Monday Diary -- Trump is 'okay' with shooting journalists

There’s one day left. For those looking for last-minute indicators leading into tomorrow’s election, there are several of note:

1. Polls indicate that independent voters in Pennsylvania may be breaking for Harris. This is the state most likely to tip the balance one way or the other.

2. The most surprising poll of all shows Harris leading in Iowa; this may indicate an unexpected shift inside the Midwestern states.

3. Trump leads among men but the growing gender gap favors Harris because women voters outnumber male voters and are more likely to vote than men.

4. Democrats appear to have a very large advantage in the ground game, i.e., knocking on doors, making phone calls and other ‘get out the vote’ tactics.

All of these factors favor Harris, but the latest polls remain deadlocked in all eight battleground states, which now include Iowa.

In the closing days, Harris is staying focused in her message of hope and optimism, whereas Trump spews darkness and continues to fly off the rails. Sunday Trump delivered another of his coded messages to his supporters that it would be okay with him if they would shoot journalists.

Sometimes I can’t really believe this is happening in our country but it is. These are the actions of an authoritarian trying to incite violence and intimidate the press. Tomorrow will be my last entry in this ‘diary” series leading up to the election. 

Earlier diary entries:

1. Tuesday Diary -- “One Week Before 'What Happened' Happens” — the romantic intrigue of this moment of witnessing history together.

2. Wednesday Diary -- “How Math Determines the Fate of Democracy” — the numerical basis behind mass fascism.

3. Thursday Diary: “Who is that Man in the Garbage Truck?” — how not to go insane when a train crash is happening before our very eyes.

4. Friday Diary: “Healthy Societies Embrace Choices” — focusing on uplifting activities rather than fretting that this may be our last good week for a long, long time.

5. Saturday Diary -- “Love Under the Mosquito Netting” — because sometimes love prevails over hate.

6. Sunday Diary — “It’s Come to This” — a day trying to avoid the election comes to naught.

HEADLINES:

• Trump and Harris crisscross campaign trail days out from Election Day (NPR)

• Trump says he doesn’t ‘mind’ if someone has to ‘shoot through’ the media (Politico)

• Panic buttons, drones, snipers among plans to guard a high-risk election (WP)

• Trump’s Final Days on the Campaign Trail (New Yorker)

• Harris and Trump Battle to the Wire in Swing States, Times/Siena Polls Find (NYT)

• Wisconsin 2024 Trump-Harris Polls: Harris Leads In 5 New Surveys—As Others Show A Near-Tie (Forbes)

• In surprise, Harris has slight lead over Trump in Iowa poll (WP)

• US election 2024 live: Latest polls tight as Trump, Harris hit swing states (Al Jazeera)

• It’s a fight to the finish in races that will determine control of Congress (AP)

• Trump, Preparing to Challenge the Results, Puts His 2020 Playbook Into Action (NYT)

• Conservative group’s ‘watch list’ targets federal employees for firing (WP)

• More than 75M Americans vote early as Harris, Trump make final push in key swing states (AA)

• Early voting turnout high as almost 47% of 2020 electorate cast ballots (WP)

• ‘It’s not just shameful. It is humiliating’: four celebrated authors on their hopes and fears before the 2024 US election (Guardian)

• How Will White Women Vote? It’s a Question With a Fraught History. (NYT Mag)

• Trump will push to get fluoride out of drinking water, RFK Jr. says (WP)

• U.S. Inspires World With Attempt At Democratic Election (The Onion)