Trump vs Harris: Help us hold power to account

{NAME}, your support makes our reporting possible ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌       [Support independent journalism](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD13Znc2MXhjZGFtYTYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Support independent journalism](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1rOWdhcjRxZmNza3QmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   [Holly Baxter] By Holly Baxter Executive Editor [Holly Baxter] By Holly Baxter Executive Editor Dear {NAME}, Trump's performance during his first — and so far only scheduled — debate with Kamala Harris highlighted why quality journalism is more vital than ever. At a time when misinformation runs rampant, it’s crucial to have trusted sources dedicated to fact-checking and holding both candidates accountable. [DONATE NOW](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1hb2wwMjYxZ2NpcDgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Payment options](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1wMGRmZWtqbzJ2c2MmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) During the debate, Harris reiterated policies like loans for small businesses, while Trump repeatedly pushed discredited, harmful conspiracy theories — including a racist claim that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets in Ohio. He even suggested doctors are “executing babies” to defend his stance on abortion, and claimed Venezuelan criminals were being sent from "prisons and mental asylums" to the US. To top it off, he once again questioned Harris’s racial identity. Even more concerning, Trump contradicted his own past statements. Despite being linked to the far-right Project 2025, he claimed during the debate that he had never read it and didn’t "want" to — though his running mate, JD Vance, penned the manifesto's introduction. Trump’s refusal to admit he lost the last election — despite acknowledging it just days earlier — adds to the confusion. When challenged, he simply said, "I was being sarcastic." This isn’t just about politics — it’s about trust. Without proper scrutiny, political figures can distort reality to win votes. That’s why fact-checking and investigative journalism matter, and why [your support can make a difference](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1yc29kdXR5YW5wb24mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). When Harris was pressed on her shifting positions on fracking and healthcare, she responded with clarity. In contrast, Trump accused his own team of being "liars or losers" and doubled down on his support for Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban. In the debate’s aftermath, Trump’s attempts to discredit the moderators and spread false claims about “softball” questions only fueled the misinformation machine. His surrogate, Stephen Miller, lashed out at reporters in the spin room, spouting inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants rather than addressing key issues. But we were there, asking tough questions and digging for the truth — a commitment we make every day, [with your help](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoxGUkP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD02MWI0dnFtcGNveXgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdXBwb3J0ZXIgYWNxdWlzaXRpb24gLSBVUyBQcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwgZGViYXRlIC0gMTEtMDktMjAyNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfTWFya2V0aW5nVwVzcGNldUIKZs8k4OFmSQgK01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). As the election heats up, the role of independent, fact-based journalism has never been more critical. When false stories, like the one circulating about Springfield, Ohio, emerge, our journalists go out and investigate. At the debate, our DC correspondent John Bowden was on the ground, challenging campaign associates and even asking Anthony Scaramucci about Taylor Swift's on-the-night endorsement of Harris. Your contributions help fund the kind of journalism that holds power accountable and keeps readers informed. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue doing that. Together, we can push back against misinformation and ensure the public gets the truth it deserves. 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