not respect you, if somebody does not see you as fellow citizens with equal claims to opportunity, to the pursuit of happiness, to the American dream, you should not vote for them.” 

Before heading off for campaign events in Michigan, Harris also accused Trump of trying to divide the country in the wake of the Madison Square Garden rally. 

“It is just more of the same and maybe more vivid than usual,” she told reporters. “Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other, fans the fuel of hate and division, and that’s why people are exhausted with him. That’s why people who formerly have supported Donald Trump, have voted for him, are supporting me, voting for me. People are literally ready to turn the page. They’re tired of it.” 

Republican vice presidential nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance was asked his reaction during a speech in Wisconsin Monday. 

“I think a lot of Americans are sick of the distractions and sick of the BS. They want our candidates to talk about how they’re going to solve the people’s problems and that’s what we ought to do,” Vance said. “I haven’t seen the joke, maybe it’s a stupid, racist joke as you said, maybe it’s not, I haven’t seen it. I’m not going to comment on the specifics of the joke, but I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America. I’m so over it.” 

At a rally in Atlanta Monday, former President Trump fired back at Democrats, including Harris — who has described Trump as a fascist — and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — who made comparisons between Trump’s MSG event and a Nazi rally held in the same arena in 1939. 

“I’m running a campaign of solutions to save our country. Kamala is running a campaign of demonization and hate,” he said. 

Trump went on, “Years ago, my father, I had a great father who’s a tough guy, he used to always say ‘never use the word Nazi, never use that word.’ He’d say ‘never use the word Hitler, don’t use that word. It’s like I didn’t even know why, ‘don’t use that word,’ and then I understood it and yet they use that word freely both words they use it, ‘he’s Hitler” and then they say, ‘he’s a Nazi.’ I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.” 

Former President Trump will deliver remarks to the press at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida Tuesday morning, Oct. 29, before heading for a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Vice President Harris is set to deliver her self-described “closing arguments” at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. later Tuesday night.

Republicans ask SCOTUS to block some Pennsylvania provisional ballots

Republicans have asked the U.S. supreme Court to issue an emergency order in Pennsylvania that could stop thousands of ballots from being counted in the election. 

Last week, the key battleground state’s supreme court ruled election officials must count provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected for being turned in without a secrecy envelope.

NEW: The RNC filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to undo a ruling by Pennsylvania's top court that allowed voters to cast provisional ballots in the event that they made errors on their mail-in ballots that would have precluded them from being counted. pic.twitter.com/P6My1I9fs7

— Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) October 28, 2024

Also on Tuesday, Virginia officials asked the Supreme Court to move forward with removing around 1,600 alleged non-citizens from its voter rolls. 

A lower court blocked Virginia from continuing its systematic voter removal program that was launched in August, exactly 90 days before the election. A provision of the National Voter Registration Act requires states to complete purging ineligible voters from registration lists by 90 days before federal elections.

Jeff Bezos responds to backlash over Washington Post’s endorsement move

Last week, two major newspapers announced they would not be continuing their tradition of endorsing a presidential candidate. One of those was The Washington Post. 

Now, the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, has spoken out over backlash on that decision. In an article published Monday by the Post, the Amazon founder wrote, “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election.” 

He continued, “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.” 

The billionaire owner said he wished the decision was made earlier, adding neither campaign nor candidate were consulted or informed at any level. 

Bezos’ response comes after more than 200,000 readers reportedly canceled their subscriptions.

You can read more about these developments here.

Israel and Iran exchange threats at emergency U.N. Security Council meeting

Tensions continued to boil over between Israel and Iran as the countries exchanged threats during an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Monday. The meeting had been called with the goal of easing hostilities between the countries. 

Iran requested the meeting after Israeli airstrikes over the weekend targeted Iranian missile facilities. Those strikes were Israel’s response to an Iranian strike on Tel Aviv earlier this month.

The latest exchange of attacks between Israel & Iran risks plunging the entire Middle East region into an all-out war, top @UNDPPA official warns the Security Council, stressing the need to return to the path of dialogue & diplomacy.https://t.co/KZTXDAwe3J pic.twitter.com/QLzHWcsAfA

— United Nations (@UN) October 29, 2024

While Iran is not expected to act immediately, the country’s president has said it will respond “appropriately.” 

During the Security Council meeting, the United States warned Iran of “severe consequences” if it makes any more aggressive moves toward Israel or U.S. personnel in the Middle East.

New iPhone update comes with Apple Intelligence capabilities

Apple users are getting their first taste of the company’s new Apple Intelligence software after iOS 18 launched Monday. The free upgrade comes more than a month after the company unveiled the iPhone 16, equipped with a specialized computer chip needed to power the AI features.

These are the new features in iOS 18.1

Which one is your favorite? pic.twitter.com/Ocb6Cy2g3D

— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) October 28, 2024

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can also use the AI technology once the software update is installed, as can recent versions of the iPad and Mac computers. 

However, this is only in the United States. Other countries won’t be getting the AI software for their iPhones until sometime next year.

Target serving up discount Thanksgiving meals

We might not have handed out Halloween candy yet, but it’s already time to talk to turkey. Target is joining the list of big-box stores looking to help you save on your Thanksgiving holiday meal. 

The retailer announced Monday that for $20, you can get an entire “traditional Thanksgiving feast” this year. That’s $5 cheaper than last year.

Target's Thanksgiving Meal for 4 Is Only $20 This Year — and It Comes with a 10-Lb. Turkey https://t.co/YhajSNo17j

— People (@people) October 28, 2024

The four-person meal includes brand-name turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and mushroom soup — everything you need to gobble up the perfect meal. You’ll also be able to get side dishes and desserts, like mac and cheese and pies, for under $5. 

Walmart and Aldi announced similar lower-cost Thanksgiving meals last week.