Kamala Harris squared off with Donald Trump last night. Here are the key debate takeaways
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE
The first, and probably last, presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is over. It was eventful, to say the least.
Both Harris and Trump presented spirited arguments, both for their own campaigns and against their rival’s, for nearly the entire 90-minute debate.
So what did we notice?
A woman’s right to choose whether to have an abortion is set to be a key factor in the November election, and on this issue Harris reminded viewers of Trump’s role in appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who would go on to be part of the six-justice decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which made legal abortion the law of the land in the United States.
For his part, Trump said he was proud of his role in masterminding that decision, and praised the justices who took part in it. He said, without factual basis, that Republicans and Democrats wanted abortion to go back to a state-level issue.
If abortion was Harris’ passion, immigration was Trump’s. Again and again, he brought up the nation’s undocumented immigrants, even when asked about other topics.
On that topic, Trump repeated a falsehood previously shared by his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, that Haitian immigrants living in the city of Springfield, Ohio, were killing and eating dogs and cats that were people’s pets.
This is a lie, and one that the moderators called him on, pointing out that no city official has received a single report about anyone’s pets being harmed or eaten by immigrants.
Harris had a tough job Tuesday night: Prosecute the case not only against Donald Trump, but present the case for Kamala Harris. She certainly brought the passion, and also an urgent appeal for voters to embrace democratic norms and law and order.
Trump went all in on personal grievance, accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of orchestrating the many criminal indictments — and one conviction — against him.
It remains to be seen which approach will win out on Election Day.
TWO GOVERNORS URGE NEWSOM TO BACK OFF REFINERY BILL
What happens in California, doesn’t stay in California. And two of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s gubernatorial colleagues — Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo of Nevada and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona — are urging him to reconsider a proposal that they say could result in higher gasoline prices in their home states.
Lombardo and Hobbs sent a letter to Newsom voicing concerns about ABX2-1 and other possible legislation that would, among other things, authorize the California Energy Commission to require oil refiners to maintain minimum inventories so that they have supply during times of maintenance. The bill is intended to prevent surges in gas prices.
As Lombardo and Hobbs put it in their letter, “we’re concerned that mandating refinery inventory would directly raise the cost of fuel for all of our constituencies and create further economic instability in the region.”
The governors note a recent CEC report showing that ABX2-1 might lead to artificially created shortages in “downstream markets” like Nevada and Arizona.
“This conclusion alone is deeply troubling and warrants bipartisan, regional communication on this legislation before proceeding,” they wrote.
On top of that, they write, refiners have indicated that inventory mandates could result in supply shortages and potential refinery shutdowns.
“For the good of our neighboring constituencies, and for the greater good of consumers across the West, we ask that you reevaluate mandating refinery inventory and delay taking action on this type of legislation until thorough policy conversations are had with industry leaders and our state energy offices,” the letter concludes.
In a statement, Lombardo said “the people of Nevada and Arizona should not have to foot the bill for California’s misguided policies — especially when it comes to higher gas prices.”
Hobbs added that “Arizonans are struggling with the high cost of living, we can’t afford yet another price hike.”
The Assembly is set to take up ABX2-1 and other related legislation later this fall, during a special session.
Reached for comment, Newsom’s office referred The Bee to a post the governor made on X Tuesday.
“Allowing Big Oil to gouge Californians at the pump to pad their profits is not an option. California refineries choosing not to backfill their supply when they go offline causes prices to spike — both here in California, and in Arizona and Nevada. Our proposal will save consumers — including those in Arizona and Nevada — hundreds of millions of dollars every year by helping prevent these price spikes. It’s time to act,” Newsom wrote.
CALIFORNIA CONTINUES TO LEAD THE NATION IN POVERTY
Newly released U.S. Census data show that California continues to lead the nation with the highest poverty rate.
The percentage of people in poverty — lacking the resources to meet their basic needs — rose more than 2 percentage points last year, from 16.4% in 2022 to 18.9% in 2023. That rate means that 7.3 million Californians are living in poverty, more than the populations of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose or San Francisco, according to an analysis of the data by the California Budget and Policy Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit that seeks solutions to address inequities in the state.
Nationwide, the poverty rate is 11.1%.
Meanwhile, the rich continue to far outpace the incomes of most state residents, with the top 1% of households earning an average of $1.2 million a year, 14 times the median household income.
“These figures point to the need for federal and state leaders to take urgent action to ensure that all Californians have the resources to thrive, and recent experience proves that policymakers can achieve this vision,” the report read.
The center points to the success of the federal child tax credit in lifting people out of poverty in 2021, when the credit was temporarily increased.
“When Congress allowed these effective policies to expire, that progress was reversed the following year, causing the largest increase in the national poverty rate in 50 years,” the report read.
The report calls on federal lawmakers to strengthen and expand both the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit, which it argued would play a critical role in reducing poverty.
“California policymakers can also cut poverty by strengthening state tax credits and the safety net, and ensuring that all Californians — regardless of immigration status — have access to affordable housing, nutrition assistance, health coverage, and good jobs,” the report added.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I have concepts of a plan. I’m not president right now.”
- Former President Donald Trump, when asked whether he has a plan to improve the Affordable Care Act if he becomes president again.
Best of The Bee:
Trump, Harris brawl over inflation, immigration, abortion at presidential debate, via David Lightman.
Taylor Swift says she’s voting for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump after presidential debate, via Gillian Brassil.
What do California Latinos think about artificial intelligence? Here’s what a new poll says, via Mathew Miranda.
Six GOP congressmen ask why parts of Valley have water cutbacks in time of relative plenty, via John Holland.