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Speaking for the first time in person on the 2020 campaign trail in Philadelphia, former President Barack Obama did not hold back.

In a 36-minute speech delivered Wednesday to an audience seated in or standing by their cars, Obama slammed President Donald Trump as incapable of taking the job seriously. In between plugs for his former Vice President Joe Biden and Bidens running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, Obama repeatedly attacked Trumps record, starting with his handling of Covid-19.

At least 220,000 Americans have died. More than 100,000 small businesses have closed. Millions of jobs are gone. Our proud reputation around the world is in tatters, Obama said. Presidents up for reelection usually ask if the country is better off than it was four years ago. Ill tell you one thing, four years ago youd be tailgating here at the Lincoln instead of watching a speech from your cars.

Obama also pointed to statistics indicating that despite the US having its first identified cases around the same day, South Koreas per capita death toll is just 1.3 percent of what ours is.

Obamas visit to Pennsylvania underscored the importance the Biden campaign is placing on the state, and in mobilizing Black voters in the Philadelphia area particularly. Obamas approach: focus more on personality than policy.

While Obamas remarks also lauded Bidens health care plan and his foreign policy experience, the bulk of the speech focused on questions of character both Bidens and Trumps. Throughout the speech, Obama returned to that familiar theme, including his oft-used maxim: The presidency doesnt change who you are, it reveals who you are.

When he discussed his view of Trumps fitness for office, Obamas incredulity was palpable. As he recounted Trump retweeting conspiracy theories about whether SEAL Team Six actually killed Osama Bin Laden, he spoke to voters exhausted by the news cycle: You might be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner without having an argument if Trump loses this November.

And, look, this notion of truthfulness and democracy and citizenship, and being responsible, these arent Republican or Democratic principles, theyre American principles. Theyre what most of us grew up learning from our parents and our grandparents. Theyre not White or Black or Latino or Asian values, theyre American values, human values, and we need to reclaim them. We have to get those values back at the center of our public life.

At one point, he leveled his ire at those who have made excuses for what he views as intolerable behavior from the president. Obama also lamented that Trumps abnormal behavior distracts all of us from the policy ramifications of this administration. Ironically, in this speech, the former president seemed to be caught in that trap as well.

The Atlantic has reported that while Obama is alarmed about Trumps presidency, like many he has struggled with how to campaign during a pandemic. Wednesday nights speech and an accompanying stop to meet with community organizers seems to indicate hes found his answer. It will be one event in a two-week blitz where Obama will hit the trail, potentially adding joint appearances with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

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Obama rebukes Trump in his first stump speech of the 2020 election cycle - Vox.com

Good morning,

Joe Bidens former boss returned to the campaign trail on his behalf on Wednesday. Barack Obama told a drive-in rally in Philadelphia that this was the most important election of our lifetime and urged Americans to deliver a rebuke so resounding to Trump at the ballot box that he could not dispute the result.

Donald Trump isnt suddenly going to protect all of us. He cant even take the basic steps to protect himself.

Trump responded to his predecessors criticisms on the stump in North Carolina, saying of his 2016 victory: I think the only one, the only one more unhappy than crooked Hillary that night was Barack Hussein Obama.

A Maryland man has been charged with making death threats against Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, in a letter left on the doorstep of a neighbour who had put up yard signs in support of the Democratic nominee and his running mate.

Russia and Iran are using US voter registration information to try to sow unrest ahead of the election, the Trump administrations national intelligence director, John Ratcliffe, said in a press conference on Wednesday. The news comes after Democratic voters in swing states including Florida and Pennsylvania received threatening emails purporting to be from the far-right Proud Boys group, warning the recipients we will come after you if they did not vote for Trump.

Ratcliffe characterised Irans efforts as designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest and damage President Trump, but Democrats pushed back on the idea that the attacks were aimed at the president, describing Ratcliffe a Trump loyalist as a partisan hack.

Trump and Biden will travel to Belmont University in Nashville on Thursday for the final presidential debate which could be the presidents last chance to move the poll needle in his favour. He will probably arrive with a win in his pocket: the senate judiciary committee is set to vote to move Amy Coney Barretts supreme court nomination on to the next stage: a full senate ballot.

Meanwhile, the Guardian has learned of accusations of sexual abuse and emotional torment being levelled at People of Praise by former members of the charismatic Christian group to which Barrett belongs.

Can we trust the polls? Biden seems to have a comfortable lead, but the Guardian US data editor, Mona Chalabi, tells the Today in Focus podcast we should remain sceptical of the same experts who predicted the wrong outcome in 2016.

Sign up for the Fight to Vote. Our weekly newsletter comes out every Thursday and covers voting rights, election integrity and the threats to Americas democratic process.

While Rudy Giuliani was busy trying to whip up outrage over Hunter Bidens emails, Sacha Baron Cohen was waiting to spring an October surprise on Giuliani himself. On Wednesday, it emerged that Trumps personal lawyer would appear in a potentially mortifying sequence from the new Borat movie, featuring a flirtatious interview with an actor pretending to be the bumbling Kazakh reporters daughter.

Giuliani has denied any impropriety. At no time before, during, or after the interview was I ever inappropriate, the former New York mayor told WABC. If Sacha Baron Cohen implies otherwise he is a stone-cold liar.

Could Borat swing the election? Cohens comedy sequel joins a host of urgent documentaries and dramas released in the run-up to 3 November. But most of them preach to the choir, writes Charles Bramesco. And besides, many subscribers to the Trumpist worldview are not the most receptive to the swaying powers of art.

Borat 2 reviewed. Despite some laughs and a few pointed political moments, says our critic Peter Bradshaw, it is 14 years since Borats first cinematic outing and the shock of the new is gone.

The Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson, who has spearheaded Republican attacks on Hunter Biden, is facing questions over whether he benefited personally from a 2017 change in tax law that he had demanded of the Trump administration.

Floridas Republican secretary of state has been accused of voter suppression after making two last-minute changes to the states voting guidance that critics say are likely to lead to intimidation and confusion at the polls.

Cameroonian asylum seekers claim they were tortured by Ice to force them to sign deportation orders in what their lawyers and activists say is a scramble to fly African migrants out of the US before the election and a potential change of administration.

Grassroots Latinx organisations have a secret weapon for getting out the vote, says Xochitl Oseguera: WhatsApp has more than 32 million Latinx users in the US more than half the countrys entire Latinx population. There are 10 million more Latinos on WhatsApp than on Instagram, and three times as many as on Twitter.

Rather than ask serious questions about Hunter Bidens emails, mainstream outlets have chosen to act like an unofficial arm of the Biden campaigns communications department or so Ben Shapiro argues at Fox News.

At a time when our trust in media is already low, the media have thoroughly debunked themselves as neutral arbiters of fact. At a time when social media has consolidated unprecedented power to control the information seen by Americans, social media overseers have decided to bottleneck information they dont like.

For the latest film from our Anywhere but Washington series, Oliver Laughland travelled to Youngstown, Ohio, one of the depressed manufacturing centres to which Trump promised new jobs and economic prosperity. So far, he has not delivered.

It attracted almost $2bn in investment and a deep bench of Hollywood talent, but after just six months, the much-heralded short-form video service Quibi or quick bites is shutting down. There was widespread scepticism about the viability of the platforms costly content, but its co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg blamed simple bad timing, telling the New York Times in May: I attribute everything that has gone wrong to coronavirus.

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First Thing election special: Barack Obama is back on the campaign trail - The Guardian

Former President Obama on Thursday shared in a video posted on Twitter that he had voted by mail.

In the video, Obama explains the process of voting by mail, saying: "Ive been voting by mail for years. And youll see its not as tough as a lot of folks think.

When it came time to fill out the form, he says, Generally, I dont share my ballot. In this case, though, I think you all know Im voting for Joe BidenJoe BidenMore than 300 military family members endorse Biden Five takeaways from the final Trump-Biden debate Biden: 'I would transition from the oil industry' MORE and Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump, Biden face off for last time on the debate stage Obama says he voted by mail: 'It's not as tough as a lot of folks think' Clean energy opportunities in a time of crisis MORE.

I just voted by mail for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. If you're planning on doing the same, follow all the instructions carefully, and drop it in the mail or at a ballot drop box right away. Here, Ill show you: pic.twitter.com/S4gg0B5RXN

You may find that some of these local races, you dont know what they mean. You dont know who might be the most qualified, he continued. A lot of times what you can do is find some news source or information source that you trust, or theres an organization in your community that reflects your views or cares about your issues. A lot of times theyll give you a voter guide and they can tell you, Here are the various candidates and what they stand for, so youre informed when youre actually filling out the rest of your ballot.

"Even a former president of the United States sometimes finds this really handy," he added.

Last week, Obama filmed 18 separate, state-specific videos on how to vote in 2020, saying in his first instructional, So much is at stake in this election, from getting the pandemic under control to building a fairer economy to taking on climate change to protecting our health care. You can change our direction on every issue. Thats the power of your vote.

Mail-in ballots have been repeatedly attacked by President TrumpDonald John TrumpMore than 300 military family members endorse Biden Five takeaways from the final Trump-Biden debate Biden: 'I would transition from the oil industry' MORE, who has claimed that the practice would lead to widespread fraud.

FBI Director Christopher Wray haspushed back on the notion, saying last month,"We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election whether its by mail or otherwise."

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro(D) accused Trump of "trying to create chaos" with his repeated criticisms of mail-in voting.

A recordnumberof voters have alreadycast their ballotsthis year, and many more are expected to vote by mail due to concerns around the coronavirus pandemic.

Obama made his first in-person appearance on the campaign trail on Wednesday, appearing in Pennsylvania a day after Trump held a rally in Erie. Pa.

"The president spent some time in Erie last night and apparently he complained about having to travel here. Then he cut the event short. Poor guy. I don't feel that way. I love coming to Pennsylvania, Obama said at the event.

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Obama says he voted by mail: 'It's not as tough as a lot of folks think' | TheHill - The Hill

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMore than 300 military family members endorse Biden Five takeaways from the final Trump-Biden debate Biden: 'I would transition from the oil industry' MORE in an interview with "60 Minutes" clarified that he does not actually want to lock up former President Obama, Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenMore than 300 military family members endorse Biden Five takeaways from the final Trump-Biden debate Biden: 'I would transition from the oil industry' MORE or Michigan Gov. Gretchen WhitmerGretchen WhitmerTrump says he doesn't actually want Whitmer, Biden and Obama to be locked up despite chants The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Goldman Sachs - Tipping point week for Trump, Biden, Congress, voters Rally crowd chants 'lock him up' as Trump calls Biden family 'a criminal enterprise' MORE (D) despite chants from his supporters to do just that.

The president on Thursday posted raw footage of his interview with veteran journalist Lesley Stahl in which he grows increasingly agitated by her questions before abruptly ending thesit-down.

In one exchange, Stahl presses Trump on the "lock her up" chants directed at Whitmer and others that are a feature of his campaign rallies.

"You encourage it," Stahlsaidof the chants, referencing how they were at first directed at 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonFive takeaways from the final Trump-Biden debate Trump, Biden tangle over Wall Street ties, fundraising The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump, Biden face off for last time on the debate stage MORE.

"I dont encourage it. If I mention her name about something, they go crazy," Trump said.

The president typically stands by while his crowds call for his opponents to be jailed, but in recent days he has signaled clearer support.

He told supporters in Florida last week that he agreed "100 percent" with a "lock her up" chant about Clinton, he told campaign staff Biden "should be in jail" and the president added "lock 'em all up" last weekend when the crowd directed the refrain at Whitmer, the target of an allegedkidnappingplot.

"You dont want to lock up Gov. Whitmer?" Stahlasked.

"When did I say lock her up? ... When did I say lock up the governor?" Trumpresponded. "I didnt say lock up the governor. Why would I lock her up?"

"Of course I dont want to lock her up. Why would I lock her up?" he added shortly after calling her restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus "disgraceful."

After Trump spent portions of the interview complaining that journalists are not being tough enough on Biden over unprovencorruption allegations involving his son Hunter Biden, Stahlaskedif Trump wants to "lock up the Bidens."

"No, I dont want to lock them up, but they certainly should be looked at," Trumpsaid.

Asked about locking up Obama, whom Trump has baselessly accused of treason, the president said, "I dont want to lock him up, but he spied on my campaign. Obama andBiden spied on my campaign."

"Thats never been verified," Stahl interjected.

"Its been totally verified," Trump responded.

Democrats, critics and outside experts have frequently raised concerns about Trump's rhetoric toward his opponents. Whitmer's office and Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarTrump says he doesn't actually want Whitmer, Biden and Obama to be locked up despite chants Hillicon Valley: Threatening emails raise election concerns | Quibi folds after raising nearly B | Trump signs law making it a crime to hack voting systems Ocasio-Cortez draws hundreds of thousands of viewers on Twitch livestream MORE (D-Minn.) have said they receive an increase in threats whenever Trump targets them at his rallies.

The president has made little effort to discourage his supporters from calling for his political supporters to be jailed, though, and Trump himself added fuel this week when he urgedAttorney General William BarrBill BarrSeattle, Portland, NYC sue Trump administration over threat to pull federal money Trump says he doesn't actually want Whitmer, Biden and Obama to be locked up despite chants Trump and advisers considering firing FBI director after election: WaPo MORE to launch an investigation into Hunter Biden just two weeks before Election Day.

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Trump says he doesn't actually want Whitmer, Biden and Obama to be locked up despite chants | TheHill - The Hill

When Northwestern Medicine physician Dr. Quentin Youmans sent a tweet Wednesday morning encouraging people to go out and vote, he had no idea how many people might see it.

It showed his great aunt Ora Smith exiting a car with a ballot in hand and a mask on her lap, moments before casting her vote in Hampton, South Carolina.

At 102 years old, my great aunt, born the year of our last great #pandemic, made her way to the ballot box to cast her #vote. If she can do it, you can too! Youmans tweet said.

In a matter of hours, the tweet garnered over 10,000 retweets and over 67,000 likes and grabbed the attention of former President Barack Obama.

102 never looked better! Grateful for all the folks like your aunt who continue to show up and vote in this important election, Obama said in his retweet.

Youmans said he was shocked when celebrities started retweeting and overwhelmed by the support. His Apple Watch has been pinging him with new notifications every two minutes, he said.

I was just so surprised, and I really couldnt believe President Obama not only retweeted but gave a comment encouraging others to vote, Youmans said. Obama is an idol for me. His leadership style of grace and humility is what I try to emulate in my own life as a physician.

Smith was just excited to be going out to vote.

She had her mask on her lap and found it to be very important to be careful this year with the pandemic, Youmans said. But she also knows how important it is to vote and have our voices heard in the democratic process.

Youmans said Smith believes every election is important in its own way.

He said people from across the country have been sharing pictures of elderly loved ones casting early ballots. Its been a bit inspiring for him.

As a physician working at Northwestern, one of the things weve seen is how COVID has affected us all, Youmans said. Still, it shows how important it is to move forward with our democratic process as long as we take steps to feel safe.

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Obama retweets Chicago doctor who shared pictures of his 102-year-old great aunt voting early - Chicago Sun-Times