Over and over again at last night's presidential debate in Philadelphia, Kamala Harris set traps designed to provoke, rattle and enrage Donald Trump.

• Over and over, Trump stepped right into them.

Why it matters: With just eight weeks until the election, Harris delivered for Democrats on the biggest possible stage — the type of national stage that ended President Biden's political career less than three months ago.

• She did so by being "exquisitely prepared," as former Trump debate coach Chris Christie described her, and by exploiting her opponent's well-documented triggers.
• The result was a firehose of angry rants and bizarre claims by Trump that will fuel headlines and Democratic ads for weeks.

Other takeaways:

📱 Truth Social comes to life. The most shocking moment of the debate came when Trump plucked a baseless conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants out of right-wing social media and unleashed it on national television.

• "In Springfield [Ohio], they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump insisted, drawing a fact-check from the moderator. (Axios explainer on "eating the pets.")
• Some Republicans blamed the coterie of online influencers close to the Trump campaign — including far-right activist Laura Loomer, who traveled to the debate with Trump — for polluting his preparation.

🤝 The "new" Harris. In what many billed as Harris' chance to "reintroduce" herself to the country, the vice president made a clean break with the progressive policies of her failed 2019 campaign and pivoted hard to the middle.

• Harris accused Trump of being soft on China, defended private health care, vowed not to ban fracking, called herself a gun owner and touted the endorsements of 200 Republicans, including former Vice President Dick Cheney.

What's ahead: Harris' campaign called for a second presidential debate late last night.

• Trump, talking live to Fox News' Sean Hannity in the post-debate spin room, didn't give a direct answer about accepting the challenge.

More takeaways.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters marched from City Hall, down Market Street to the National Constitution Center ahead of the debate.

• Meanwhile, hundreds more gathered on a part of Independence Mall opposite the center, including pro-Israel demonstrators, anti-abortion activists and supporters of PETA, the animal rights group.

The perimeter of the National Constitution Center was walled off by 6-foot metal fences and surrounded by police.

Along Market Street, buildings were wrapped in political ads from both candidates.

Advocates got creative to capture Philadelphians' attention this week — from airplane banners to comic books.

The big picture: Several groups seized the city's moment in the national spotlight to call for change.

Case in point: A new comic series, which canvassers distributed outside of the debate.

• It reimagines America if the Jan. 6 insurrection was successful.

State of play: Harvard law professor Alan Jenkins and artist Gan Golan teamed up on the four-part series as part of a call to action to protect and strengthen democratic institutions.

• They plan to send thousands of copies of the books to every school district and public library in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, Democrats launched a massive messaging blitz in town, including an airplane banner over Monday night's Phillies game.

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🚗 Police fished another vehicle from the Schuylkill River, the third this month. It's unclear how the vehicle ended up in the water. (NBC10)

Philadelphia officer Jamie Roman has died from injuries nearly three months after he was shot during a Kensington traffic stop. (Inquirer)

⚖️ A federal judge ordered ex-labor leader John Dougherty and his co-defendants to repay $1.7 million to the union they bilked.

• Dougherty, who was convicted last year of embezzling from the union he led, is scheduled to begin his prison sentence Sept. 24. (Inquirer)

🏀 ICYMI: Mayor Cherelle Parker is hosting a town hall meeting tonight on the Sixers' plan to build a downtown arena.

• If you go: 6-8pm, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

😆 Comedian and writer Larry David is bringing his fall tour to Philly. Pre-sale tickets for his Oct. 22 at Met Philadelphia go on sale 10am Thursday. (Variety)

Out: Early November movie releases. In: Extra early Christmas shopping.

• In both cases, blame the presidential election.

The big picture: November is typically the most coveted month for movie releases, and also when retailers offer up the best holidays deals — but not this year.

State of play: Studios are concerned about post-Election Day civil unrest and a nonstop, intense news cycle keeping people from theaters.

• "For the first time anyone can remember, the box office marquee notably will be devoid of new all-audience releases the weekend following the 2024 presidential election," Pamela McClintock writes for The Hollywood Reporter.

Fearing November chaos, many retailers are offering up holiday deals long before most Americans vote.

• Christmas decorations, including some trees, are already on display at Costco, Sam's Club and Hobby Lobby stores.
• And Lowe's launched its first wave of holiday décor online in July, more than a month earlier than last year's earlier-than-ever push.

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Hi, Mike here! Amid the demonstrations on the Independence Mall yesterday, I found a group of poets offering free verses.

• Ceshia Elmore with Poets for Peace crafted this poem for me on the spot:

Let freedom ring

On the mall of independence

For all people

Those screaming into bullhorns

And those sitting on the sidelines

All want to be heard

Need to be heard

I hope they are listening

From their podiums

And planes

And positions of power

I hope you are listening

To the power of the voices

Of the people