The DOJ and FBI are preparing to combat election lies, but have limited authority. Affordable Care Act coverage is available to DACA recipients for the first time. And small businesses adjusting to Trump-era trade policies fear a new round of changes.
Here’s what you need to know today.
The limited role of the DOJ and FBI in responding to election lies
Former President Donald Trump and his allies are using a similar playbook for 2020, pushing his voters to believe the election may have been “rigged.” Federal agencies, including the Justice Department and the FBI, have already taken steps to prepare.
For the DOJ, this means creating an Election Threats Task Force, which will focus on prosecuting people who threaten election officials. For the FBI, she is setting up a National Election Command post to focus on election threats. Meanwhile, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have been involved in exercises and training operations over the past two years.
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But the power of federal authorities can only extend so far during elections. “There will be no white knight,” said one law enforcement official, describing the stance of federal authorities in the coming weeks.
Instead, state and local officials, not the federal government, are the primary authorities in elections. If the presidential race is too close to last several days, the potential for threats of violence and actual violence will steadily increase, law enforcement officials said.
Read the full story here.
And what about the ability of the Justice Department and FBI to carry out the prosecution of Trump’s political rivals — a threat he has made to dozens of people since entering the 2024 race? To understand how that could play out, NBC News interviewed current and former officials from the Justice Department and the FBI, as well as legal experts.
Everyone agreed that what Trump is proposing would overturn 50 years of post-Watergate norms that dictate that federal prosecutors do not take orders from the president on criminal investigations. However, there are ways around the guardrails, the officials said, and some fear it could lead to the appointment of loyalists who would do Trump’s bidding.
Read more for expert reactions to such a scenario.
More election coverage:
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➡️ An NBC News Decision Desk analysis of early voting data shows how new voters stack up in the battleground could tip the elections.
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➡️ What happens if the presidential race ends in a tie at 269 electoral votes? The House would decide. Here’s how it would work.
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➡️ Harris said Trump’s comments about protecting women, whether they “like it or not” is a sign of how he ‘devalues’ women.
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➡️ Now that Harris will spend election night with her alma mater, student journalists at Howard University prepare to record history on their own campus.
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➡️ Trump has sued CBS about the network’s “60 Minutes” interview with Harris, which claimed it aired two different answers to a question about the war in Gaza.
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➡️ Elon Musk’s America PAC was tasked with running much of the pro-Trump canvassing operation, but nine GOP operatives and researchers raised concerns to NBC News about how things seem to be going.
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➡️ In an interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, JD Vance said he believes Trump can win the “normal gay vote” and talked about Covid vaccines, religion and Trump’s assassination attempt. Here are takeaways from their chat.
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➡️The Supreme Court may soon weigh in about the challenges of Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting policy, potentially putting at stake thousands of ballots that have already been mailed or delivered.
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➡️ A historically expensive Senate race in Ohio between incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno will likely come down to splitting the tickets for Trump voters.
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➡️ Voters in California and Nevada consider whether the loopholes should be removed in their state constitutions that allow slavery and involuntary servitude to be used as criminal punishment.
Job numbers take a hit after hurricanes and worker strikes
The impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as an ongoing strike by Boeing workers, is expected to put a dent in the latest jobs update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From this morning’s report, the US economy is expected to have gained 110,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate is unchanged at 4.1%. By comparison, the September report showed 254,000 jobs gained.
Without hurricanes and strikes, economic data suggests the U.S. remains in solid financial shape heading into Election Day. Although payroll reports in recent months exceeded expectations, gains remained are unevenly distributed across some key sectors.
Obamacare registration open for ‘Dreamers’
The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period begins today and for the first time, DACA recipients can sign up for government-funded health insurance. The change marks a pivotal moment for the more than 535,000 so-called “Dreamers” who were previously barred from receiving ACA insurance, a restriction that experts say has led to high uninsured rates among that group.
For many DACA recipients who cannot obtain job-based health insurance, a lack of access to government-funded programs meant their insurance options were limited or too expensive. Some have turned to state programs, while others have chosen to remain uninsured and rely on community clinics that provide free or low-cost care. Dania Sarahi Quezada, a third-year law student at the University of Washington, is one of the DACA recipients who plans to get health insurance during the open enrollment period. However, she and other Dreamers did expressed concern about Republican-led efforts to block the rule to come into force.
Read all about it
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Atlanta rap star Young Thug changed his plea to guilty on drug and gun-related charges, stunningly closing a chapter in Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial.
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The NFL season has reached its midpoint. These are the best teamsthe best players and the biggest disappointments so far according to our sports reporters.
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A Swedish gummy craze sweeps the countrythanks to a boost from TikTok creators who insist the candies are a cut above standard gummies.
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A woman who anonymously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs for an alleged rape in 2004 when she was a teenager must reveal her name otherwise, her lawsuit will be dismissed, a judge ruled.
Personnel choice: Trump wants more tariffs. Small business owners aren’t ready for it yet.
Former President Donald Trump is promising a series of new tariffs that are much steeper and more far-reaching than those he imposed during his first term. That doesn’t sit well with craft brewers, bicycle makers and other small businesses that have had to adapt over the past six years to trade policies that the Biden administration has largely preserved. While some shifted their supply chains or simply absorbed the higher costs, others raised prices for customers – and warned that they would have to do this again. — Rich Bellissenior business editor
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Cool weather is coming soon, so get ready. Lower temperatures and wearing more hats can lead to a flaky scalp, but these dandruff shampoos can help soothe your skin. And winter morning running can be invigorating, but safety comes first. Here’s what to wear and how to prepare your body.
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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
