With a week to go before the election, the Regime Media hold out hope against hope that they can get their hands on a good Trump-adverse story, hopefully one that might damage him in key swing states. The fallout from comic Tony Hinchcliffe’s controversial set at Madison Square Garden is the latest such instance.
Watch as CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell hypes grievance:
NORAH O’DONNELL: With just eight days to go before Election Day, both candidates are in battleground states tonight, as President. Vice President Kamala Harris is barnstorming across Michigan with three events, and former President Donald Trump is in Georgia. But tonight, there is fresh backlash against Trump's rally in New York City on Sunday, including for many top Republicans who are distancing themselves from the vile, racist, and sexist comments that were made. Tonight, CBS News has learned that the campaign claims they struck jokes that contained the C-word.
We have new reporting tonight about that process, in addition to Trump's unusual ättacks on Vice President Harris, the rally featured a comedian who repeatedly insulted Puerto Rico, and today is refusing to apologize. Puerto Rico is an American island -- let me say that again. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and the island is a U.S. territory, and there are about 1 million Puerto Ricans living in battleground states where both candidates are vying for the Latino vote.
The hopium wafting throughout the media being that Hinchcliffe’s set might anger Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania to the point of holding the state and therefore clinching the election for Vice President Kamala Harris. Let this serve as your periodic reminder that the media truly do not care about Puerto Rico unless it is in service of the ongoing agenda.
So it is that Hinchcliffe’s set is pushed to the moon. Even though it was NOT delivered by Trump. None of that matters.
Over at ABC World News Tonight, a similar tone prevailed.
DAVID MUIR: We begin tonight with the race for president, just eight days to go. In fact, one week from tomorrow night, we'll be on the air with our Election Night coverage. Already tonight, 45 million Americans have cast their ballots. Tonight, both candidates with their closing arguments, their final sprint, and former President Donald Trump and the fallout tonight, the backlash over racist and sexist comments and jokes about Latinos and Puerto Ricans, delivered at Trump’s major rally in New York. Former First Lady MelanIa Trump, in a rare appearance, introducing her husband, who was the last to speak.
But it was some of the speakers invited by the campaign to speak before the former president, who made immediate headlines including this comedian and what was said about Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Some of it too profane to play on TV. This all played out as Vice President Kamala Harris was visiting a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, reaching out to voters. Tonight, the Vice President saying Americans are exhausted by the divisive rhetoric, and now the influential performer Bad Bunny sending out Kamala Harris's message to 46 million followers. And what the Trump campaign is now saying about all this.
A recurring theme throughout these reports is the idea of Bad Bunny’s endorsement being spontaneous to the Hinchcliffe set. But it wasn’t. On the same day Bad Bunny shared Kamala Harris’s plan for Puerto Rico (which, it could be reasonably argued, was a copy/paste off of the Black plan”), BB leaned towards the communist running for the island’s governorship. This aspect goes unmentioned.
Here’s how NBC Nightly News correspondent Garrett Haake contributed to these ongoing narrativ
GARRETT HAAKE: The Puerto Rican vote could prove pivotal in Pennsylvania. The biggest swing state. Where some 300,000 voting age Puerto Ricans could cast ballots. Our recent poll shows among Latinos overall Harris leads, but Trump performs better with Latino men, splitting the vote with Harris. Meanwhile, the MSG rally also featuring Trump supporter and billionaire Elon Musk.
If it weren’t for Regime Media, we’d have none at all.
Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective evening newscasts on Monday, October 28th, 2024:
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
10/28/24
6:32 PM
DAVID MUIR: We begin tonight with the race for president, just eight days to go. In fact, one week from tomorrow night, we'll be on the air with our Election Night coverage. Already tonight, 45 million Americans have cast their ballots. Tonight, both candidates with their closing arguments, their final sprint, and former President Donald Trump and the fallout tonight, the backlash over racist and sexist comments and jokes about Latinos and Puerto Ricans, delivered at Trump’s major rally in New York. Former First Lady MelanIa Trump, in a rare appearance, introducing her husband, who was the last to speak. But it was some of the speakers invited by the campaign to speak before the former president, who made immediate headlines including this comedian and what was said about Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Some of it too profane to play on TV. This all played out as Vice President Kamala Harris was visiting a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, reaching out to voters. Tonight, the Vice President saying Americans are exhausted by the divisive rhetoric, and now the influential performer Bad Bunny sending out Kamala Harris's message to 46 million followers. And what the Trump campaign is now saying about all this. Rachel Scott leading us off with the Trump campaign in Georgia tonight.
RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight in Georgia, former President Donald Trump gushing about his massive weekend rally at New York's Madison Square Garden.
DONALD TRUMP: Last night, we had a great rally at Madison Square Garden.
SCOTT: But that rally was marked by racism, sexism, and vitriol. Trump's campaign now on the defensive after speakers like this --
TONY HINCHCLIFFE: I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah, I think it's called Puerto Rico.
SCOTT: A Trump campaign spokeswoman saying "That joke doesn't reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign." But this speaker was invited by the Trump campaign and there was more than that. This is what he said about at Latinos overall.
HINCHCLIFFE: These Latinos, they love making babies, too. Just know that. They do.
SCOTT: The rest of those words too profane to play. He also made a crude joke about black people and watermelons. And he wasn't the only person onstage to use racist language. Tucker Carlson mocking Kamala Harris, the first black and south Asian vice president.
TUCKER CARLSON: Because she's just so impressive, as the first Samoan-Malaysian low IQ former California prosecutor ever to be elected president.
SCOTT: Today, Vice President Harris firing back, accusing Trump of fueling hate and division, saying Americans are exhausted.
KAMALA HARRIS: What he did last night is not a discovery. It is just more of the same and maybe more vivid than usual. Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other, fans the fuel of hate and division. And that's why people are exhausted with him.
SCOTT: Those words about Puerto Rico sparking particular outrage. While the rally was going on, Harris happened to be greeting voters at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia. Her campaign releasing this video.
KAMALA HARRIS: Puerto Ricans deserve better.
SCOTT: Highly influential Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny then sharing it with his 46 million Instagram followers.
HARRIS: There is so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.
SCOTT: He also shared this part of the video.
HARRIS: I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader. He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.
SCOTT: In battleground Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro speaking directly to the state's half a million Puerto Rican residents.
JOSH SHAPIRO: If Donald Trump really wanted to disassociate himself with that, the first thing he would have said when he came onto the stage at Madison Square Garden was, "Hey, listen, I heard that person's attempt at humor. It was not funny. I stand with the Puerto Rican community." He didn't do that.
SCOTT: Sources tell ABC News that Donald Trump's campaign debated internally over whether to even send out a statement condemning those words calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage.”” And again, David, this is a comedian that was invited by the campaign to speak and he was not the only one who made racist, sexist, and crude remarks at that rally last night. The question now is whether it was even worth it, with just days to go until this election. Donald Trump has a rally here in Georgia tonight, and then tomorrow, he heads to all-important Pennsylvania, David.
MUIR: Rachel Scott live in Georgia tonight with the Trump campaign. Rachel, thank you.
CBS EVENING NEWS
10/28/24
6:30 PM
NORAH O’DONNELL: With just eight days to go before Election Day, both candidates are in battleground states tonight, as President. Vice President Kamala Harris is barnstorming across Michigan with three events, and former President Donald Trump is in Georgia. But tonight, there is fresh backlash against Trump's rally in New York City on Sunday, including for many top Republicans who are distancing themselves from the vile, racist, and sexist comments that were made. Tonight, CBS News has learned that the campaign claims they struck jokes that contained the C-word. We have new reporting tonight about that process, in addition to Trump's unusual ättacks on Vice President Harris, the rally featured a comedian who repeatedly insulted Puerto Rico, and today is refusing to apologize. Puerto Rico is an American island -- let me say that again. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and the island is a U.S. territory, and there are about 1 million Puerto Ricans living in battleground states where both candidates are vying for the Latino vote. We were with Vice President Harris for much of the weekend as she rallied supporters in Texas and in Michigan. We will have more of our interview tonight. We have team coverage beginning with CBS's Nikole Killion in Georgia. Nikole, I understand you have new reporting on how those comments were vetted. Good evening, Nikole.
NIKOLE KILLION: Good evening to you, Norah. Former President Donald Trump is calling Sunday's rally "great," however, CBS News has learned that his campaign is now trying to distance themselves from those comments, acknowledging that they vetted some of those jokes and even had to cut out a few profane lines.
DONALD TRUMP: We have to get all the Christians to get out there and vote.
KILLION: Former President Donald Trump sat down with faith leaders in suburban Atlanta.
TRUMP: Well, I think this is a country that needs religion- it’s like the glue that holds it together.
KILLION: It was a dramatic turnaround in tone from his Madison Square Garden rally Sunday night.
TRUMP: Nine days from now will be Liberation Day in America.
KILLION: The even was billed as the former president's closing argument. But instead, Trump was upstaged by his own speakers.
DAVID REM: That she is the antichrist!
KILLION: Who, one after another, hurled insults at Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats.
GRANT CARDONE: Her and her pimp handlers will destroy our country.
SID ROSENBERG: She is some sick bastard, that Hillary Clinton, hm? What a sick son of a [bleep].
KILLION: But it was comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who drew the most controversy.
HINCHCLIFFE: There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.
KILLION: Over a series of crude and racist jokes.
HINCHCLIFFE: These Latinos, they love making babies too. Just know that. (VIDEO SWIPE) Cool Black guy with the thing on his head? (VIDEO SWIPE) We had a Halloween party last night, we had fun. We had fun carving watermelons together, it was awesome.
KILLION: Today, Vice President Kamala Harris slammed the Trump event.
KAMALA HARRIS: Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other, fans the fuel of hate and division, and thats why people are exhausted with him.
‘KILLION: President Biden, early voting in Delaware, also didn't hold back.
JOE BIDEN: Just simply embarrassing, beneath any president.
KILLION: The Trump campaign says that those jokes do not reflect the former president's views, but some sources tell CBS Nnews that they are concerned about some of the fallout from that rally and that it could potentially have a negative impact on the campaign in these final days. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Nikole Killion. Thank you.
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
10/28/24
6:31 PM
LESTER HOLT: Good evening and welcome. We have begun the last mile on the road to The White House. With just over a week to go, the finish line now in sight. And both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris focusing on their closing messages. The Trump campaign, however, also working to put some distance between itself and a campaign rally in New York City last night that sparked fallout across the partisan divide. When one of the rally speakers, a comedian, uttered a racist characterization about Puerto Rico along with other racist jokes targeting black, Jewish and Latino people. The lewd jokes being condemned by some Republicans as well as Democrats. The episode threatening to overshadow what is likely to be Mr. Trump's closing argument, that he will fix what Harris has broken. The Harris campaign quickly going on the offensive, seizing on the comedian's remarks as it prepares its own closing argument. It's where we start tonight with Garrett Haake.
GARRETT HAAKE: Tonight former President Trump in battleground Georgia.
DONALD TRUMP: I think it's going to be the most important election in the history of our country.
HAAKE: It comes after Trump's massive rally packing Madison Square Garden in deep blue New York City. The start of his closing argument.
TRUMP: On issue after issue Kamala broke it but I will fix it. We're going to fix it.
HAAKE: Tonight the Trump campaign facing bipartisan backlash over racist comments from a comedian who spoke earlier, including this about Puerto Rico.
TONY HINCHCLIFFE: I don't know if you guys know this but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah. I think it's called Puerto Rico? Okay. All right. Okay. We're getting there.
HAAKE: Trump's campaign distancing itself saying, "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign." Today Vice President Harris going after Trump.
KAMALA HARRIS It is absolutely something that is intended to and is fanning the fuel of trying to divide our country.
HAAKE: Republicans blasting the comedian's comment too, including congresswoman Maria Salazar, calling it “disgusting”, saying it does not reflect GOP values.”” Florida senator Rick Scott saying “it's not funny and it's not true.” And now Puerto Rican music superstar and Harris supporter Bad Bunny weighing in, reposting to his 45 million Instagram followers Harris's message to Puerto Rico about Trump.
HARRIS: He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes.
I'm very proud to have the support of folks like Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez and others, who were supporting me before that nonsense last night at Madison Square Garden.
HAAKE: JD Vance today responding.
JD VANCE: I haven't seen the joke. I'm not going to comment on the specifics of the joke. But I think that we have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America. I'm just -- I'm so over it.
HAAKE: Today in Pennsylvania reactions from Puerto Rican supporters of Trump.
CUSTOMER #1: I didn't really get offended because I know people just like to gossip.
HAAKE: And of Harris.
RANDOM WOMAN: All disgusting rhetoric needs to be stopped.
HAAKE: The Puerto Rican vote could prove pivotal in Pennsylvania. The biggest swing state. Where some 300,000 voting age Puerto Ricans could cast ballots. Our recent poll shows among Latinos overall Harris leads, but Trump performs better with Latino men, splitting the vote with Harris. Meanwhile, the MSG rally also featuring Trump supporter and billionaire Elon Musk.
ELON MUSK: Massive crushing victory. Get everyone, friends, family, people on the street, put the signs up. Put the hat on. Let's go.
HAAKE: Today Philadelphia's Democratic D.A. Filing a lawsuit to stop Musk's daily million-dollar giveaway to registered voters who sign his petition supporting free speech and the Second Amendment. The D.A. Calling it an illegal lottery. Musk has not responded. But President Biden did today.
JOE BIDEN: I think it's totally inappropriate.
HOLT: All right. Garrett joining us now. Garrett, what is Elon Musk saying tonight?
HAAKE: Lester, his spokesperson responding to us today with simply a photo of the contest's most recent winner, suggesting he's not backing down. And tonight a Trump campaign source tells me that despite endorsing the former President, Nikki Haley and Trump are increasingly unlikely to appear together in this race’s closing days. Lester.
HOLT: All right, Garrett Haake. Thank you.
