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Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt May Have Waited 12 Hours

Authorities charged a man on Monday with two gun-related crimes after he allegedly lay in wait for nearly 12 hours at Donald Trump’s Florida golf course in an apparent assassination attempt. The suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, was seen hiding in the bushes with a rifle as the former U.S. president played on the nearby fairway, though Trump was never in his direct line of sight, and no shots were fired.

The Secret Service spotted the barrel of a rifle emerging from the bushes, prompting agents to fire warning shots and swiftly evacuate Trump. Routh fled in a vehicle but was arrested 40 minutes later on Interstate 95. A loaded assault-style rifle, camera, and food supplies were found near the scene.

Court documents reveal that a phone linked to Routh was located at the golf course starting at 2 a.m. on Sunday, indicating he may have been waiting for over 11 hours before the incident. Routh, a convicted felon, is now charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted, more charges could follow.

The incident occurred just two months after another attempt on Trump’s life during a rally in Pennsylvania, raising concerns about Secret Service security. Trump praised his security team for their quick response but called for an increase in personnel on his detail.

While no official motive has been provided, Trump blamed inflammatory rhetoric from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the attempt. He claimed that such language had incited attacks on him, although no evidence has yet been offered to support this assertion. Both Biden and Harris condemned the incident, with Biden personally calling Trump to express his relief that the former president was unharmed.

Kamala Harris Promises to Cut Degree Requirements for Certain Federal Jobs

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intention to eliminate college degree requirements for certain federal jobs if elected president, in a bid to create more employment opportunities for Americans without four-year degrees. This move comes as part of her broader campaign to appeal to voters alongside Republican rival Donald Trump in the tight race for the November 5 presidential election.

Speaking in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Harris emphasized the need to recognize alternative pathways to success, such as apprenticeships and technical programs. “A degree does not necessarily indicate a person’s skills,” she stated, while also challenging the private sector to consider eliminating degree requirements for their positions.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau in early 2023, more than 62% of Americans aged 25 or older do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Harris’ plan aims to address the needs of this demographic, which comprised a significant portion of voters in the 2020 elections.

Focus on Economic Policies

Harris’ announcement is part of her broader economic platform, which also includes plans for a middle-class tax cut. This follows her previous advocacy for eliminating taxes on tips, a stance shared by her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, who has also pushed for tax cuts on overtime pay.

A recent survey by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation revealed that many Americans are skeptical about the value and rising cost of college education, with over half of U.S. adults citing financial concerns as a major factor for not pursuing higher education.

Protesters and Foreign Policy Stance

Harris’ speech was interrupted by protesters opposing U.S. support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused a humanitarian crisis, has sparked protests across the U.S. calling for an end to military aid to Israel.

In response, Harris reiterated her support for a ceasefire and a hostage rescue deal, stating, “Now is the time to get a hostage deal and ceasefire.” While maintaining her support for Israel, Harris’ stance on the conflict could influence her standing with pro-Palestinian Americans, including Muslims and Arabs, who overwhelmingly voted for Democrats in the previous election. Observers suggest that if these groups withhold their votes, it could affect Harris’ chances, though they are unlikely to support Trump.

The latest violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Israel’s military response has led to over 41,000 Palestinian casualties and widespread displacement, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with Israel facing genocide allegations that it denies.

Workers at Major US Tech Companies Overwhelmingly Support Kamala Harris, Data Reveals

According to data compiled by political watchdog OpenSecrets, employees at some of the largest U.S. tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft, are strongly backing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Workers at these tech giants have donated millions to Harris’ campaign, significantly outpacing the contributions made to former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Despite the substantial support from tech employees for Harris, some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent billionaires, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, have thrown their weight behind Trump, praising his economic policies and business-friendly stances. The Nov. 5 election has sparked divisions in Silicon Valley, which has historically leaned Democratic. While entrepreneurs like Reid Hoffman and Mark Cuban are supporting Harris for her stance on tech policies and workers’ rights, other tech leaders have become disillusioned with Democratic policies, particularly around business regulations.

While corporations cannot donate directly to federal campaigns, employees can contribute to candidates of their choice. The data shows that Alphabet employees and their family members have contributed over $2.16 million to Harris, while Amazon and Microsoft employees have donated $1 million and $1.1 million, respectively. In contrast, Trump’s campaign has received far less support from tech workers, with Alphabet workers contributing just $57,000 to his campaign, and Amazon and Microsoft workers donating $116,000 and $88,000, respectively.

In contrast, Walmart workers have split their donations more evenly between the two candidates, with Trump’s campaign receiving slightly more support than Harris’. Analysts suggest that the difference in donations reflects the higher disposable income of tech company employees, who tend to earn more than workers in retail or other industries.

Although Meta and Apple employees haven’t yet reached the million-dollar donation mark, their contributions to Harris still dwarf those made to Trump. Meta employees have donated $835,000 to Harris and just $25,000 to Trump, while Apple workers have contributed $861,000 to Harris and $44,000 to Trump.

The data underscores Silicon Valley’s general left-leaning tendency, despite some influential figures in the tech world rallying behind the former president.