During the presidential debate Thursday, President Donald Trump claimed he was the “least racist person in the room.” A day later, he spoke at a rally at The Villages, a huge retirement community in central Florida, in front of a man who repeatedly flashed a hand gesture that has become a symbol of white supremacy. Vox journalist Aaron Rupar that shows how the same man who was standing behind Trump flashed the gesture numerous times throughout the president’s speech.Here's a supercut of a guy throwing up what appears to be a white power hand gesture throughout Trump's rally in The Villages,...…During the presidential debate Thursday, President Donald Trump claimed he was the “least racist person in the room.” A day later, he spoke at a rally at The Villages, a huge retirement community in central Florida, in front of a man who repeatedly flashed a hand gesture that has become a symbol of white supremacy. Vox journalist Aaron Rupar that shows how the same man who was standing behind Trump flashed the gesture numerous times throughout the president’s speech.Here's a supercut of a guy throwing up what appears to be a white power hand gesture throughout Trump's rally in The Villages,...WW…

For only the in , climate change did come up as a point of discussion, during Thursday night’s face-off between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden—but only near the very end. When asked by moderator Kristen Welker how he would “combat climate change and support job growth,” Trump immediately launched into one of his favorite bugbears:The Paris accords, I took us out because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly. They were going to take away our businesses. I will not sacrifice tens of millions of jobs, thousands and...…For only the in , climate change did come up as a point of discussion, during Thursday night’s face-off between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden—but only near the very end. When asked by moderator Kristen Welker how he would “combat climate change and support job growth,” Trump immediately launched into one of his favorite bugbears:The Paris accords, I took us out because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly. They were going to take away our businesses. I will not sacrifice tens of millions of jobs, thousands and...WW…

Subscribe to Slate Plus to support our politics coverage. You’ll get unlimited articles and bonus segments on your favorite podcasts.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been trying to walk with his right hand in his pocket this week when photographers are around. But even a politician as deliberate as Mitch McConnell can’t help but allow the ol’ digits to breathe every now and then. And at the Senate Republican leadership press conference on Tuesday afternoon, his right hand looked like this:And his mouth looked like this:The photos began spreading on Twitter later that day. Unlike...…Subscribe to Slate Plus to support our politics coverage. You’ll get unlimited articles and bonus segments on your favorite podcasts.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been trying to walk with his right hand in his pocket this week when photographers are around. But even a politician as deliberate as Mitch McConnell can’t help but allow the ol’ digits to breathe every now and then. And at the Senate Republican leadership press conference on Tuesday afternoon, his right hand looked like this:And his mouth looked like this:The photos began spreading on Twitter later that day. Unlike...WW…

Quibi, the short-form video streaming platform (and butt of many, many jokes), is shutting down, founders Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman have confirmed after the Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Wednesday. For many, it came as no surprise. Despite spending upward of $1.75 billion and securing contracts with A-list stars like Chrissy Teigen, Lena Waithe, and the Kardashians, the streaming service had struggled over its half-year run to attract an audience. For some, the demise of the app was another opportunity to rag on the platform’s admittedly terrible name, which is...…Quibi, the short-form video streaming platform (and butt of many, many jokes), is shutting down, founders Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman have confirmed after the Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Wednesday. For many, it came as no surprise. Despite spending upward of $1.75 billion and securing contracts with A-list stars like Chrissy Teigen, Lena Waithe, and the Kardashians, the streaming service had struggled over its half-year run to attract an audience. For some, the demise of the app was another opportunity to rag on the platform’s admittedly terrible name, which is...WW…

Slate is covering the election issues that matter to you. Support our work with a Slate Plus membership. You’ll also get a suite of great benefits.Well, here’s something, in the New York Times of its latest Upshot/Siena College poll:The president has even lost his longstanding advantage on economic matters: Voters are now evenly split on whether they have more trust in him or Mr. Biden to manage the economy.The electorate’s notion that Donald Trump was a business expert who could be trusted to “handle the economy” better than a Democratic president was always factually shaky, but it seemed...…Slate is covering the election issues that matter to you. Support our work with a Slate Plus membership. You’ll also get a suite of great benefits.Well, here’s something, in the New York Times of its latest Upshot/Siena College poll:The president has even lost his longstanding advantage on economic matters: Voters are now evenly split on whether they have more trust in him or Mr. Biden to manage the economy.The electorate’s notion that Donald Trump was a business expert who could be trusted to “handle the economy” better than a Democratic president was always factually shaky, but it seemed...WW…

The final presidential debate will happen on Thursday night. It is both dangerous and ridiculous that this event will be held in person. We are in a pandemic, and we have very capable streaming technologies. People do not need to share the same geographical location to debate one another. It feels futile to , really. But apparently we’re going to have the would-be presidents debate each other in person, and with an audience to boot, so I will say the next obvious thing: It should be held without the members of the Trump family attending.The reason for this is simple: They cannot be trusted...…The final presidential debate will happen on Thursday night. It is both dangerous and ridiculous that this event will be held in person. We are in a pandemic, and we have very capable streaming technologies. People do not need to share the same geographical location to debate one another. It feels futile to , really. But apparently we’re going to have the would-be presidents debate each other in person, and with an audience to boot, so I will say the next obvious thing: It should be held without the members of the Trump family attending.The reason for this is simple: They cannot be trusted...WW…

Slate's series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.On Monday night, four Supreme Court justices signaled their desire to throw a bomb in the 2020 election—and every election thereafter. Their effort to sabotage the current race failed by one vote when Chief Justice John Roberts refused to go along with the plot, allowing Pennsylvania to ease mail-in voting rules in light of the pandemic. But these four ultraconservative justices will by Amy Coney Barrett. And they have made it clear that once Barrett is confirmed, the Supreme Court will pose a clear...…Slate's series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.On Monday night, four Supreme Court justices signaled their desire to throw a bomb in the 2020 election—and every election thereafter. Their effort to sabotage the current race failed by one vote when Chief Justice John Roberts refused to go along with the plot, allowing Pennsylvania to ease mail-in voting rules in light of the pandemic. But these four ultraconservative justices will by Amy Coney Barrett. And they have made it clear that once Barrett is confirmed, the Supreme Court will pose a clear...WW…

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice filed an alleging that Google has been choking competition in order to maintain monopolies in online searches and search advertising. Among other accusations, the Justice Department claims that the company’s practice of paying phone manufacturers, carriers, and browsers to make Google the default search engine is unlawful. Google controls of the market for online searches, earning the company tens of billions of dollars per year. This is the largest tech antitrust case in , since the Justice Department went after Microsoft in 1998.“Google achieved some...…On Tuesday, the Department of Justice filed an alleging that Google has been choking competition in order to maintain monopolies in online searches and search advertising. Among other accusations, the Justice Department claims that the company’s practice of paying phone manufacturers, carriers, and browsers to make Google the default search engine is unlawful. Google controls of the market for online searches, earning the company tens of billions of dollars per year. This is the largest tech antitrust case in , since the Justice Department went after Microsoft in 1998.“Google achieved some...WW…

In May 2014, a grand jury in the Western District of Pennsylvania five members of the Chinese military for cyberespionage—the first time the United States had ever filed charges against officers of a foreign government for hacking. In the six years since, the United States has issued several more such indictments accusing hackers in the employ of the , , , and governments of breaking into U.S. computer networks, stealing confidential information, and manipulating U.S. businesses and voters. So the new issued this week against six Russians associated with Military Unit 74455, GRU’s Main...…In May 2014, a grand jury in the Western District of Pennsylvania five members of the Chinese military for cyberespionage—the first time the United States had ever filed charges against officers of a foreign government for hacking. In the six years since, the United States has issued several more such indictments accusing hackers in the employ of the , , , and governments of breaking into U.S. computer networks, stealing confidential information, and manipulating U.S. businesses and voters. So the new issued this week against six Russians associated with Military Unit 74455, GRU’s Main...WW…

For the next two weeks until Election Day, expect allies of Donald Trump to repeat the same refrain: But his emails! So far, though, the revelation of Hunter Biden’s private messages and photographs has been a dud of an October surprise, largely because the story’s credibility is so evidently flimsy. It’s also confusing—both to Trump supporters who’d like to make hay out of it and to anyone else trying to understand how this whole saga came to be. How did a laptop supposedly belonging to the former vice president’s son end up in a Delaware computer-repair shop, then get to Rudy Giuliani,...…For the next two weeks until Election Day, expect allies of Donald Trump to repeat the same refrain: But his emails! So far, though, the revelation of Hunter Biden’s private messages and photographs has been a dud of an October surprise, largely because the story’s credibility is so evidently flimsy. It’s also confusing—both to Trump supporters who’d like to make hay out of it and to anyone else trying to understand how this whole saga came to be. How did a laptop supposedly belonging to the former vice president’s son end up in a Delaware computer-repair shop, then get to Rudy Giuliani,...WW…

President Donald Trump keeps making it crystal clear that he thinks it’s hilarious to mention the possibility that he could stay in office beyond the constitutional two-term limit. He was at it again Saturday night as he egged on supporters to change their chant of “four more years!” to “12 more years.” In Muskegon, Michigan, the crowd at the Trump rally interrupted the president as he boasted about how the Republican Party is now the “Party of Trump” with a chant of “four more years!” That wasn’t enough for Trump though. “You really drive them crazy if you say 12 more years,” . “Then they...…President Donald Trump keeps making it crystal clear that he thinks it’s hilarious to mention the possibility that he could stay in office beyond the constitutional two-term limit. He was at it again Saturday night as he egged on supporters to change their chant of “four more years!” to “12 more years.” In Muskegon, Michigan, the crowd at the Trump rally interrupted the president as he boasted about how the Republican Party is now the “Party of Trump” with a chant of “four more years!” That wasn’t enough for Trump though. “You really drive them crazy if you say 12 more years,” . “Then they...WW…

On Thursday, the Washington Examiner excerpts from a recording of a phone conversation between Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, who is running for reelection in a safely red seat, and some of his constituents. The Examiner packaged the story as a scandalous leak because Sasse, a Republican, criticized Republican President Donald Trump during the call.But as further context emerged—and as multiple major media outlets picked up their own copies of the audio and ran with the story—it became clear that Sasse’s attack was premeditated: The remarks were made at length in response to a question about...…On Thursday, the Washington Examiner excerpts from a recording of a phone conversation between Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, who is running for reelection in a safely red seat, and some of his constituents. The Examiner packaged the story as a scandalous leak because Sasse, a Republican, criticized Republican President Donald Trump during the call.But as further context emerged—and as multiple major media outlets picked up their own copies of the audio and ran with the story—it became clear that Sasse’s attack was premeditated: The remarks were made at length in response to a question about...WW…

Public health officials in Minnesota have traced a total of 23 COVID-19 cases to the two rallies that President Donald Trump held in Minnesota in September. The Minnesota Department of Public Health says it has traced . Only three cases have been tied to Trump’s rally in Duluth on Sept. 30, which was the president’s last rally before he said he tested positive for the coronavirus. One case has been tied to a campaign event that Joe Biden held at a union training center in Duluth on Sept. 18.The numbers have stood out to public health officials because they seem to suggest that the impact of...…Public health officials in Minnesota have traced a total of 23 COVID-19 cases to the two rallies that President Donald Trump held in Minnesota in September. The Minnesota Department of Public Health says it has traced . Only three cases have been tied to Trump’s rally in Duluth on Sept. 30, which was the president’s last rally before he said he tested positive for the coronavirus. One case has been tied to a campaign event that Joe Biden held at a union training center in Duluth on Sept. 18.The numbers have stood out to public health officials because they seem to suggest that the impact of...WW…

President Donald Trump took some time on Saturday to fire off some tweets against a fellow Republican. The subject of the commander in chief’s ire was Sen. Ben Sasse, who had criticized Trump during a . Trump as “Little Ben Sasse” and characterizes him as “the least effective of our 53 Republican senators.” Other choice descriptors include, “rather stupid and obnoxious” and “an embarrassment to the great state of Nebraska.” But don’t worry, “other than that,” Trump added, “he’s just a wonderful guy!”Trump didn’t stop there, he to compare Sassee to former U.S. Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee...…President Donald Trump took some time on Saturday to fire off some tweets against a fellow Republican. The subject of the commander in chief’s ire was Sen. Ben Sasse, who had criticized Trump during a . Trump as “Little Ben Sasse” and characterizes him as “the least effective of our 53 Republican senators.” Other choice descriptors include, “rather stupid and obnoxious” and “an embarrassment to the great state of Nebraska.” But don’t worry, “other than that,” Trump added, “he’s just a wonderful guy!”Trump didn’t stop there, he to compare Sassee to former U.S. Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee...WW…

Scrambling to save his reelection campaign, Donald Trump is trying one last-ditch con: He’s pretending to care about people of color. “,” the president declared last month. “I’m doing so well with African American, with Asian American, with Hispanic American, and with women,” he . But in front of white crowds on the campaign trail, Trump hasn’t changed a bit. He’s slandering minorities to exploit fear and bigotry.At his rallies, Trump routinely tells white voters that Democrats would “” by installing “.” When critics interpreted this as a racial dog whistle, Trump added a riff about . He...…Scrambling to save his reelection campaign, Donald Trump is trying one last-ditch con: He’s pretending to care about people of color. “,” the president declared last month. “I’m doing so well with African American, with Asian American, with Hispanic American, and with women,” he . But in front of white crowds on the campaign trail, Trump hasn’t changed a bit. He’s slandering minorities to exploit fear and bigotry.At his rallies, Trump routinely tells white voters that Democrats would “” by installing “.” When critics interpreted this as a racial dog whistle, Trump added a riff about . He...WW…

Despite drugstores’ insistence on setting up Halloween candy displays in August, you probably haven’t given much thought to what that holiday is going to be like in this pandemic year, what you should dress up as, or if you should dress up at all. As you begin to consider the possibilities, I have an early request. Don’t be the coronavirus for Halloween. And if you do (which, again, you shouldn’t), don’t wear one of these , that . Be careful what you click on, by the way—I’ve probably ensured that my browser is going to haunt me with pictures of these for months, but you can still save...…Despite drugstores’ insistence on setting up Halloween candy displays in August, you probably haven’t given much thought to what that holiday is going to be like in this pandemic year, what you should dress up as, or if you should dress up at all. As you begin to consider the possibilities, I have an early request. Don’t be the coronavirus for Halloween. And if you do (which, again, you shouldn’t), don’t wear one of these , that . Be careful what you click on, by the way—I’ve probably ensured that my browser is going to haunt me with pictures of these for months, but you can still save...WW…

Slate's series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.Florida’s Republican secretary of state is attempting to shut down ballot drop boxes just days before in-person early voting begins, adding a new roadblock for absentee voters. The move, which is totally unsupported by law, marks another attempt by state GOP officials to suppress the vote. The move may also bolster President Donald Trump’s effort to cast doubt on the validity of absentee ballots after the election.For years, Florida has allowed no-excuse absentee voting, which is now more popular than...…Slate's series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.Florida’s Republican secretary of state is attempting to shut down ballot drop boxes just days before in-person early voting begins, adding a new roadblock for absentee voters. The move, which is totally unsupported by law, marks another attempt by state GOP officials to suppress the vote. The move may also bolster President Donald Trump’s effort to cast doubt on the validity of absentee ballots after the election.For years, Florida has allowed no-excuse absentee voting, which is now more popular than...WW…

On Tuesday, Judge Amy Coney Barrett successfully navigated most of the questions at her confirmation hearing with the typical dodges and refusals to answer about pending cases that have long been the standard for nominees before the Senate Judiciary Committee.The fact that she was nominated by an president who engages in patent abuses of power, though, made that dance a bit more complicated.Nowhere was this more evident than during Sen. Cory Booker’s questioning. Booker began easily enough by asking Barrett to condemn white supremacy, which she did. He quickly moved on to demonstrating just...…On Tuesday, Judge Amy Coney Barrett successfully navigated most of the questions at her confirmation hearing with the typical dodges and refusals to answer about pending cases that have long been the standard for nominees before the Senate Judiciary Committee.The fact that she was nominated by an president who engages in patent abuses of power, though, made that dance a bit more complicated.Nowhere was this more evident than during Sen. Cory Booker’s questioning. Booker began easily enough by asking Barrett to condemn white supremacy, which she did. He quickly moved on to demonstrating just...WW…

In 2016, Kansans voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump, and Republican Sen. Jerry Moran handily held onto his seat with more than 60 percent of the vote. This year, though, a Democrat named Barbara Bollier—the first of the who in 2018 walked away from the GOP, citing the growth in right-wing extremism—appears to stand a real chance at nabbing the seat vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts. If she does, she would be the first Democrat to win a since 1932.Bollier, a retired anesthesiologist who switched parties after 43 years as a Republican, faces off against a more conventionally Trump-era...…In 2016, Kansans voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump, and Republican Sen. Jerry Moran handily held onto his seat with more than 60 percent of the vote. This year, though, a Democrat named Barbara Bollier—the first of the who in 2018 walked away from the GOP, citing the growth in right-wing extremism—appears to stand a real chance at nabbing the seat vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts. If she does, she would be the first Democrat to win a since 1932.Bollier, a retired anesthesiologist who switched parties after 43 years as a Republican, faces off against a more conventionally Trump-era...WW…

How do you brace for a foregone conclusion? Specifically, how do you metabolize a choreographed takeover masquerading as a legitimate proceeding? This week, each American dealt with the Amy Coney Barrett event in their own way. For those who are pleased the judge is ascending to the bench, there was smug celebration. Fox News rhapsodized over the judge’s motherhood and allegedly “angelic” voice. Many Democrats and progressives, sensibly realizing that Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation had been horrifying enough, avoided watching entirely. If even that performance didn’t disqualify a nominee...…How do you brace for a foregone conclusion? Specifically, how do you metabolize a choreographed takeover masquerading as a legitimate proceeding? This week, each American dealt with the Amy Coney Barrett event in their own way. For those who are pleased the judge is ascending to the bench, there was smug celebration. Fox News rhapsodized over the judge’s motherhood and allegedly “angelic” voice. Many Democrats and progressives, sensibly realizing that Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation had been horrifying enough, avoided watching entirely. If even that performance didn’t disqualify a nominee...WW…

Slate is covering the election issues that matter to you. Support our work with a Slate Plus membership. You’ll also get a suite of great benefits.Sen. Cory Booker was concerned and relentless. It was Wednesday, the third day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. And Booker had just asked her about a study by the U.S. Sentencing Commission discussing the profound racism exercised against Black Americans who enter the criminal justice system.“You said you were not familiar with that particular study, as you just reaffirmed, or the facts that they cite in this...…Slate is covering the election issues that matter to you. Support our work with a Slate Plus membership. You’ll also get a suite of great benefits.Sen. Cory Booker was concerned and relentless. It was Wednesday, the third day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. And Booker had just asked her about a study by the U.S. Sentencing Commission discussing the profound racism exercised against Black Americans who enter the criminal justice system.“You said you were not familiar with that particular study, as you just reaffirmed, or the facts that they cite in this...WW…

On the first day of Senate hearings on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Sen. Joni Ernst lauded the proceedings as . “Only 100 years ago, women in this country were given the right to vote. And today we consider adding another woman to the highest court in the land,” the Iowa Republican said.Ernst went on to dismiss criticism of Barrett’s legal writings and judicial opinions—which largely argues that the nominee’s —as “demeaning to women,” who are “all too often perceived and judged based on who someone else needs or wants us to be, not on who we actually are.” She closed...…On the first day of Senate hearings on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Sen. Joni Ernst lauded the proceedings as . “Only 100 years ago, women in this country were given the right to vote. And today we consider adding another woman to the highest court in the land,” the Iowa Republican said.Ernst went on to dismiss criticism of Barrett’s legal writings and judicial opinions—which largely argues that the nominee’s —as “demeaning to women,” who are “all too often perceived and judged based on who someone else needs or wants us to be, not on who we actually are.” She closed...WW…

Rather than face former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, President Donald Trump took questions from voters on NBC. Before the Miami crowd got its turn, however, host Savannah Guthrie interviewed Trump directly, appearing to respond to criticism of the network’s decision to hand Trump air time by giving the president one of the most intense grillings of his four years in office.Guthrie pressed the president on details related to his own experience with COVID-19, his when asked to condemn white supremacy, and the QAnon conspiracy theory, which Trump declined to condemn but did say, “I do...…Rather than face former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, President Donald Trump took questions from voters on NBC. Before the Miami crowd got its turn, however, host Savannah Guthrie interviewed Trump directly, appearing to respond to criticism of the network’s decision to hand Trump air time by giving the president one of the most intense grillings of his four years in office.Guthrie pressed the president on details related to his own experience with COVID-19, his when asked to condemn white supremacy, and the QAnon conspiracy theory, which Trump declined to condemn but did say, “I do...WW…

Joe Biden another record-breaking fundraising tally Wednesday night, as the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee raised $383 million combined in September, besting the pair’s previous record of $365 million set one month earlier in August. The Trump campaign has not yet announced its fundraising numbers, which have flagged and trailed the Democrats’ donations. Both campaigns have to report fundraising totals by October 20, but if the Trump campaign’s numbers aren’t great, expect the campaign to take every bit of that time and hope the enthusiasm difference gets swept up in...…Joe Biden another record-breaking fundraising tally Wednesday night, as the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee raised $383 million combined in September, besting the pair’s previous record of $365 million set one month earlier in August. The Trump campaign has not yet announced its fundraising numbers, which have flagged and trailed the Democrats’ donations. Both campaigns have to report fundraising totals by October 20, but if the Trump campaign’s numbers aren’t great, expect the campaign to take every bit of that time and hope the enthusiasm difference gets swept up in...WW…

In the alternate universe far, far from our own, Donald Trump isn’t a grifter, but a paragon of integrity undone by ordinary but malicious American bureaucrats at the behest of a previously assiduously norm-following American president who suddenly went berserk and tried to take down a political rival. As president, Trump has, obviously, tried to push this fiction with mind-numbing results, enlisting his mouth, Twitter account, sundry self-serving internet hucksters and hangers-on, the Republican Party writ large, and various organs of the American government to try to pass this finger...…In the alternate universe far, far from our own, Donald Trump isn’t a grifter, but a paragon of integrity undone by ordinary but malicious American bureaucrats at the behest of a previously assiduously norm-following American president who suddenly went berserk and tried to take down a political rival. As president, Trump has, obviously, tried to push this fiction with mind-numbing results, enlisting his mouth, Twitter account, sundry self-serving internet hucksters and hangers-on, the Republican Party writ large, and various organs of the American government to try to pass this finger...WW…