Day 1332: "Void for vagueness."
Today in one sentence: A North Dakota judge struck down the state's abortion ban; an Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case; the New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case; and Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris.
1/ A North Dakota judge struck down the state’s abortion ban, saying the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable and restrictions on that right is “a violation on medical freedom.” Judge Bruce Romanick ruled that the abortion ban – one of the strictest in the U.S. – was “unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” The law, enacted by the legislature last year, made the procedure illegal in all cases except rape or incest but only when the woman has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or to “prevent the death or health risk to the pregnant female.” It’s the second time in two years that Romanick has overturned the state’s ban on abortion. (Washington Post / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)
2/ An Atlanta-area judge dismissed two charges against Trump in the Georgia election subversion case. A third charge against several of Trump’s co-defendants was also dismissed int the election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump now faces eight charges – down from 13 in the original indictment – and all the remaining defendants still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee dismissed the three charges – filing false documents, attempting to file false documents, and criminally conspiring to file false documents – under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction. (Washington Post / CNN / NBC News)
3/ The New York Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s efforts to overturn the gag order in his New York criminal case, which he was convicted on 34 counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. The court dismissed Trump’s appeal because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump’s gag order, which bars him from making statements outside of court about witnesses, court and Manhattan DA staffers, jurors, prosecutors, and their relatives, will be lifted after he’s sentenced Nov. 26. (NPR / Axios / NBC News)
4/ Trump ruled out another debate with Kamala Harris – two days after he visibly struggled and repeatedly careened between angry rants and bizarre claims about eating pets in their lone showdown. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!,” Trump posted on his personal social media platform, falsely claiming victory in the debate he did not win. “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” Multiple post-debate polls, however, reliably show that audiences believe Harris won. (CNBC / Bloomberg)
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📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.
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🗳️ Sept. 16: First state starts early voting.
💰 Sept. 30: Government funding deadline.
📺 Oct. 1: CBS vice presidential debate.
📆 Oct. 6: Last day to register to vote in some states.
⛔️ Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day – No WTFJHT.
🗳️ Nov. 5: Election Day.
⚖️ Nov. 26: Trump is sentenced. -
✅ Get election ready: Register to vote, update your address, or request an absentee ballot at Vote.org, TurboVote.org, RocktheVote.org, or VoteFromAbroad.org.
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📈 Election Polling Tracker
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Harris +3.0 points (New York Times)
Harris +2.8 points (538)
Harris +1.9 points (Nate Silver)
Harris +2.5 points (The Economist)
Harris +1.5 points (RealClearPolitics)
Harris +5.0 points (Election Betting Odds) -
🔮 Election Forecast Tracker
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Harris wins 55 times out of 100. Trump wins 45 times out of 100. (538)
Trump wins 61 times out of 100. Harris wins 39 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
Harris wins 50 times out of 100. Trump wins 50 times out of 100. (The Economist)
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