U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that foreign nations are actively attempting to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, specifically aiming to ensure that former President Donald Trump loses. According to reports, these efforts are part of a broader strategy by foreign entities to influence the outcome of the upcoming election.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Iran is among the nations seeking to harm Trump’s presidential campaign through covert online influence operations. U.S. intelligence agencies have observed Tehran working to influence the election, with Iranian leaders reportedly concerned that a return to power by Trump would escalate tensions between Iran and the United States. An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shared these findings during a press briefing, highlighting the ongoing attempts by foreign actors to sway American electoral processes.

The report indicates that Iranian operatives are using online personas and propaganda efforts to spread disinformation, continuing a pattern of foreign involvement in U.S. elections that has been seen in recent years. This aligns with previous concerns about foreign entities using digital platforms to undermine American political systems.

The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of this issue has not received widespread attention in mainstream media outlets, raising questions about the level of public awareness regarding foreign interference in the election. The report suggests that other nations, including Russia, could also be involved in attempts to influence the election, though specific details about such efforts have not been confirmed.

In addition to the confirmed activities by Iran, there are ongoing discussions about the potential for other countries to manipulate the election for their own strategic interests. Some analysts have speculated about the possibility of foreign interference benefiting other candidates, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, though there is no concrete evidence to support these claims at this time.

SOURCE: WALL STREET JOURNAL

Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to eliminate taxes on Social Security checks if he wins back the White House in 2024. This pledge forms a key part of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) recently unveiled 2024 GOP Platform, titled “Make America Great Again!”

The platform, which draws heavily on Trump’s previous administration and political vision, outlines a comprehensive agenda aimed at bolstering American interests. It contrasts sharply with what the RNC describes as “the record of weakness, failure, and dishonesty” under President Joe Biden.

In a statement, the Trump campaign emphasized the platform’s alignment with the values and priorities of American voters. “President Trump’s platform serves as a contract with the American voter that makes clear what we can and will deliver under a President Trump administration with the Republican Party leading the country for the next four years,” the campaign stated.

Central to this platform is a commitment to safeguarding Social Security and Medicare. Trump’s plan promises no cuts or changes to these programs, including no alterations to the retirement age—a message that resonates strongly with the millions of Americans who depend on Social Security for their financial well-being.

One of the twenty core promises highlighted in the platform is to “Fight For And Protect Social Security And Medicare With No Cuts, Including No Changes To The Retirement Age.”

On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social to reiterate his commitment to eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, stating, “SENIORS SHOULD NOT PAY TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY!” He framed this tax elimination as essential to ensuring that seniors can retain more of their hard-earned benefits.

This announcement has been met with enthusiasm from many supporters, who view it as a direct response to the financial challenges faced by older Americans. Trump’s proposal is seen as a way to alleviate some of the economic pressures on retirees and ensure that they receive the full value of their Social Security benefits.

The Harris campaign has come under fire for its misleading claims about President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, in connection with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Despite repeated assertions, fact-checkers have debunked the campaign’s assertions, revealing a deliberate effort to misrepresent Trump’s policies.

At a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump and his “extreme Project 2025 agenda.” She claimed, “Can you believe they put that thing in writing? Read it. It’s 900 pages. But here’s the thing. When you read it, you will see Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare. He intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and make working families foot the bill. They intend to end the Affordable Care Act and take us back to a time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with pre-existing conditions.”

These accusations have been discredited by multiple fact-checking organizations. CNN, for example, highlighted inaccuracies in Harris’s claims. According to CNN, “The Project 2025 document does not show that Trump intends to cut Social Security; the document barely discusses Social Security at all and does not propose cuts to the program.” The document also does not call to “end” the Affordable Care Act or eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions. Instead, it critiques the Affordable Care Act, particularly its Medicaid expansion, but advocates for reforms rather than complete termination.

In response to the criticism, a Harris campaign official stated that the campaign had “made a deliberate decision to brand all of Trump’s policies” as “Project 2025,” believing that the term resonated with voters. Campaign spokesperson Joseph Costello added, “Project 2025 is a blueprint for many of the dangerous policies we know that a second Trump term would include, and it is indisputable that in his first term, Donald Trump repeatedly tried to cut Social Security and end the Affordable Care Act.”

Further scrutiny has revealed additional falsehoods. VERIFY, a website dedicated to combating misinformation, debunked claims that Project 2025 proposed eliminating individualized education plans (IEPs). USA Today also pointed out that Project 2025 is a conservative policy blueprint created by the Heritage Foundation and other groups, not a specific agenda authored by Trump. Trump himself has distanced his platform, which he refers to as Agenda 47, from Project 2025.

Reporter Ben Domenech criticized the Harris campaign for inaccurately associating J.D. Vance with Project 2025. Domenech, who interviewed Vance before his Senate candidacy and the inception of Project 2025, stated, “The Harris campaign is falsely representing this interview, which took place before Vance even announced a run for the Senate and years before Project 2025 existed. I know this because I’m the interviewer.”

The Harris campaign’s misrepresentation of Project 2025 has been widely condemned, underscoring the growing need for accurate political discourse in the lead-up to the election.

SOURCE: CNN