Axios

Former President Trump added to a baseless conspiracy theory he's peddled about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs during a Univision Noticias town hall in Doral, Florida, on Wednesday.

Why it matters: After Trump and other Republicans amplified the false rumors that began in Springfield, Ohio, and spread online, residents in the community faced security threats.

Vice President Kamala Harris said that her "presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency" during an interview on Wednesday with Fox News' Bret Baier, her first formal interview on the network.

Why it matters: It's a change for the VP, who has largely embraced the Biden administration's policies during her campaign. Her remarks on Fox News represent her most forceful effort yet to differentiate herself from the president.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) indicated he's aligned with former President Trump in outright denying the results of the 2020 election during a campaign rally in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday.

The big picture: Throughout the campaign, Vance has tip-toed around saying explicitly whether he believes Trump lost the election.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Alabama to temporarily halt its voter removal program, deemed illegal by the Justice Department.

Why it matters: Ahead of the presidential election, voter status will be restored to people inactivated who should still be eligible.

President Biden and former Presidents Obama and Clinton attended the funeral of Ethel Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy's widow, on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

The big picture: It's a rare sighting of Biden and Obama together since the president dropped out of the 2024 race, following speculation that Obama was part of the Democratic chorus encouraging him to do so.

With Election Day just 20 days away, Nebraska's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the state's top election official can't bar people with felony convictions from voting after they complete their sentences.

The big picture: The complex — and highly partisan — battle over felons' voting rights has played out in courts and state legislatures across the country, as millions of Americans' suffrage hangs in the balance.

Former Las Vegas county politician Robert Telles was sentenced on Wednesday to serve at least 28 years in Nevada state prison for the murder of a local journalist who had written critically about him.

The big picture: A judge added eight years to Telles' minimum 20-year sentence for the 2022 death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.

The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it has finalized a "click-to-cancel" rule to make it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions.

Why it matters: Cutting out the loopholes to cancel a gym membership or online subscription can save consumers time and money.

Former President Trump doubled-down on his prior comments calling Democrats the "enemy from within" during a Fox News town hall in front of a women-only audience that aired Wednesday.

Why it matters: With less than three weeks until Election Day, Trump is seeking to boost his appeal among women voters, as polling shows that Vice President Kamala Harris has a clear advantage over this key bloc.

Former President Jimmy Carter cast his mail ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, weeks after turning 100.

Why it matters: Carter, who has been in hospice care since February 2023, previously told his son, Chip Carter, that he was hoping to live long enough to vote for Harris.

Democratic candidates for Congress are getting backup from a surprising source this election cycle: Former Republican members of Congress.

Why it matters: It points to a broader nationwide realignment as prominent Republicans who detest former President Trump are proving increasingly willing to cross party lines.

The FTC has unanimously approved major changes to the pre-merger filing process, albeit fewer than originally proposed.

Why it matters: The FTC and Justice Department in June 2023 said that HSR needed to be modernized and streamlined, in order for them to more quickly and effectively determine when in-depth investigations are warranted.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Wednesday endorsed Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) for reelection – her first endorsement for a House incumbent this cycle.

Why it matters: The endorsement comes as the former House Republican Conference chair has also been campaigning heavily for Vice President Harris.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a post-war plan for Gaza based on ideas developed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates that would be presented after the presidential election, U.S. officials say.

Why it matters: Several officials in the White House and State Department are concerned the plan would marginalize Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his government, which is what Israel and the UAE are pushing for in the immediate term.

The Democratic National Committee is blanketing the battlegrounds with billboards hitting former President Trump over reproductive rights, tying him to the abortion bans that have been linked to some women's deaths.

Why it matters: The billboards come before Trump's Fox News' town hall in front of a women-only audience is set to air as he seeks to appeal to a key demographic where Vice President Harris has a clear advantage.

Third in a series

If former President Trump wins the election but Democrats control the House, Washington plunges into an epic power struggle and gridlock.

Why it matters: Trump has terrible relations with elected Democrats, and believes powerfully in the expansive authority of the presidency.

Vice President Harris is trying to make former President Trump the star witness in her closing argument against him, with a speech in Pennsylvania today warning of the threat he poses to the Constitution.

Why it matters: It's a turn from the upbeat message she began her campaign with, and echoes the argument President Biden made when he used Valley Forge as a campaign backdrop in January: Democracy itself is on the ballot Nov. 5.

Haitian Americans across the country are pushing back against former President Trump's baseless claims about them by protesting, promising to vote and coming together to celebrate their culture.

Why it matters: As Trump makes immigration the closing argument of his 2024 campaign — without much regard for whether his claims about immigrants are true — Haitian American communities are fighting back by emphasizing their culture and their contributions to U.S. economy.

Former President Trump's extreme rhetoric is making life uncomfortable for Republicans in the final weeks of the campaign, prompting some surrogates to revive the 2016 disclaimer: "Take him seriously, not literally."

Why it matters: With more voters finally tuning into the presidential race, Vice President Harris is determined to make Trump own his words — and not allow allies to sanitize his most incendiary and violent language.

A new Georgia election rule that would require counties to hand-count ballots in November's presidential election was temporarily blocked by a judge in the state on Tuesday night.

Why it matters: There were concerns the Georgia State Election Board's decision could delay the swing state's election results or sow confusion, but Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney's preliminary injunction means it's unlikely to go into effect until after Election Day on Nov. 5.

Elon Musk has become a Republican mega-donor.

By the numbers: The world's richest person gave nearly $75 million in three months to his pro-Trump America PAC, FEC filings showed Tuesday.

Georgia's early voting in the 2024 election got off to a record-breaking start, state officials reported Tuesday night.

By the numbers: Gabe Sterling from the Georgia Secretary of State's office said on X that as of 10:30pm "over 328,000" votes had been cast from early voting and accepted absentees.

Ted Cruz and Colin Allred called each other too extreme for Texas on Tuesday in a fiery debate in Dallas, their only planned meeting ahead of the November election.

Why it matters: Cruz, a Republican seeking his third Senate term, said Allred, a Democratic congressman from Dallas, was a threat to the Texas oil and gas industry and "voted for open borders over and over again."

The Small Business Administration has "exhausted funds for its disaster loan program" following increased demand as officials respond to hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: President Biden said in a statement shared with outlets including Axios that the program is "a critical lifeline to small businesses, homeowners, and renters affected by disasters."