Trump’s 10% cap on credit card interest could hurt borrowers, experts say: ‘Access to credit would dry up’
Trump has made headlines over the past week with yet another surprise economic policy announcement. After promising free in vitro fertilization treatments for women, no federal income tax on tips, tax-free overtime pay and no income tax on Social Security benefits, Trump now says that if he is elected president in November, he will cap credit card interest rates at around 10%.
“While working Americans catch up, we’re going to put a temporary cap on credit-card interest rates,” the Republican presidential nominee said at a rally in New York on Sept. 18. “We can’t let them make 25% and 30%.”
Trump’s promise falls in the home stretch of an extremely close presidential race between him and the surprise Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s also a moment in which credit card debt is heavily burdening many U.S. households.
In a blow to Trump, Nebraska governor will not call a special session to change state’s electoral votes
Nebraska GOP Gov. Jim Pillen announced today that he will not call a special legislative session to change how the state allocates its electoral votes, dashing Republican hopes that the switch could happen before November.
Trump and his allies have been pushing state lawmakers to switch to a winner-take-all system, in which the presidential candidate who carries the state receives all five of its electoral votes. Currently, three of the state’s votes are awarded to the candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts.
Pillen said in a statement that Republicans still do not have the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the unicameral Legislature, noting that he and his team “have worked relentlessly” to find the votes.
“Unfortunately, we could not persuade 33 state senators,” Pillen said, noting that GOP state Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat, confirmed Monday that he would not support the move so close to Election Day.
Johnson: If the election's 'fair,' we'll follow the Constitution
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., dodged when asked to endorse a routine election certification process this fall as he seeks to stay close to Trump, who frequently and baselessly complains of election fraud.
"Do you commit to observing regular order in the certification process of the 2024 election, even if Kamala Harris beats Donald Trump?" a reporter asked Johnson this morning.
"Well, of course, if we have a free, fair and safe election, we’re going to follow the Constitution," Johnson replied.
Suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt ordered held without bail
Ryan Routh, the suspect in the apparent assassination attempt on Trump outside his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course, has been ordered held without bail pending his trial, according to a judge’s order.
Federal Magistrate Judge Ryon McCabe said in the order that federal prosecutors have “proffered evidence concerning the offense of attempted assassination and assault on a major Presidential candidate,” and that he was holding him for multiple reasons.
“The Court bases this conclusion on numerous factors, including the nature of the current charges, the nature of additional charges that might be added, the weight of the evidence, the Defendant’s prior criminal history involving a conviction for possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and the Defendant’s recent travel to foreign countries,” McCabe wrote.
Routh has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and possessing a semiautomatic rifle with an obliterated serial number.
Harris campaign touts endorsements of 90 more Arizona Republicans
A Harris advisory committee composed of Arizona Republicans announced that 90 more members have joined the panel since it formed last month, bringing the total members to 120, the campaign said in a release.
The committee has hosted organizing meetings, watch parties and gatherings with national surrogates, including Kerry Kennedy and former Rep. Joe Walsh, I-Ill., the campaign said. Former Trump administration official Olivia Troye, who has endorsed Harris and spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month, also joined the committee in a get-out-the-vote reception this month.
“The number of Arizona Republicans backing Vice President Harris is rapidly growing. It shows that we are not alone, and Republicans across our state want to stand up for our freedom and the values our country was founded upon,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles, who chairs the committee and also spoke at the Democratic convention. “Vice President Harris represents a stark contrast to the chaos and division we’ve seen from Trump and his allies in recent years, and more Arizonans are recognizing that every day.”
"Our committee is focused on bringing together Republicans who feel left behind by the MAGA movement and want to turn the page," he added. "Together, we’re showing that there is room in our party for those who reject extremism and want real solutions for the future."
Harris has gained endorsements from hundreds of Republicans since she jumped into the race, including former Republican staffers who served under Republican presidents and presidential campaigns as well as former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Harris calls for end to Senate filibuster for Roe legislation
Harris expressed support for ending the Senate filibuster to pass legislation to codify abortion rights in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.
“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom, and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body, and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said.
If Harris is elected president and Democrats maintain control of the Senate, the party could try to reform the filibuster in the next Congress. Filibuster rules require a 60-vote supermajority to begin and end debate on most legislation.
House speaker says he's 'not defying' Trump on funding measure
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters today that "he's not defying" Trump with his plan to hold a vote this week to continue to fund the government with legislation that does not include a controversial measure demanded by the former president.
"He and I have been on exactly the same page. I saw a headline, 'I’m defying Trump.' I’m not, I’m not defying President Trump," Johnson said. "He understands fully, President Trump understands the current dilemma in the situation that we’re in, and so there’s no daylight between us. And I keep him apprised all the time of everything that’s happening, because he is our nominee for president, and he’s going to be the next president."
Johnson said Sunday that the House would vote this week on a three-month stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government open through Dec. 20 that does not include any part of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Johnson had tried to link the act to a six-month continuing resolution, but the House rejected that plan in a vote last week.
Trump had previously urged Republicans in Congress to let the government shut down if the legislation wasn't included with the funding bill, but some Republicans are wary of the impact of shutting down the government so close to the election. Democrats have opposed the SAVE Act and noted that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote.
Biden calls on nations to unite amid an ‘inflection point in world history’ in last U.N. speech
In his last speech as president before the United Nations General Assembly, Biden called on nations today to band together amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing global concerns about China’s influence.
“I truly believe we’re at another inflection point in world history. The choices we make today will determine our future,” Biden said.
The U.S. president said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, has “failed” at his goal to destroy Ukraine and destroy NATO. “But Ukraine is free,” Biden said. “NATO is bigger, stronger more united than ever before, with two new members: Finland and Sweden.”
He said the world cannot let up in its protection of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Biden detailed Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 people, and included acts of sexual violence and the taking of many people into Gaza as hostages. In response, he said, innocent civilians in Gaza have experienced “hell” as Israel has sought to fight back against Hamas. The president said the U.S. has put forward a ceasefire proposal that has been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, which he called on the parties to finalize.
“A diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security,” said Biden, who also criticized the violence against innocent Palestinians in the West Bank and the need to strive for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians.
Cargo ship owners and managers sued over Baltimore bridge collapse
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages from the owners and managers of the cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this year.
The ship, the Dali, was not fit to sail the morning of the bridge collapse, and its electrical systems had failed twice the day before the collision, Brown said at a news conference alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld.
Brown said that the owners, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and managers, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., failed to inform the U.S. Coast Guard or the pilots who boarded the vessel of the ship’s problems.
“Because of the stunning mismanagement, disinterest or incompetence of the owner and operator of the Dali, those backup systems failed,” Brown said. “Simply put, Grace Ocean Limited and Synergy Marine failed, and their failure resulted in one of the most catastrophic and preventable maritime disasters in Maryland history.”
Some of the categories of damages that Maryland is seeking in its lawsuit includes lost toll and tax revenues, environmental effects, and bridge recovery, salvage, and demolition costs.
A spokesman for the companies, Darrell Wilson, said the owner and manager would not comment on the lawsuit, "but we do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight."
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group alleging they cut corners and ignored electrical problems prior to the wreckage — which killed six construction workers. The DOJ’s lawsuit is seeking $100 million in damages.
A September NBC News poll shows half of all voters plan to cast their ballots early in the 2024 election, with many early voters leaning towards Harris. NBC News’ Mark Murray explains why Republicans tend to be Election Day voters.