Former president rallies in Pennsylvania as Michelle Obama joins Harris in Michigan

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A fired-up Michelle Obama ripped into Donald Trump as “a convicted felon, a known slumlord” and a predator found liable for sexual abuse” while campaigning for Kamala Harris in Michigan on Saturday.

The former First Lady stumped in Kalamazoo with a speech in which she told crowds she had a “genuine” fear for “our country.”

Obama also railed against those holding the vice president to “a higher standard” than her political opponent.

“We expect her to be intelligent, articulate, have a clear set of policies, never show too much anger … But for Trump? We expect nothing at all. No understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent arguments,” she said.

“I hope that you’ll forgive me if I’m a little angry that we are indifferent to his erratic behavior, his obvious mental decline, his history as a convicted felon, a known slum lord, a predator found liable for sexual abuse,” she added.

Earlier on Saturday, also in Michigan, Trump claimed there was “something wrong” with Harris.

The former president is rallying in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, a day after he told podcaster Joe Rogan that his biggest mistake during his first term in the White House was hiring “disloyal people.”

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Kamala Harris briefly interrupted by Gaza demonstrator

During her remarks in Kalamazoo, Harris was briefly interrupted by chants from an antiwar demonstrator.

“On the topic of Gaza, we must end that war,” she said. “We must the end that war, and bring in the hostages home.”

Earlier she told reporters that she spoke with President Joe Biden today in the wake of Israel strikes in Iran.

“We maintain the importance of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. And we are also very adamant that we must see de-escalation in the region going forward, and that will be our focus,” she told reporters. “This war must end. We must get the hostages out and work toward a two-state solution, and we do believe strongly that as it relates to Lebanon and the region, that part of the strength of our work is the diplomatic work we will do to reach that end.”

On the administration’s Arab allies, she told the pool: “What I can say is that it is a consensus among leaders in the region, and certainly it is the strong perspective of the United States that there must be the escalation, and not an escalation of activities in that region.”

Alex Woodward26 October 2024 22:55

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Obama tells crowds Trump has ‘dreamed openly about his own version of a purge'

Obama told crowds: “If you are a mother who has lost sleep, worrying if your son could be the victim of a nightmare traffic stop gone bad, if you’ve ever been out there marching and weeping for justice, who do you think is going to have your back?

“Is it Donald Trump, who wants to get a full page ad to demonize innocent young black teenagers in New York City, who has had a dream, openly, about his own version of a purge.”

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 22:50

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Obama blasts people holding Harris ‘to a higher standard than Trump'

Michelle Obama turned her anger towards Donald Trump, and those who held Kamala Harris to “a higher standard” than her opponent.

“Can someone tell me why we’re holding Kamala to a higher standard than her opponent?” she said.

“We expect her to be intelligent, articulate, have a clear set of policies, never show too much anger … But for Trump? We expect nothing at all. No understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent arguments.”

Trump has “no honor, no decency, no morals,” she added. ”People write off his “childish indecency as “Trump just being Trump.”“Rather than question his horrible behavior, some folks think he’s just funny.”

She added: “I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Donald Trump’s gross incompetence, while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn.

“I hope that you’ll forgive me if I’m a little angry that we are indifferent to his erratic behavior, his obvious mental decline, his history as a convicted felon, a known slum lord, a predator found liable for sexual abuse.”

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 22:40

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Obama has ‘genuine’ fear for ‘our country'

Obama says she has a “genuine” fear for “our country,” “our children” and “what is coming our way if we forget the stakes of this election.

“Y’all know I hate politics, but I hate to see folks taken advantage of even more,” she told rally-goers in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“I wanted to do everything in my power to remind the country that I love that there’s too much to stand to lose if we get this one wrong.”

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 22:30

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Michelle Obama takes stage in Michigan to rally for Harris

Michelle Obama was greeted with screams as she took to the stage in Kalamazoo, Michigan, referring to the city as “Kamala-zoo.”

“We need all of you. Because right now, as you know, this race is close. It’s too close for my liking. And I came out here to Michigan because I am someone who takes her own advice to heart.

“I know that if we want to help this country finally turn the page on the politics of hatred and division, we can’t just sit around and complain. No, we’ve got to do something if we want to usher in the next generation of American leadership.”

Trump was “too scared” to debate Harris a second time, Obama told supporters. Harris is not “ducking” interviews like Trump is, she said.“She’s showing us what a sane, stable leader looks like,” she said. “She’s not losing her train of thought or stumbling over her words … That’s because Kamala Harris a grown up, and lord knows, we need a grown up in the White House.”

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 22:20

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Live: Michelle Obama shows support for Kamala Harris at Michigan rally

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 22:09

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We fought for Roe and we’re fighting again: Meet the veteran activists battling for the right to choose

It’s impossible to miss the massive wire coat hanger in the New York offices of Merle Hoffman’s reproductive rights clinic.

It stands out defiantly, like the now 78-year-old who commissioned it decades ago to show “this is what will happen” without legalized abortion, she tells The Independent’s documentary The A-Word – women will resort to dangerous and often fatal methods in the desperation to end pregnancies.

The oversized hanger has become Hoffman’s trademark at rallies and abortion-access events for more than 35 years – though she’d been lobbying on behalf of reproductive rights for far longer.

We fought for Roe. We’re still fighting: Meet the veteran activists

The US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe vs Wade galvanized a generation of women who’d fought for a woman’s right to choose more than a half-century beforehand. Some had seen the reversal coming; others had not. All were horrified -- with droves dedicating their twilight years to continuing the fight. Bel Trew, Julia Saqui and Sheila Flynn report

Bel Trew, Julia Saqui, Sheila Flynn26 October 2024 22:00

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Biden slams Elon Musk for anti-immigrant stance following report of Tesla boss’ illegal work history

Joe Biden took aim at Elon Musk while speaking in Pennsylvania on Saturday, following a new report that Elon Musk began is career in the US working illegally.

“The wealthiest man in the world is now [Trump’s] ally, right? Well, that wealthiest man in the world turned out to be an illegal worker, when he was here, I’m serious,” Biden said.

“He was supposed to be in school when he came on a student visa. He wasn’t in school. He was violating the law. And he’s talking about all these illegals coming our way?”

The president’s comments come following an investigation in The Washington Post. The outlet reports that the South African-born tech billionaire worked illegally in the US as he launched his entrepreneurial career after ditching a graduate studies program in California.

The Post report follows an examination of court records and company documents obtained by the outlet.

Mike Bedigan26 October 2024 21:49

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I’ve been following Obama for years. I’ve never heard him speak this way

Earlier this month, during a rally in Pittsburgh, Barack Obama excoriated Donald Trump and his disciples for lying that Hurricane Helene relief went to undocumented immigrants.

“When did that become OK?” he asked the crowd, which led to claps and hollering.

But then he did something unique. He said, “I’m not looking for applause.”

It felt like a more exasperated and exhausted version of the “Don’t boo! Vote” command he used to pull out for supporters, and sometimes still does. But the look his face was pained and disappointed — as if he was angry that he had to even talk about Trump.

I’ve been following Obama for years. I’ve never heard him speak this way

Despite right-wing accusations, he’s always been a devout patriot. His words show he hopes America vindicates his faith, Eric Garcia writes

Eric Garcia26 October 2024 21:30

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IVF under threat and an OB/GYN exodus: What’s next for reproductive healthcare post Dobbs

All three justices Donald Trump appointed to the Supreme Court ruled in favor of reversing Roe v Wade in 2022, handing a major victory to activists and their Republican allies who had fought for decades to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion.

It was a watershed moment in the battle over reproductive rights, and the two years since have demonstrated how the landmark decision’s consequences extend far beyond abortion itself, altering the landscape of women’s healthcare in the US.

Access to contraception and IVF treatments are under threat. The number of OBGYNs and abortion clinics are shrinking. Maternal mortality rates are on the rise. Physicians in some states are at risk of criminal penalties should they provide abortions. And murky laws are preventing pregnant women suffering medical emergencies from getting proper care.

IVF under threat and an OB/GYN exodus: What’s next for reproductive rights post Dobbs

The Dobbs decision in 2022 not only eliminated the constitutional right to abortion but also left chaos and confusion in its wake, raising troubling questions about the future of reproductive healthcare. Kelly Rissman and Alicja Hagopian report

Kelly Rissman, Alicja Hagopian26 October 2024 21:00

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