On Politics

Sat Oct 26 2024

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Howdy folks! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. I'm coming to you with a special dispatch from the campaign trail. 🤠

We're 10 days out from Election Day. I'm back in my home state of Texas where on Friday Democrat Kamala Harris held a rally in Houston on abortion and reproductive rights (and where H-Town's own Beyoncé dropped in to show her support .) In Austin, Trump talked immigration and sat down with podcaster Joe Rogan. We have a recap of the busy Friday here.

Before we dive in: Harris (alongside Michelle Obama) and Trump will both be in Michigan today.

Amid deepening gender divide, Kamala Harris leans into women's rights

Large blue banners decorated Shell Energy Stadium in Houston that said "Vote for Reproductive Rights." Democrat Kamala Harris used Texas, with its restrictive abortion laws, as the backdrop to convince voters' to support candidates that will restore abortion protections and protect women's rights.

But Harris' message comes as the country is seeing a growing gender divide between men and women – from how they view the state of the nation to which candidate they're voting for. Lines snaked around the stadium, as thousands waited in the sweltering (and humid) Texas heat. For some of the men who attended the rally, they believe the issue isn't Harris' message. Read more.

•	72-year-old Gilbert Landry, who was attending the rally with his wife and family, thinks there are a lot of pressures put on men, and that Trump is dangling an opportunity message in front of them.
•	But abortion rights remain a key policy for many of the 30,000 people who were in attendance at Harris' rally. Tiffany Fairbanks, 43, told me she waited at least three hours to get into the stadium for her 7-year-old daughter. Holding back tears, Fairbanks said she wants her daughter to be able to have the same access to women's health care that she did growing up.

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention another reason why some supporters showed out to Harris' rally: Beyoncé. My colleague who covers the global superstar, Caché McClay, has you covered on that front.

Vice President Kamala Harris hugs Beyoncé Knowles-Carter on stage during a during a rally at Shell Energy Stadium on Oct. 25 in Houston, Texas.

Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK

Trump sits down with podcaster Joe Rogan

Harris wasn't the only one leaning into their base on Friday. In Austin, the state's capitol, Republican Donald Trump sat down with mega-popular podcaster Joe Rogan. Rogan, whose podcast is widely listened to (especially among men), spoke with Trump on an array of topics from election interference to life on other planets. Read more.

•	Trump, who is leading in polling with men, has leaned into reaching male voters by appearing on podcasts, like Rogan and other conservative leaning comedians. He's also shown up at sporting events ranging from football to UFC.
•	Ahead of Trump's recording with Rogan, the former president held an intimate 100-person rally at private jet hangar in East Austin to hammer home his campaign's message on border security.

Will Colin Allred see a Senate victory against Ted Cruz in Texas?

Colin Allred and Ted Cruz will debate Oct. 15 in their race for US Senate.

Democrat Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker, is facing off against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in the Texas Senate race this November. It is surprisingly tight.

READ MORE