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Melania Makes a Move
Plus, scooping for pets.
Good morning and Happy Monday! Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:
US: Biden orders 500 more active-duty troops to North Carolina to aid in Helene recovery (The Hill) + Milton erupts into Category 1 hurricane as Southeast reels from Helene aftermath (NBC News)
World: Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli crowds rally across the world on the eve of Oct. 7 anniversary (AP)
Business: The port strike is over. Here’s what happens next (CNN)
Technology: Mark Zuckerberg is leg pressing chicken nuggets
Sports: Coco Gauff makes history after cruising to China Open title (CNN)
And of course, some good news: Torn Between Volunteering and Dream of Adopting a Cat, 6-year-old Starts Poop Scooping Business.
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TRENDING
Right: Why the Slow Collapse of Harris-Walz Won't Stop Victor Davis Hanson, Fox News
Right: Debate Revealed Walz To Be a Fraud--and a Lightweight, Joe Concha, New York Post
Right: Jaw-Dropping Number of Illegal Aliens Sent to Swing States, Katie Pavlich, Townhall
Left: What Young Voters See in Harris, Christian Paz, Vox
Left: Walz's Little Embellishments Add Up To a Big Problem, Zeeshan Aleem, MSNBC
Left: Bad Sign for Harris--Only 28% Think Country Is on Right Track Harry Enten, CNN
ABORTION
Melania Makes a Move
Today’s Top Story: In her forthcoming self-titled memoir, former first lady Melania Trump expressed her pro-choice views, a position that opposes President Donald Trump's stance.
Reporting from the Right: Melania Trump reveals strong abortion rights stance in new memoir (Washington Examiner)
Reporting from the Left: Melania Trump passionately defends abortion rights in upcoming memo (The Guardian)
RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT
Outrage From Pro-Lifers
The Top Argument From The Right: Melania Trump's abortion views in new memoir spur outrage from pro-lifers, Jamie Joseph, Fox News: “Former first lady Melania Trump is drawing heat from pro-life advocates over an excerpt in her memoir where she suggests a woman's right to choose an abortion is a ’fundamental right of individual liberty,’ according to a report Wednesday. … The excerpts quickly drew the ire of pro-life advocates who have already been disgruntled by some of Trump's seemingly ambiguous comments regarding abortion. ‘Melania Trump’s support of abortion is anti-feminist and clearly outside the teaching of our Catholic faith. She is wrong,’ wrote Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America advocacy group. … In August, Trump sparked confusion among pro-life supporters about where he stood on an amendment that would upend Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks' gestation. Trump, after saying ‘I think the six-week is too short, there has to be more time,’ to an NBC reporter when asked how he would vote, later walked it back and said he would vote against the amendment. Other spouses of Republican presidents, such as Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, have been recorded either during or after their husbands' tenure in office expressing pro-choice views.”
Honorable Mention #1: Trump backs Melania during backlash for abortion-rights stance, Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner.
Honorable Mention #2: Melania Trump doubles down on pro-abortion stance after memoir leak: ‘No room for compromise’, Emily Crane, New York Post.
LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT
Why Now?
The Top Argument From The Left: What is Melania Trump’s game in suddenly defending abortion rights? Carter Sherman, The Guardian: “When news broke on Wednesday evening that Melania Trump supports abortion rights – and apparently has for her entire adult life – it was greeted with surprise and confusion. Melania’s husband, Donald Trump, is trying to rapidly recalibrate his approach to abortion as he races towards election day. Is his wife trying to help him? Hurt him? Or neither? … Melania Trump’s revelation, then, could be intended to reassure undecided voters who are disinclined to vote for Harris but support abortion rights – as a majority of Americans do. But Tresa Undem, a pollster who has surveyed people on abortion for more than two decades, said the odds of such comments appealing to moderates or abortion-supporting conservatives were ‘fairly slim.’ After all, regardless of her personal convictions, it seems unlikely that Melania Trump has any real sway over her tempestuous husband’s policies. Her pro-abortion rights beliefs did not stop Donald Trump from helping to demolish Roe. It also doesn’t help that Melania and Donald Trump’s relationship is, at least in public, far from cozy. (He recently indicated, despite having written the foreword, that he hasn’t read the book.)”
Honorable Mention #1: Melania Trump, Whose Husband Helped End Roe, Signals Support for Abortion Rights, Katie Rogers et al., The New York Times.
Honorable Mention #2: Trump’s Response to Melania’s Abortion Claim Sparks Outrage, Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic.
FLAG THIS
America on Abortion
According to Gallup's May 2024 update, 35% of Americans believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances, while 50% think it should be allowed only in certain cases, and 12% say it should be completely illegal. In line with these views, 60% of Americans consider the overturning of Roe v. Wade a “bad thing,” while 36% see it as a “good thing.” These perspectives have remained relatively stable over the past 30 years, reflecting consistent public opinion on the legality of abortion (Gallup).
Do you believe Melania Trump's stance on abortion access could significantly sway women and/or swing voters to vote for Trump |
WATERCOOLER
US Invades Afghanistan, Pumpkin Patch, Happy Tears
On This Day in 2001, a U.S.-led coalition begins attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with an intense bombing campaign by American and British forces. Logistical support was provided by other nations including France, Germany, Australia and Canada and, later, troops were provided by the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance rebels.
The Conversation: Wondering what AI actually is? Here are the 7 things it can do for you
Today I learned Crying can make you happier.
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