Trump's Toke Talk

Plus, trail to zero.

The Flag

Good morning and Happy Wednesday. As virtually all of you know already, today is September 11th. A date that is seared into most of our minds, unless you weren’t old enough to remember the horrible day.

It’s a day you remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, who you were with. I wasn’t around for the JFK assassination, but my mom and grandma have always told me it’s a bit like that.

These are days that every American experiences only a handful of times in their lives. So it’s on these days that we promise to #NeverForget.

We’ll never forget the lives lost and the families impacted by the senseless actions. We’ll also never forget the day after, when our country came together, donated blood, helped console one another, and waved The Flag.

As we approach what has become an absolutely absurd election already, remember that it’s the media that pits each of us against one another.

At the end of the day, there’s a small group of psychos on each side of the spectrum. In the large middle, it’s people who might have different views and opinions. But people who can still express those opposing opinions to each other and hug them afterward.

Hug your loved ones today. And remember, #NeverForget.

Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:

  • US: Harris presses a more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on abortion, economy and democracy (AP)

  • World: At least 19 killed and more feared buried in Israeli airstrike on Gaza humanitarian zone targeting Hamas militants (CNN)

  • Business: Delta plane clips another aircraft and appears to knock its tail off at Atlanta airport (NBC News)

  • Technology: Sony reveals much more expensive and powerful PlayStation 5 Pro (BBC)

  • Sports: 49ers Concerned Christian McCaffrey's Achilles Injury Could Linger (Sports Illustrated)

And of course, some good news: Local horse riding therapy group for veterans makes special Chicago trot.

Who won the debate last night?

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BECOME A FLAG BEARER

🇺🇸 This student’s creation was dismissed at first—until it flew over the nation. What happened between a B-minus and July 4th?

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Left: Kamala Harris Needs to Pivot—or Lose, David Faris, Slate

Left: 5 Takeaways From the Latest Polls Steven Shepard, Politico

Right: Who Picked ABC To Run the Debate? Byron York, Washington Examiner

Right: Harris Needs a Media Blitz After the Debate, A.B. Stoddard, The Bulwark

Right: Former CA Senate Leader Switches to GOP, Voting Trump, Mairead Elordi, Daily Wire

MARIJUANA

Trump’s Toke Talk

Today’s Top Story: On Sunday, Former President Donald Trump expressed support for reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous and stated he would vote "yes" on Florida's proposal to legalize it, sharing his stance on Truth Social.

Reporting from the Left: Trump signals support for reclassifying pot as a less dangerous drug, in line with Harris’ position (AP)

Reporting from the Right: Trump confirms he will vote ‘yes’ on Florida marijuana ballot measure (Washington Examiner)

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

“Brazen Flip-Flop”

The Top Argument From The Left: Harris calls out Trump's “brazen flip-flop” on Florida recreational marijuana, Alex Galbraith, Salon: “In a memo shared by the campaign, Harris’ staff bashed Donald Trump for his “brazen flip-flop” on the issue of recreational marijuana. The Iraq War-era insult flew after Trump threw his support behind a ballot amendment in his home state of Florida that would legalize recreational marijuana. After touting his record as ‘the most respected LAW & ORDER President in U.S. History,’ Trump pushed for the state legislature to get out ahead of marijuana legalization. … The Harris campaign accused Trump of ‘just making things up’ to help his election chances in November. ‘As of this morning, Trump now suggests he is for legalizing marijuana – but as President, his own Justice Department cracked down on marijuana offenses,’ Harris communications aide Ian Sams said in the memo, per ABC News. Harris’ campaign accused Trump’s rhetoric of being ‘wholly at odds’ with the way that Trump governed. Though Trump supported a bipartisan bill to shore up protections for state-level marijuana laws, he also rolled back some Obama administration guidelines that restricted the practice of charging people found with marijuana with federal offenses.”

Honorable Mention #1: Trump throws full support behind Florida pot legalization as DeSantis fights it, Arek Sarkissian and Mona Zhang, Politico.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

This Could Help in Some Swing States

The Top Argument From The Right: Trump’s green wave: How shift on marijuana could put him over the line in three key swing states, A. G. Gancarski, New York Post: “Donald Trump shocked political observers last week when he appeared to change his position on legalizing marijuana. But, it could become a political jackpot. New surveys suggest voters in the ‘Blue Wall’ states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania could be swayed by Trump’s ‘green’ opinion on cannabis. The Ragnar Research Group polling of 1,000 likely voters between Aug. 18 and Aug. 21 shows broad support for cannabis legalization and very little political downside for Trump in embracing it. … A whopping 82% of voters in the three Blue Wall states, including 77% of the so-called “persuadable voters” who will decide the election, oppose the current Schedule I designation for cannabis, which lumps it in with the most dangerous drugs. But just because these voters object to the current legal framework doesn’t mean that they want the drug to be available without restriction. Nearly 80% of voters, and 73% of those who are persuadable support bans on recreational marijuana consumption for those under the age of 21. For Trump, who now says Americans “can live with marijuana,” his new position on legalization, which was forged in the context of Florida’s Adult Personal Use of Marijuana ballot initiative, can help him break down the Blue Wall.”

Honorable Mention #1: Policy organization slams Trump comments over marijuana legalization, Washington Examiner.

FLAG THIS

Americans Overwhelmingly Favor Legalization

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2024 found that 88% of U.S. adults support the legalization of marijuana for either medical or recreational use. Of these, 57% favor full legalization for both purposes, while 32% believe it should be legal for medical use only. Just 11% of Americans oppose legalization entirely, a figure that has remained relatively steady over the past five years. The survey sampled 5,140 adults, reflecting consistent national attitudes toward marijuana policy (Pew Research Center).

Should marijuana be legalized for both medical and recreational use?

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WATERCOOLER

Kruschev, Don’t Buy It, Astrological Snacks

On This Day in 1971, Former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, one of the most significant figures of the Cold War and certainly one of the most colorful, died. During the height of his power in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Khrushchev was involved in some of the most important events of the Cold War.

 The Atlantic: The Neck Fans Are Coming

Today I learned Goldfish crackers are shaped like fish because the inventor’s wife was a Pisces.

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