Philly Face-Off

Plus, a selfless state trooper.

The Flag

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

  • US: Speaker Johnson postpones vote on a bill to avoid a partial government shutdown (AP)

  • World: At least six killed as Israeli raids in West Bank continue (Reuters)

  • Business: Warren Buffett has dumped billions worth of Bank of America stock — and the CEO doesn't know why (Quartz)

  • Technology: iOS 18 will launch next week with new ways to customize your homescreen (The Verge)

  • Sports: Tyreek Hill admits some regrets but calls for officer who restrained him to be fired (CNN)

And of course, some good news: State trooper Kristie Sue Hathaway has saved lives on and off the job. She's donated two organs to strangers.

BECOME A FLAG BEARER

🇺🇸 Ever wonder how a high school project could change the face of the nation? One student's late-night idea turned into a legacy that flies above every U.S. building. Want the scoop? Click to dive into the story behind the stars!

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Right: Voters Not Allowed To See Kamala Harris' Economic Plan Charles Hurt, Washington Times

Left: This Was the Beginning of Donald Trump’s Final Unraveling, Michael Tomansky, The New Republic

Left: Taylor Swift Endorsing Harris is a Big Deal, Sara Pequeño, USA Today

2024

Philly Face-Off

Today’s Top Story: On Tuesday, the first and potentially only debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris took place in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC News, starting with a handshake but quickly descending into acrimony.

Reporting from the Right: Harris and moderators make the second debate more about Trump (Washington Examiner)

Reporting from the Left: The debate between Harris and Trump wasn’t close — and 4 other takeaways (NPR)

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Poor, Biased Moderation from ABC

The Top Argument From The Right: The biggest loser in the Trump-Harris debate, Liz Peek, Fox News: “The biggest loser in the first (and likely only) presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump was ABC News, which hosted the faceoff. The moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, embarrassed themselves and their network by, among other things, fact-checking Trump in real time on more than one occasion – sometimes incorrectly – while allowing Harris to spout serial lies and distortions. Social media blew up early on in the debate with commentators on the right, in particular, calling Tuesday night’s faceoff the worst and most one-sided debate in history. … Harris’ pathetic effort to avoid committing to any policies while on the campaign trail has failed; her refusal to do solo interviews and press conferences has left American voters in the dark. Consequently, the debate was important. People want to know where she stands. Unfortunately, because she deflected on most of the questions and did not flesh out the very few policies she has offered, they still have very little idea of her views. That should have been the job of the moderators, but they declined to do it. Instead, they allowed her to prattle on with Biden-like platitudes.”

Honorable Mention #1: Neither Trump nor ABC News held Harris accountable, Washington Examiner.

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Harris Swept the Floor

The Top Argument From The Left: Kamala Harris Just Destroyed Donald Trump in the Debate Alex Shephard, The New Republic: “Harris undoubtedly ‘won’ her debate against Trump on Tuesday night, but it’s important to understand why. … The contrast between the two candidates could not have been clearer during the debate. Harris made the case that she was confident and knowledgeable enough to be president, but more important, she baited Trump into reminding voters of just how crazy he is—and how exhausting a second Trump term would be. … Harris’s opening statement was marred by nerves, but it set the stage for what was to come: She made the case that she was a normal person from a normal family running against a crazy extremist. Again and again, Harris successfully triggered Trump, who flew off on wild digressions—particularly on the subjects he should be strongest about. … None of this is to say that Harris was perfect. She did a lot of dodging. She didn’t settle some of the biggest open questions about her campaign—like her lack of a comprehensive policy agenda, or the fact that it’s still not clear what her biggest priorities will be if elected, or how she differs from Biden. These remain significant vulnerabilities for her campaign.”


Honorable Mention #1: Bad news for Trump: Harris is not Biden, Karen Tumulty, The Washinton Post.

FLAG THIS

Pre-Debate Polling

A new YouGov poll conducted the morning after Tuesday's debate shows 43% of respondents believe Vice President Harris won the faceoff against former President Trump, compared to 28% who thought Trump came out on top, while 30% were unsure. This result contrasts with Trump's stronger performance in his debate against President Biden three months ago.

Additionally, a CNN flash poll revealed an even wider margin, with 63% of voters saying Harris won and 37% siding with Trump. Harris entered the debate with a 49% to 46% lead over Trump, based on The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s national polling tracker (The Hill).

Did you watch any part of Tuesday night's debate as it aired live?

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WATERCOOLER

Cave Painting, Air Fryer Bathing, Lighthouse Liberty

On This Day in 1940, Near Montignac, France, four teenagers discover a collection of prehistoric cave paintings when they stumble upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period.

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Most other hydration products contain way more sodium than you need, unless you’re working out for multiple hours every day. Native Hydrate contains the equivalent of a quarter teaspoon of salt for optimal hydration delivery without disrupting your health. It doesn’t undergo massive processing like most hydration supplements do, or have any added sugars.

With its unique blend of essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, electrolytes, and additional nutrients (like Calcium Carbonate, Choline Bitartrate, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Folate, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, and Zinc) Native Hydrate makes getting proper hydration easy and enjoyable all year long.

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