Haitian Immigrants in Ohio

Plus, a hero rocker.

The Flag

Good morning and Happy Monday! Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:

  • US: Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, the FBI says (AP)

  • World: Russia expels 6 British diplomats amid spat over long-range weapons (CNN)

  • Business: Boeing workers vote to strike after contract negotiations rejected by members (Fox Business)

  • Technology: Apple will charge more to swap your iPhone 16 Pro battery (The Verge)

  • Sports: Tua Tagovailoa urged by Dolphins coach to be 'quarterback of his family' after latest concussion (NBC News)

And of course, some good news: Jon Bon Jovi helps talk a woman off the ledge of a bridge while filming a music video.

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Left: Harris Was Great in Debate. Will It Be Enough To Win? Sen. Bernie Sanders, The Guardian

Left: Harris Dodged the Question, but the Answer Is Clear, Timothy Noah, The New Republic

Right: Were Americans Better Off Four Years Ago? Scott Walker, Washington Times

Right: Dems’ Weakness Wrecked Trump's Afghanistan Plan, Mike Pompeo, New York Post

Right: Four Ways Trump Can Get to a 96% Chance of Winning Bennett & Beach, Fox News

IMMIGRATION

Haitian Immigrants in Ohio

Today’s Top Story: The influx of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio has led to controversy, with viral claims about them eating pets being promoted from figures like Elon Musk, J.D. Vance and Donald Trump, while local officials and Ohio's Attorney General Dave Yost dispute these claims.

Reporting from the Left: How Springfield, Ohio, took center stage in the election immigration debate (NPR)

Reporting from the Right: 20,000 Haitians overwhelm Ohio city — residents report slaughtered and eaten animals, increases in traffic accidents (Blaze Media)

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Racist Fear Mongering

The Top Argument From The Left: Trump’s Deranged Migrant Conspiracy Is Already Fomenting Violence, Paige Oamek, The New Republic: “Two days after Donald Trump mentioned Springfield, Ohio, in the presidential debate, falsely accusing Haitian migrants in the town of abducting and eating pets, the city is already rocked by threats of violence. On Thursday morning, Springfield City Hall was evacuated due to a bomb threat ‘to multiple facilities throughout Springfield,’ according to a city statement. Mayor Rob Rue did not release the exact language of the threat, but said it came from an individual claiming to be from Springfield who expressed frustration related to Haitian immigrants. … Meanwhile, some Haitian families are reportedly keeping their children home from school over fear they will be attacked. One Haitian woman told The Haitian Times that her cars had been vandalized, and the windows broken in the middle of the night. She fears she will have to leave the town to feel safe again. … Police and city officials in the town said they have received no credible reports of pets being stolen and eaten.”

Honorable Mention #2: Trump falsely accuses immigrants in Ohio of abducting and eating pets, Mike Catalini et al., Associated Press.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Unproven Claims

The Top Argument From The Right: The Origins of Trump’s False Claim That Immigrants Are Eating Pets, Gareth Vipers et al., The Wall Street Journal: “Donald Trump doubled down on claims that immigrants in Ohio are eating people’s pets during his first debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, amplifying a falsehood dismissed by officials in the state. … The claim is the latest in a series of exaggerations or moments that when challenged with facts, Trump or his top lieutenants refuse to abandon. The pet rumors started with a Facebook post, citing the poster’s “neighbor’s daughter’s friend,” according to local police. The original poster didn’t cite firsthand knowledge of an incident, Springfield Police said Monday. The post claimed that a pet cat had been found hanging from a branch at a Haitian neighbor’s home after being carved up to be eaten. Whether the neighbor exists and the status of any such neighbor’s citizenship is unknown. … There is evidence that an influx of migrants to the small city of about 59,000 people has put a strain on Springfield’s resources. About 15,000 Haitians have arrived in the city since 2020, many using a program that gives them temporary protected status.”

Honorable Mention #1: Trump repeats unproven claims Haitian immigrants are ‘eating the pets’, Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner.

Honorable Mention #2: The Real Scandal in Springfield, Ohio, Rich Lowry, National Review.

FLAG THIS

Where Americans Stand on Immigration

A growing number of U.S. adults, 55% in June 2023 compared to 41% a year ago, now favor reducing immigration, marking the first majority since 2005 and the highest since 2001’s 58%. This shift is partly offset by a 10-point drop in those supporting increased immigration, now just 16%, and a 6-point decline in those wanting to maintain current levels at 25%.

Record-high illegal border crossings in late 2022 and ongoing concerns have kept immigration among the top issues in 2023, with 42% of Americans calling the border situation a crisis and 35% a major problem. Since Gallup began tracking this issue in 1965, 42% of Americans on average have favored reduced immigration, but spikes in this sentiment have occurred in the 1990s, post-9/11, and in response to legislative proposals (Gallup).

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WATERCOOLER

Mayflower, Living Fossil, Egg Phobia

On This Day in 1620, the Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the Americas with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists—half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs—had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the “Pilgrims” reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December.

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