Trump's Controversial 2024 Election Campaign and Harris-Pence Debate

Questions for Donald Trump

Twenty-four questions on issues including the economy, abortion and foreign policy we wish Trump would answer. Two weeks ago, The Morning published a list of questions that we wished Kamala Harris would answer. Today -- the day of the debate between Harris and Donald Trump -- we're publishing questions for Trump. As before, my Times colleagues who are covering the campaign helped put this list together. The economy 1. The signature legislation of your presidency was a tax cut that disproportionately helped the wealthy. Now you want to make this legislation permanent -- and expand it. How will a tax cut geared toward the rich help most American families? 2. The federal debt is already large, and your tax cut would expand it. Do you have any plans to reduce the debt? 3. You have sent mixed signals about whether you will again try to repeal Obamacare. Will you? And when will you release your own health care plan, as you've long promised? 4. You have proposed a big tariff on goods coming into this country. Many business executives and economists say it will raise consumer prices. Why do you think they're wrong? 5. You have signaled that you want to end the Federal Reserve's independence and help set interest rates yourself. When other countries have politicized their central banks, inflation has tended to rise. Why do you favor this idea? 6. You promised to pass an infrastructure bill as president but didn't. President Biden did -- along with bipartisan laws on veterans' health, manufacturing and more. Why has he been a more bipartisan president than you were? Other domestic issues 7. You've said that you are proud of the demise of Roe v. Wade and that states should decide abortion policy. Will you promise to veto any congressional bill that imposes new restrictions on states? 8. Many abortions occur through prescription medications. Five months ago, you said you would announce a policy on medication abortion, but you haven't. Will you take executive actions to restrict its availability? 9. You promised to build a border wall -- a policy that many voters support -- but you completed only modest sections of it. Why should voters believe you will succeed in a second term? 10. You have called for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Whom exactly would you deport -- everybody who's in this country illegally, including children and people who've been here for years, or only some groups? And how would you identify and apprehend people? 11. Extreme heat, severe storms and flooding have all become more common. Yet you've called climate change "not our problem." Are you worried about the world you're leaving to your grandchildren? Foreign policy 12. You've suggested that Vladimir Putin should have a freer hand to do what he wants in Europe. Would you try to withdraw the U.S. from NATO? 13. You have criticized U.S. military aid to Ukraine and pledged to end the war there in a single day. Isn't this effectively calling for Ukraine to surrender and accept a peace deal favorable to Putin? 14. You have promised to bring home the hostages in Gaza. How would you persuade or force Hamas to release them all? 15. Middle East policy during your presidency often followed the wishes of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister. His unwillingness to compromise on big questions appears to be an obstacle to peace. Do you disagree with him on anything? 16. If Iran appeared to be building a nuclear weapon, would you order a military attack? 17. You were tougher on China than your predecessors. But you also recently abandoned your opposition to China's ownership of TikTok, evidently after being lobbied by a Republican donor. Are you willing to stand up to China even if it costs your allies money? Trump himself 18. You tried to overturn the 2020 election result after Biden beat you. Do you believe in American democracy? 19. On Jan. 6, 2021, rioters attacked police officers at the Capitol. You've praised those rioters, raised money for them, pledged to pardon them and met with their relatives. Do you understand why this angers officers who were injured in the attack and the families of those who died afterward? 20. A jury found that you had sexually abused E. Jean Carroll. Another jury convicted you for falsifying records to cover up an affair. And you have a long record of demeaning women. Do you regret any of this behavior? 21. You used your power as president to enrich yourself and your family, including by holding events at your properties. Will you do so again? 22. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E. have invested billions of dollars with a fund run by Jared Kushner, your son-in-law, even though he has little relevant investment experience. Do you think they're trying to curry favor with you through him? 23. Four years from now, you would be 82. In public appearances, you sometimes give incoherent answers, including a recent one about child care. Will you release your complete medical records? 24. Multiple people who watched you up close as president -- including your vice president and a chief of staff -- say that you're unfit to be president. Why do so many of your own appointees feel this way? Tonight's debate Tonight's debate is high-stakes: It's the only one scheduled between Harris and Trump, and they are virtually tied in the polls. It starts at 9 p.m. Eastern. Will Trump restrain himself? Will Harris distance herself from Biden? Here's what else to watch for. Trump has recently mixed up names, stumbled over words and rambled, raising questions about his age and cognitive health. In past debates, Harris was unafraid to instigate attacks, but could be unsteady when receiving one. More on the election What do Harris and Trump say about each other? Harris has mostly stuck to policy critiques, while Trump has insulted her -- as "crooked," "crazy" or "stupid" -- more than three times a day. Harris's campaign website now has an "Issues" page. It mostly mirrors Biden's stances and also criticizes Project 2025. Trump said he would vote for a Florida ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana, CNN reports. THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War Israel struck inside a humanitarian area in the southern Gaza Strip, saying its target was a military command center. An official in Gaza said the strikes killed at least 40 people. Violence is escalating in the West Bank: Palestinian militants have made bolder, more sophisticated attacks, and Israel has intensified its military raids. Politics The eccentric, right-wing German princess who hosted Justice Samuel Alito and his wife at her castle last summer praised him as "pro-life in a time where the majority follows the culture of death." Justice Elena Kagan said Americans were right to worry about the Supreme Court soon limiting contraceptive access and same-sex marriage. Several congressional Republicans, including JD Vance and Ted Cruz, have spread a false story about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. War in Ukraine For some women in Ukraine, a visit to a nail salon -- which often involves navigating power outages and air-raid sirens -- is an act of defiance. A Ukrainian drone attack near Moscow killed at least one person, a Russian official said. Ukrainian civilians increasingly support negotiations with Moscow to end the war, but soldiers are skeptical about a deal, The Wall Street Journal reports. More International News Catherine, the Princess of Wales, said she had completed chemotherapy. She has revealed few details about her cancer diagnosis. Seventy-nine environmental activists were killed in Colombia last year, a new report says. Sixty were killed the year before. Nearly half the population of East Timor attended the Mass that Pope Francis held there, according to the Vatican, The A.P. reports. Weather A wildfire in San Bernardino County, Calif., forced schools to close and residents to evacuate. Another erupted in the hills of Orange County. Tropical Storm Francine is growing stronger in the Gulf of Mexico, and could make landfall in Louisiana tomorrow. See the storm's track. Other Big Stories James Earl Jones, who stuttered badly as a child but became one of Hollywood's great voices, roaring life into "Star Wars" and Shakespeare, has died at 93. Read his Times obituary. SpaceX launched a mission to carry a billionaire astronaut further from Earth than any human since the Apollo project. At least seven counties in southeastern Kentucky closed schools as the authorities search for the suspect in a highway shooting. Teenage girls' brains aged rapidly during pandemic shutdowns, probably from the stress of isolation, a study found. Opinions Liz Magic Laser traces the political history of the raised fist, from the Black Panthers to Trump. The arrest of the Telegram chief and Brazil's X ban shows that social-media titans are nearing the end of impunity, Alexander Howard writes. Harris should focus on swaying people who don't like Trump personally but plan to vote for him based on policy, Kristen Soltis Anderson writes. Here's a column by Michelle Goldberg on Trump's disrespect for the anti-abortion movement. MORNING READS iPhone 16: Apple says its new phone has A.I. to make Siri more useful. Tech Fix: You don't need to buy a new phone to use A.I. tools. Our columnist explains how to get them. Ask Vanessa: "Are special clothes you don't wear anymore worth keeping?" Lives Lived: In the 1970s, Maria Redo single-handedly convinced thousands of New York City retailers to offer discounts to older people struggling to make ends meet, starting a nationwide trend. She died at 99. SPORTS N.F.L.: The San Francisco 49ers spoiled Aaron Rodgers's season debut in a 32-19 win over the New York Jets. Read a recap. Deshaun Watson: A Texas woman sued the Browns quarterback, accusing him of sexual assault. Tyreek Hill: The police in Miami released bodycam footage of the Dolphins star's arrest during a traffic stop on Sunday. The team said officers' actions had been "overly aggressive and violent." ARTS AND IDEAS Many adjectives have been attached to martinis -- dirty, smoky, filthy, flaming -- but few bartenders, Pete Wells writes, would have thought it was a good idea to sell a wet martini. "It implied that the bartender had allowed too much vermouth to creep into the glass," Pete writes. "It was a synonym for anemic, sloppy, wishy-washy." A martini served by a new restaurant, however, reflects an appreciation of vermouth that's been a long time coming. More on culture Jorge Ramos is preparing to leave Univision after 40 years at the network. He is known for questioning leaders including Fidel Castro. "You know these are strange times when Dick Cheney and Barbra Streisand are voting for the same person," Jimmy Fallon joked on his show. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS ... Serve this brown butter peach cake at brunch. Avoid these rookie running mistakes. Store files on a USB drive. Enjoy a good night's sleep on these mattresses. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was typeface. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. -- David P.S. Has faith shaped your life? The Times wants to hear from you. Tell us what you believe in, whether you're religious or not. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at [email protected].

Tuesday Briefing

Trump and Harris prepare for a high-stakes debate The first and only scheduled debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will take place on Tuesday evening in the U.S., and Americans are bracing for a nail-biter. For Trump, the debate is an opportunity to turn the page on a tough summer. Harris has closed the polling gap Trump had held over President Biden since she became the Democratic Party's nominee, and the debate may be one of his best shots to reverse that momentum before early voting begins. Trump has honed a playbook of explicitly gendered attacks against female candidates and journalists that he is likely to draw from. For Harris, the debate stands to be the most important night in her political career. It will offer the candidate her biggest audience yet as the country tries to learn more about what kind of president she would make. It will also be a test of her carefully rehearsed, aggressive debate style. "When Harris has not methodically prepared, she sometimes has trouble," said Lisa Lerer, who covers politics for The Times. "That could end up being a problem with Trump because he is, above all other things, a highly unpredictable debater." Here's what else to know: Trump's rambling, sometimes incoherent public statements have raised questions about his cognitive health and stirred concern among voters. The Trump campaign promoted an outlandish false claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio have abducted and eaten their neighbors' pets. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. Stay up to date: Live coverage | Poll tracker | "The Run-Up" podcast | On Politics newsletter Europe is facing an 'existential' competitiveness crisis The E.U., facing a shrinking share of the global economy, needs to increase its spending by nearly $900 billion a year in sectors like technology and defense to remain competitive against the U.S. and China. That assessment comes from a long-awaited report from Mario Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, who yesterday called the challenge for the E.U. "existential." To transform the continent's economy, the E.U. must develop an industrial strategy that includes a shared energy grid, joint military procurement as well as advanced training programs for workers. But the report was short on details about finding a source for the enormous investment required to reverse Europe's economic decline. Context: The analysis is the result of a yearlong study requested by the European Commission on the causes of Europe's competitiveness crisis. It will serve as a guide for policymakers, who will soon meet in Brussels to determine the bloc's next five-year strategic plan. Kate said her chemotherapy is over Catherine, the Princess of Wales, announced yesterday that she had completed chemotherapy. Speaking in an emotional three-minute video, she said that she would return to a limited number of her duties. Kensington Palace did not indicate that Catherine was cancer-free. Officials did not offer further details on her medical condition, citing her right to privacy. Details: The palace has not confirmed what type of cancer the princess was being treated for, how far the disease had progressed or the details of her treatment, beyond that she had undergone chemotherapy. MORE TOP NEWS Syria: The country blamed Israel for airstrikes that hit a scientific research institute in the city of Masyaf, killing at least 18 people, according to state media. Gaza: The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes in the Khan Younis humanitarian area in the southern Gaza Strip, targeting a militant command center, the Israeli military said. Ukraine: Russian forces captured two villages in eastern Ukraine yesterday and are encircling Ukrainian forces in two locations, according to a battlefield analysis. Tech: Google's second antitrust trial started yesterday in the U.S., where the Justice Department has called for a breakup of the tech giant over its control of online ads. Germany: The government said that it would expand border patrols after two deadly stabbings by rejected asylum seekers and a surge in support for the far right. Montenegro: Discord between former political allies has complicated the country's efforts to join the E.U. and curb pro-Russian influence. Canada: Peter Nygard, the former fashion mogul, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting four women. Fashion: The British designer Sarah Burton is the new creative director at Givenchy. SPORTS NEWS Paralympics: A visually impaired marathoner was denied a medal after she let go of her tether to help her guide, who had stumbled yards from the finish line. Soccer: The hunt for Kerlon Moura Souza, the creator of the strangest parlor trick in the sport, almost came up short. But then The Athletic found him. Formula 1: Officials and teams are considering a rookies-only race in Abu Dhabi after the end of the season. MORNING READ The social isolation of pandemic-driven lockdowns rapidly aged the brains of adolescent girls, a new study found. One researcher said that an 11-year-old girl who was tested before the pandemic and then returned to the lab at age 14 would have a brain that looked like that of an 18-year-old. Rapid aging of this kind -- which tends to happen during times of stress -- has been associated with depression and anxiety, scientists said. Lives lived: James Earl Jones, who gave life to characters like Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" franchise and Mufasa in "The Lion King," has died at 93. CONVERSATION STARTERS Fashion Week: Off-White celebrated the allure of New York City. Here's our review. Upscale meal: At the U.S. Open, a $100 box of chicken nuggets drew a covetous crowd. Sleep fixation: So-called sleepmaxxers are going to extreme lengths in pursuit of better rest. Is that a problem? ARTS AND IDEAS Can you spot the A.I. videos? Artificial intelligence tools can create picture-perfect faces, realistic photographs and now lifelike videos. While A.I. video technology is not yet as sophisticated as tools that create images and audio, it is rapidly advancing. The most convincing examples often manipulate real videos, adding realistic A.I. elements. Stuart Thompson, who covers misinformation and disinformation, created this quiz with real and A.I.-generated videos. Can you spot the difference? RECOMMENDATIONS Cook: The sugar crumb topping on this brown butter peach cake gives it a delicious golden crispiness. Watch: Here are five action movies to stream. Read: "Bright I Burn" is inspired by the true story of the first woman condemned as a witch in medieval Ireland. Listen: The comedian Will Ferrell and his best friend Harper Steele discuss the journey that deepened their friendship. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. -- Jonathan P.S. Anupreeta Das is joining the New Delhi team as a South Asia correspondent. Reach Jonathan and the team at [email protected].

Harris Said She Is Ready for the Debate

Also, the U.S. argued that Google has an ad-tech monopoly. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris has spent much of the past several days holed up in a Pittsburgh hotel, practicing for her debate tomorrow night against Donald Trump. There's a stage, replica TV lighting and an adviser acting as Trump. Trump has opted for much more casual debate prep, with his advisers urging him to avoid looking like a bully. One of the key questions going into the event is whether Trump can restrain himself despite his history of being physically and rhetorically hostile to women on the debate stage. The clash will be especially important for Harris, who began her campaign for president less than two months ago. A recent Times poll found that she was narrowly trailing Trump nationwide in part because nearly a third of voters said that they needed to learn more about her. The debate will also be a test of Harris's carefully rehearsed, aggressive debate style. "When Harris has not methodically prepared, she sometimes has trouble," our politics reporter Lisa Lerer said. "That could end up being a problem with Trump because he is, above all other things, a highly unpredictable debater." Here's what else to know: Trump's rambling, sometimes incoherent public statements have raised questions about his cognitive health and stirred concern among voters. After a summer of political upheaval, the polls are finally showing what analysts expected all along: a dead heat. We talked to voters who want to leave the country because of the political environment. Your questions: We're asking readers what they'd like to know about the election and taking those questions to our reporters. We gave one to Edward Wong, who covers foreign policy. "Europe is watching. How come the candidates don't talk about the global view on America and the necessity to reconnect to allies?" -- Yasha Young, Berlin Edward: Most American voters do not see foreign policy as a decisive issue or a priority in U.S. elections, unless American troops are directly involved in a disastrous war, so candidates generally do not spend much time talking about U.S. alliances or global affairs. However, we might see journalists ask both Harris and Trump questions about their foreign policy views in the televised debate on Tuesday. You can send us your questions here. The U.S. argued that Google has an ad-tech monopoly The Justice Department told a federal judge today that Google had built a monopoly in online ad-selling technology, kicking off the search giant's second major antitrust trial. The government's prosecutor argued that Google's large market share, 87 percent, allowed it to charge high prices and take a significant portion of each sale, harming website owners. The case could reshape the tech giant's business: Last year, about three-quarters of Google's revenue came from advertising, which it argues it earned by offering the best product. It arrived in court for this case about a month after a judge separately ruled that Google had illegally maintained a monopoly over online search. Apple is betting on A.I. Apple today unveiled its first artificially intelligent smartphone, the iPhone 16, in an effort to re-energize its most popular product with software that can summarize notifications, offer writing recommendations and find photos from a user's description. Other capabilities will arrive over time, Apple said. The broader tech industry is hoping that Apple can help make A.I. mainstream. Test yourself: A.I. can now create lifelike videos. Can you tell what is real? James Earl Jones died at 93 James Earl Jones, the versatile stage, film and television actor who gave life to characters like Darth Vader in "Star Wars" and Mufasa in "The Lion King," died today at 93. Jones was abandoned as a child by his parents, raised by a racist grandmother and mute for years as he struggled with a severe stutter. But he learned to speak again with a herculean will, and his voice became iconic for a generation of moviegoers. More top news California: More than 11,000 people were ordered to evacuate as the Line fire has now burned through more than 21,000 acres in San Bernardino County since starting last week. Kentucky: A manhunt continued for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting spree on a highway. Ukraine: Russian forces captured two villages near the strategic city of Pokrovsk. Science: Pandemic lockdowns rapidly aged the brains of teenage girls -- far more than those of boys -- a new study found. Supreme Court: Justice Samuel Alito reported receiving $900 concert tickets from a German princess, Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a party girl turned far-right conservative. Royals: Catherine, Princess of Wales, said that she had completed her chemotherapy for cancer. Weather: Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane and make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday evening. Investigation: Tim Ballard's work to fight sex trafficking made him a star. Several women have accused him of being a sex predator. TIME TO UNWIND 'My Brilliant Friend' comes to a brilliant conclusion Beginning tonight, the final season of HBO's "My Brilliant Friend" will wrap up the tale of Lila and Lenù. Their story is adapted from Elena Ferrante's beloved novels, but our critic James Poniewozik writes that the show stands out by itself. "This is, simply put, one of the most incisive portraits of a lifelong relationship ever made for TV," James wrote. We also talked to the four actresses who played Lila and Lenù about how the show changed their lives. For more: Here are the television shows that we are most looking forward to this fall. A portrait of Prince that you may never see My colleague Sasha Weiss is one of a small group of people who have watched Ezra Edelman's nine-hour documentary about Prince. It's a dense and revealing portrait about a deeply flawed genius and pop icon that could redefine our understanding of him, Sasha wrote. But you will probably never get to see it. That's because the new executors of Prince's estate object to the project, and are fighting Netflix, which owns the rights to the film, to make sure it never sees the light of day. Dinner table topics Fashion week: Off-White celebrated the allure of New York City. Here's our review. Last dance: Kathy Bates found surprising depths in a rebooted "Matlock," which she said will be her final job. Bright stones: No one really knows what makes a good turquoise stone. Upscale meal: At the U.S. Open, a $100 box of chicken nuggets drew a covetous crowd. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Cook: These simple, dense, slightly sweet tea cakes are an adaptable treat. Sip: Our wine critic recommends 10 bottles from Spain. Watch: "The Clean Up Crew" is one of the best action movies to stream right now. Read: These two books celebrate the joy of marriage. Scrub: Our climate desk has tips for doing your laundry with the environment in mind. Rest: Some people go to extreme lengths in pursuit of better sleep. Compete: Take this week's Flashback history quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING English manors with easy manners Britain is dotted with centuries-old mansions that have been carefully restored as high-end hotels. They often offer fine dining, poolside champagne and croquet lawns, and have fancy names like "manor." But The Pig, as you may have guessed by its name, is something different. It's a collection of British country house hotels that caters to a much less formal clientele. The buildings are still grand and historic, and often surrounded by handcrafted gardens, but there's certainly no white glove service. But please don't put your feet up on the furniture. Have a laid-back evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. -- Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at [email protected].