Today in one sentence: The House passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown; U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump about the “real and specific threats" by Iran to assassinate him as part of “an effort to destabilize and sow chaos”; a panel of Trump-appointed U.S. Court of Appeals judges heard oral arguments over a Republican challenge to a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted if they arrive within five days of an election; and Trump told "lonely" women that he’s their “protector” and that they’ll “no longer be thinking about abortion” if he wins in November.

1/ The House passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson again relied on Democrats – not his own Republican majority – to supply the votes needed to fund the government through Dec. 20. The vote was 341-82, with all opposition coming from Republicans. The Senate is expected to pass the three-month spending patch tonight. (New York Times / Politico / NBC News / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)

2/ U.S. intelligence officials briefed Trump about the “real and specific threats” by Iran to assassinate him as part of “an effort to destabilize and sow chaos.” According to Trump’s campaign, intelligence officials “have identified that these continued and coordinated attacks have heightened in the past few months.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken added that the U.S. is “intensely tracking” an ongoing threat by Iran against current and former U.S. officials. Since Trump’s 2020 authorization of a drone strike the Baghdad International Airport that killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top security and intelligence commander, Iran has repeatedly vowed “severe revenge” on those responsible. Trump, meanwhile, posted on his personal social media platform “Big threats on my life by Iran […] An attack on a former President is a Death Wish for the attacker!” Separately, the Senate unanimously passed a bill guaranteeing that Trump and Kamala Harris receive the same level of Secret Service protection as a sitting president. It now goes to Biden’s desk for his signature. The Harris campaign office in Arizona, meanwhile, was shot at early Monday morning – the second apparent gun attack in a week. (NBC News / CNN / Axios / Bloomberg / USA Today / Washington Post / New York Times / CNN)

  • Judge Aileen Cannon — a Trump appointee — was randomly assigned the attempted assassination case. Cannon presided over — and threw out — the criminal classified documents case the Justice Department brought against Trump. (Politico)

3/ A panel of Trump-appointed U.S. Court of Appeals judges heard oral arguments over a Republican challenge to a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted if they arrive within five days of an election as long as they’re postmarked by that date.While Mississippi is a reliably Republican state, the case is part of a nationwide effort by Trump and Republicans to disqualify mail ballots. The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court before election day, which would affect all states, including the roughly 20 states that count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day but are postmarked on or before. (Washington Post / ABC News / Bloomberg / CNN)

4/ Trump told “lonely” women that he’s their “protector” and that they’ll “no longer be thinking about abortion” if he wins in November. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump claimed that women “are more stressed and depressed and unhappy […] and are less optimistic and confident in the future than they were four years ago,” adding that “I will fix all of that and fast […] I am your protector. I want to be your protector.” Despite Trump having repeatedly taken credit for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, he continued: “You will no longer be abandoned, lonely, or scared. You will no longer be in danger. You’re not going to be in danger any longer. You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected, and I will be your protector. Women will be happy, healthy, confident, and free. You will no longer be thinking about abortion!” Last year, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. He has also previously been recorded bragging about sexually assaulting women. (CNN / Mediaite / Washington Post / Associated Press / ABC News / New York Times / Daily Beast)

  • 📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.

  • 💰 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.
    📺 Oct. 23: [Proposed] Presidential debate.
    🗳️ 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.

  • 📈 Election Polling Tracker

  • Harris +2.0 points (New York Times)
    Harris +2.5 points (538)
    Harris +2.6 points (Nate Silver)
    Harris +3.5 points (The Economist)
    Harris +2.1 points (RealClearPolitics)
    Harris +3.5 points (Election Betting Odds)

  • 🔮 Election Forecast Tracker

  • Harris wins 56 times out of 100. Trump wins 44 times out of 100. (538)
    Harris wins 55 times out of 100. Trump wins 45 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
    Harris wins 60 times out of 100. Trump wins 40 times out of 100. (The Economist)
Last year today: Day 979: "Safer than ever."
Four years ago today: Day 1345: "Train wreck."
Five years ago today: Day 979: "Do us a favor."
Six years ago today: Day 614: But that's okay.