Kamala Harris joined by Lizzo at campaign event; Donald Trump rallies in Pennsylvania – live | US politics

Kamala Harris promises full legalization of marijuana – will it be a game changer?

Kamala Harris announced on Monday that if elected president, she would fully legalize recreational marijuana for adult use at the federal level. This is the first time a presidential candidate has taken such a clear position on repealing marijuana prohibition.

As part of her pledge, she said she would take steps to ensure that black men who have been unfairly imprisoned and disenfranchised by the “war on drugs” benefit from the industry.

Vince Sliwoski, a partner at the cannabis law firm Harris & Sliwoski, said he was “happy to see it because I like the message,” but added, “She didn't just snap her fingers when she got to the office. It's not enough just to do that,” he added. . That cannot be done by executive order. ”

Griffen Thorne, a fellow cannabis lawyer, felt the pledge was “obviously political” given that the announcement was made just three weeks before the election. Mr Thorne and other experts interviewed by the Guardian said they suspected the Harris campaign was trying to boost support among black voters, especially black men. new york times Public opinion poll.

“Federal legalization of marijuana is sound policy, and supporting it is a smart strategy, not just for Black voters but for Americans as a whole,” said Drug Policy Action's Director of Drug Markets and Regulation. said Kat Packer.

“As a Black woman and the first person of color to regulate marijuana for both medical and adult use, I understand the challenges in creating a legal marijuana market that works for Black men. “I also recognize the serious harm caused by the federal ban.''

Packer added that it makes sense for Harris' plan to include provisions that remove barriers for black men in cannabis and other fields.

Notably, this pledge sets Harris apart from both her opponents and her predecessors. While Trump and Biden currently support some level of marijuana legalization, Harris is the first to say ending prohibition is a priority.

Biden made a number of promises regarding cannabis during his administration, including expunging criminal records for possession convictions and rescheduling cannabis to be eligible for FDA approval. The DEA is making progress toward rescheduling, but it will not be completed in time for the election.

And only Biden erased Just a few cannabis-related convictions during his administration.

“It was kind of embarrassing because he kept posting everything he had promised on his website,” Sliwoski said.

Read more about Harris' pledge to fully legalize adult recreational cannabis here.

Is the once united Trump family faltering in this election?

In the late afternoon sun, Eric Trump raised his fist and led a chant of “Fight!” fight! fight! “Donald Trump's second son told an enthusiastic audience: “They tried to smear us, they tried to bankrupt us, they came after us, they impeached him twice… and everyone. , they tried to kill him.”

MAGA movement officials gathered at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, less than three months after the Republican presidential candidate survived an assassination attempt there. President Trump was joined on stage by his running mate, J.D. Vance, and billionaire Elon Musk. But if he wanted emotional support from his family, he would have had to settle for Eric. His other children, as well as his wife, were conspicuously absent.

President Trump's recent no-shows to large events show that there is a family divided, keeping a lower profile than in past election cycles. When he took the political world by storm in 2016, the Trump family's businesses were part of his brand. This time, we get a more isolated portrait of him on the campaign trail, delivering incoherent and inflammatory speeches.

President Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, is absent from the election because her second daughter, Tiffany, is pregnant. His youngest son Barron, 18, his first year has started BA from New York University. Eric, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, occasionally appears on the campaign trail with his wife, Lara, who currently serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

“I go to bed every night and wake up every morning hearing about voter integrity,” Eric, 40, joked on The Butler with Lara by his side. “That's really great. I'm really, really looking forward to November 6th when Lara doesn't roll over and talk about voter integrity.”

President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., 46, has been keeping a lower profile on the campaign trail than in previous election cycles. But looks can be deceiving. Off stage, Don Jr. is becoming more influential than ever as a political operative. He built a loyal following in the Maga universe through Rumble's Triggered podcast and gained powerful allies like Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA.

The following is a list of President Trump's family members who will be absent.

Harris panics over black male votes, but polls don't tell the whole story

With just 17 days left until the US presidential election, Kamala Harris is courting a particular demographic of black male voters with particular fervor.

Harris, especially as new polls warn that black voters who have consistently voted for Democratic presidential candidates (at least 80% since 1994) may be losing enthusiasm for the party. announced new policies targeting black men. . she stated plan This includes increasing access to the cannabis industry and educational opportunities that expand paths to “high-paying jobs.” [regardless of] University degree.”

But some pollsters say the panic among black male voters is overstated and that such statements ignore their historic support for the Democratic Party. They also point out that the focus on black men ignores deeper nuances about black Republican support and gender differences in black voting overall.

“To say we have to worry about black men not supporting Harris or the Democratic Party for whatever reason is completely overstated,” said the Black Voter Project (BVP), a polling group on black voting behavior. says founder Chris Towler. “I think a lot of the talk about the need to win back Black voters comes from a mainstream media narrative that's built around really bad polling of Black voters.”

The latest national data shows that black men and women overwhelmingly prefer Harris as president, representing the highest level of Democratic support from all demographics. but Some polls suggest that such support is being lost. A recent New York Times/Siena College national poll found that 70% of likely black male voters support Harris (down from 85% of black men who voted for Biden in 2020). However, 83% of likely black women voters reported supporting Harris. According to the poll, 20% of black male voters say they would vote for Trump if the election were held today, a 6 percentage point increase over the share of black men. People who voted for the former president in 2016.

More details:

Rizzo and Usher These are just some of the celebrities who support Harris against her rival, donald trump. Earlier this week, Ms. Rizzo said she had voted early for Ms. Harris, and Ms. Usher said last month that she supported Ms. Harris.

This week, the campaign announced a fundraising sweepstakes to win tickets to an upcoming voting concert featuring “superstar musicians.”

“This is a real highlight,” said a fundraising email signed by Harris' running mate. tim waltz.

Other celebrities supporting Harris include Taylor Swift, Barbra Streisand, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish.