Trump Is a Hitler-Praising Fascist, Ex-Chief of Staff Says
McDonald's E. Coli Outbreak; North Korea enters war in Ukraine on behalf of Russia
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Good morning,
One week until Halloween! Need some inspiration for an outfit? Look no further than New York City’s dogs.
Over the weekend, the 34th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade showed some of the cutest and spookiest doggos! 🐕 🎃
Have a good one!
Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren
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📌 US OFFICIALS CONFIRM NORTH KOREAN TROOPS IN RUSSIA
At least 3,000 North Korean soldiers landed in eastern Russia this month, the White House said Wednesday. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says there is a “highly concerning probability” that the North Koreans are joining Russia’s war against Ukraine— a dramatic escalation of the conflict. But, so far there do not appear to be North Korean troops in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned NATO officials last week that 10,000 North Koreans were preparing to deploy.
It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have intensified their alliance, with the leaders signing a defense pact in June.
MORE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
US intelligence shows that the “soldiers traveled by ship from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia… After completing training, these soldiers could travel to western Russia and then engage in combat against the Ukrainian military,” Kirby added.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also confirmed the North Korean presence on Wednesday, saying: “What, exactly, they’re doing is left to be seen.”
The US and G7 allies announced Wednesday a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, financed by frozen Russian assets.
After Russia’s invasion, the US and allies froze any Russian central bank assets they had access to. President Biden said the money will help Ukraine “receive the assistance it needs now, without burdening taxpayers.”
OCTOBER SURPRISE?
US officials warned back in May of a possible “October surprise” from Pyongyang and Moscow before the US presidential election.
Russians have faced a heavy toll during the war and could need personnel— casualties (deaths + injuries) increased to nearly 1,200 a day this August.
North Korea has already been sending Russia large amounts of weapons.
In exchange for the help, US intelligence officials believe Putin is providing North Korea with nuclear submarines and ballistic missile technology.
📌 FASCISM AT THE BALLOT? TRUMP VS. HIS FORMER TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS
Former top military officials from the first Trump administration are speaking out about what a second term would look like for the former president.
John Kelly, a former four-star Marine general who was Trump’s longest-serving White House chief of staff, told the New York Times this week that Trump meets the definition of a fascist, would govern like a dictator if allowed, and had no understanding of the Constitution or the concept of rule of law. He also recounted a story of Trump saying, “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had.”
Vice President Kamala Harris held a press conference Wednesday warning that a second Trump administration could put the US on the road to a dictatorship, noting that officials like General Kelly would not be there “to be the guardrails against his propensities and his actions.”
MORE ON THE INTERVIEW
Kelly spent a lot of time behind closed doors with Trump. In multiple interviews with the New York Times, he confirmed previous reports that Trump had made admiring statements about Adolf Hitler, like saying multiple times that “Hitler did some good things.”
Kelly also said reports about Trump expressing contempt for disabled veterans and characterizing Americans who died on the battlefield as “losers” and “suckers” were accurate. He said he felt obligated to speak out again now due to Trump’s recent remarks about using the military against Americans.
Trump and campaign officials denied the accusations, questioned the timing and motivation of Kelly’s revelations, and say that Kelly “beclowned” himself in his role.
Vice President Mike Pence’s former chief of staff Nick Ayers also pushed back on the Kelly allegations, referring to them as “patently false.” While Pence is not supporting a second Trump term, Ayers has endorsed the former president.
IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS
There are other decorated generals who worked in the first Trump administration making similar comments.
In 2019, Trump picked Gen. Mark Milley to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley recently described Trump as “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country,” in interviews with reporter Bob Woodward for his new book. Milley was the nation’s top military official until 2023.
On a podcast last week, Woodward also said that Gen. Jim Mattis, who Trump tapped to serve as his first secretary of defense, agreed with Milley’s assessment about Trump being dangerous. Mattis resigned after two years working for Trump.
VP Harris said Wednesday that Kelly’s comments, coming just two weeks before the election, are “a 911 call to the American people.”
“We must take very seriously those folks who knew him best,” she added.
Note: In a campaign where voters are most focused on issues like inflation and immigration, it is not clear how much of an impact (if any) these accusations might have at the ballot box.
📌 DEADLY E. COLI OUTBREAK AT MCDONALD'S; FROZEN FOOD RECALL
At least 10 states are facing an E. coli outbreak linked to one of the signature items at one of America’s most popular restaurants. The CDC is warning that McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, leading to 10 hospitalizations and one death.
The investigation increasingly points to the slivered onions served on the hamburgers as the cause of the outbreak. It is not clear where they were grown, nor whether they were used by other restaurants.
McDonald’s removed the burger from about a fifth of its locations to be safe, and the company’s president is “very confident” it is safe to eat at the restaurant (video above).
ZOOM IN
Most of the illnesses are in Colorado and Nebraska, but the CDC warns that the outbreak may stretch further.
McDonald's first move was to pull the onions and quarter-pound beef patties, both used for Quarter Pounder burgers, from its menu in affected areas.
If you’ve recently had the burger, and are experiencing severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting, the CDC advises calling your doctor.
MORE OUTBREAKS
The outbreak comes as another breakfast food supplier is warning of possible listeria contamination for many of its products: from frozen waffles to regular and gluten free waffle and pancake mixes that are sold throughout the US and Canada as private-label offerings. No illnesses linked to the recall have been confirmed.
TreeHouse Foods sells its products to large merchants like Walmart, Trader Joes, Target, Tops, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Publix, and Kroger. Check out a full list of what’s been recalled HERE.
Company officials issued the recall on Friday after routine testing found listeria at its factory in Ontario.
Symptoms of listeria include high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Georgia voter roll audit finds only 20 noncitizens out of 8 million registered voters (ABC NEWS)
📌 Justice Department warns Elon Musk that his $1 million giveaway to registered voters may be illegal (CNBC)
📌 Sister of slain Army private Trump reportedly disparaged calls out The Atlantic Magazine for misleading her (FOX NEWS)
📌 Trump ignites spat with US ally, accusing UK’s governing party of election interference (CNN)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 At least 5 dead in 'terrorist attack' on aerospace facility in Turkey, officials say (NPR)
📌 Two US service members injured in raid that killed ISIS operatives In Iraq, Pentagon says (CNN)
📌 Blinken says ‘more progress’ from Israel needed on Gaza aid flow (BBC)
📌 Strike on Iran will show world Israel’s might, Defense Minister says (GUARDIAN)
📌 19 suspected members of powerful Sinaloa cartel killed in shootout with troops in Mexico (CBS NEWS)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Apple and Goldman Sachs ordered to pay $89 million over Apple Card failures (NPR)
📌 Tesla shares jump 12% on profit beat as company benefits from environmental credits (CNBC)
📌 Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO grins with ankle monitor after posting $10M bail in sex trafficking case (FOX NEWS)
📌 US study on puberty blockers goes unpublished because of politics, doctor says (NY TIMES)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 2024 World Series on pace to be highest-selling in history (AXIOS)
📌 Roman Polanski lawsuit, alleging director raped minor in 1973, settles (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)
📌 Justin Bieber feels business managers squandered a fortune, considering legal action (TMZ)
📌 Idris Elba to move to Africa ‘to bolster the film industry’ (GUARDIAN)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: OCTOBER 24
1901: Annie Taylor became the first person to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
From that year to 2000, 15 others tried a similar journey. 10 survived and five died. It’s illegal to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
1920: Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act to limit the work week to 40 hours for most workers.
2003: British Airways ended service for the Concorde jet, bringing a close to the world's only supersonic passenger service.
2006: Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut studio album, which included songs ‘Tim McGraw,’ ‘Our Song,’ ‘Should've Said No,’ and ‘Teardrops on My Guitar.’