Welcome to the online edition of From the Politics Desk. This evening newsletter brings you the latest reporting and analysis from campaigns, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News politics team.
In today’s issue, we examine how Donald Trump is making baseless claims of “election interference” even as he himself faces federal charges. Plus, senior national political correspondent Jonathan Allen explains why President Trump is turning down major media appearances in the final stages of the campaign.
Sign up here to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday.
President Trump labels everything ‘election interference’ as he faces federal charges
Former President Donald Trump never stopped promoting the falsehood that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. Vaughn Hillyard reports that he is now increasingly focusing on pre-emptive claims that the 2024 election is rigged to prevent him from returning to the White House.
This year, Mr. Trump and his campaign have cited more than a dozen cases of so-called election interference by Americans, alleging that the upcoming election is being rigged. But as general election voting begins across the U.S., the campaign has not presented any evidence of actual fraud and has linked it to potentially illegal efforts by Americans to tamper with election procedures this fall. It has not presented any specific allegations.
The latest lawsuit comes after the judge overseeing his federal election interference case in Washington released redacted filings from special counsel Jack Smith.
“Democrats are guilty of the worst election interference in American history,” President Trump posted on social media Wednesday. He went on to say that the release was “another clear attempt by the Harris-Biden administration to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.”
And on Thursday, President Trump called releasing the filing just a month before Election Day “the weaponization of government.”
It’s true, as Ryan J. Reilly, Ken Dilanian, and Daniel Burns point out, that the Justice Department typically observes an unofficial 60-day “quiet period” before elections. . That means avoiding discretionary actions that could be seen as influencing voters. But the new disclosures from the Office of Special Counsel were made in an ongoing criminal case on the order of Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan.
Mr. Smith had no knowledge of Mr. Chutkan’s decision to release the documents or the timing of their release, two sources familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly told NBC News.
Some are comparing the “October Surprise” filing to then-FBI Director James Comey’s statements a month later benefiting President Trump about Hillary Clinton’s October 2016 emails. However, the scenario is completely different.
In 2016, the FBI director made disparaging comments about a presidential candidate whose investigation revealed no conduct worthy of criminal charges. In 2024, the special prosecutor who secured three separate indictments from different federal grand juries against the former president disclosed information in the ongoing criminal case at the order of a federal judge.
Recent examples of President Trump’s baseless claims of “election interference” include: He said without evidence that Google had manipulated its systems to reveal “bad stories” about him and “good stories” about Vice President Kamala Harris. He accused Democrats of using a decades-old law that allows Americans living abroad to vote by mail to commit “fraud.”
Read more →
Why President Trump avoids major media interviews at the last minute
Written by Jonathan Allen
In an unusual development, former President Donald Trump has retreated from the attention of major mainstream media in the final weeks of the campaign.
President Trump chose not to attend the traditional presidential candidate interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” He said he would never debate Vice President Kamala Harris again. And there’s nothing in his current release schedule that could garner tens or hundreds of millions of viewers.
To be sure, Mr. Trump is giving up some reach in a key race before Election Day. But it’s safe to say that every American with a television, radio, smartphone, newspaper, or stone carving knows who Trump is. With his penchant for flipping polls and divisive statements, he risks alienating swing voters more than attracting them when his audience is large and ideologically diverse. Rallies, advertisements and interviews with friendly media aimed at galvanizing his support base are a safer haven for him.
Additionally, some independent voters are still making up their minds about Harris. Trump’s team has reason to think focusing on her will hurt her more than it will help her.
Or, as one Republican strategist told NBC News, “No matter who runs this election, they’re going to lose.”
If President Trump feels he is on track to fail again, he may decide he wants to make himself known to a wider television audience, even at the risk of more hostile interviews.
Harris was similarly cautious when it came to interacting with major media outlets.
But for now, Trump has little to gain from increased exposure and much to lose.
🗞️ Today’s Top News
🚒 STAY AWAY FROM IT: After endorsing Joe Biden in 2020, the International Fire Protection Association has announced it will not be endorsing a presidential candidate this year. Continue reading → 🔀 Across the aisle: Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) plans to campaign with Harris in Ripon, Wisconsin, commonly known as the birthplace of the Republican Party. The Harris campaign is also launching new digital ads featuring former Trump supporters as part of an effort to appeal to Republican voters. Continue reading → 👉 No More Mr. Midwest Nice Guy: JD Vance returned to the campaign trail after his showdown with Tim Walz, shedding the Midwestern snobbery that had permeated their arguments. Continue reading → 🏠 It’s complicated: Mr. Vance argued during the debate that illegal immigration is driving up housing costs, but economists say it’s not that simple. Continue reading → 🩺 Mr. Cotton’s plan: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told NBC News that if Mr. Trump wins the White House and Republicans control Congress, Republicans will pursue health care reform and He said a large tax bill needs to be put together. Continue reading → ✍️ SUPPORT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT: More than 300 national security experts, including former Trump administration officials, signed a letter supporting the former president. Continue reading → 📺 On the air: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) is launching a $10 million ad buy in a Senate race that Democrats see as competitive. Continue reading → 🎤 No vote debate: Republican Hung Kao said in a Virginia Senate debate that drag queens and those who tolerate them are “not the kind of people we want” in the military. Continue reading → ✏️ Back to school: Biden’s student loan forgiveness program could move forward after a judge allows a restraining order on the program to expire. Continue reading → ⚖️ Colorado ruling: Former Colorado county official who promoted 2020 election conspiracy theory sentenced to nine years in prison for official misconduct and other charges related to Mesa County voting system security breach Ta. Read more → Follow live updates from the campaign trail →
That’s all from the political desk. If you have any feedback, love it or hate it, email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com.
And if you’re a fan, please share it with everyone. You can sign up here.
