🗞️ Trump leads among Latinos

GREETINGS!

🔔 In today’s email:

📈 Trump leads among Latinos by 11 points
🏁 Polling shows Trump and Harris nearly tied
🟦 ‘Blue wall’ states may be tough hurdle for Harris

🚨 Key Story:

⚖️ Jury selection in Daniel Penny trial begins

-Mike

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Trump leads among Latinos by 11 points

In a neck and neck race, Trump and Harris are intentionally directing their campaigning efforts towards the Latino community.

• While a USA Today/Suffolk University Poll conducted through October 14-18, found Trump leading by 11 points at 49%, polls also show Harris’s lead growing among Latinos in key swing states.

• Other polls reveal Harris has more support from Latinos in 2024 than Biden did in 2020. One poll even had her lead at 64% with Latino voters.

• Nonetheless, the majority of polls do show Trump gaining some ground in that community. 

• Additionally, while a USA Today poll shows Harris having the support of  72% black voters, this number is unusually down compared to other Democratic  performances in past elections.

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Trump leads on Polymarket, nearly tied with Harris in polling

For weeks, Trump’s lead has consistently grown on Polymarket.

• The betting site now puts Trump at his strongest lead yet with 64.4% chances of becoming the next president compared to Harris’s 35.6% chance.

• Polymarket additionally predicts Trump to win 276 of electoral votes and Harris to win 262 votes.

• That said, another popular polling agency, USA Today/Sulffolk University finds that Trump and Harris are nearly tied with Harris having 45% chance of winning over Trump’s 44% chance.

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Harris may struggle in ‘Blue Wall’ states

The blue wall: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are arguably the presidential candidates' most daunting barrier to winning the election. For the last two elections, these states were essential in helping Obama and Biden win their respective races. 

• If Harris lost Wisconsin or Michigan, even with a Pennsylvanian victory, it would be incredibly difficult to reach 270 electoral votes (the necessary total to become president).

• While Pennsylvania may be the state both candidates have focused on the most, it’s North Carolina and Michigan which are both considered swing states, that Harris’s campaign team is reportedly worried about.

• Right now, Trump is rising to a three point lead over Harris in North Carolina. 

• However, Harris still leads with 49% over Trump’s 47% in Michigan still  leads with 49% over Trump’s 47% in Michigan.

KEY STORY

Jury selection in Daniel Penny Trial Underway

On May 1, 2023 subway and street performer, Jordan Neely, allegedly was having an erratic episode. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Neely. He had been arrested 42 times, was on New York City’s watchlist for needing mental health assistance and had a history of violently attacking subway riders. Witnesses reported that Neely violently threw his jacket down and threatened to kill passengers, adding he was willing to die or go to jail for life for it. 

When Neely allegedly “charged” at passengers, one woman hid her son behind his stroller and two high school students prayed the subway doors would open. Another witness, a retiree, reportedly told grand jurors that in three decades of taking the subway, nothing had “put fear into me like that.” To add onto the grand jury testimonies, a woman said she thought she “was going to die,” during Neely’s alleged confrontation. 

On that day, when former marine Daniel Penny heard Neely’s threats, Penny said he took out his headphones. Riders tried to back away from Neely, but Penny came forward and dragged Neely to the ground. Struggling to restrain Neely, two other men helped Penny. By the time police arrived, Neely was unconscious but alive. He died by the time he arrived at the hospital. Some say Penny murdered Neely by putting him in a choke hold. In fact, Neely’s death sparked protests across New York City and many accused Penny’s actions of being racially motivated. 

Meanwhile, others call Penny a hero. So much so that 3.139 million has already been raised to pay for his defense.  

Penny’s Trial 

Yesterday marked day two of jury selection for Penny’s trial. It’s been reported 250 potential jurors were prescreened and 80 are set to return for the next step. Once selected, all 12 jurors will have to agree unanimously that Penny is guilty in order for him to be convicted. 

The jury selection process is expected to take two to three weeks. The trial itself could be six weeks long. If convicted on both charges of second degree manslaughter (a max charge of 15 years) and criminally negligent homicide (a max charge of 4 years), Penny all together could face up to 19 years in prison.  

Former Republican candidate for district attorney, Thomas Kenniff and attorney Steven Raiser are representing Penny. On October 21, the two attorneys told Fox News that Penny is ready to personally testify. Among the other potential witnesses were tourists who are not subjected to subpoenas since they live outside of the US. Still, Kenniff and Raiser say while the tourists testimony would be nice, they believe they already have more than enough witness testimonies to defend Penny. 

Arguments 

Penny’s attorneys say they aren’t trying to make a hero out of Penny and they aren’t trying to villainize Neely—adding neither one is necessary for their client to win his case.  Ultimately instead, for the defense, it'll come down to whether or not Penny acted reasonably in defending himself and others. 

Being used by the prosecution and the defense is a video of Penny restraining Neely. Calling it their best piece of evidence, Penny’s attorneys say if one looks at the video frame by frame, it’s clear Penny never applied continuous pressure to Neely’s neck. Instead, Penny allegedly tried to protect Neely and others by using a non lethal restraining maneuver which he learned in the marine core. Another element to the case is reportedly Neely was high on K2 when he died. When Fox News asked Penny’s attorneys why this piece of evidence had so far seemingly been swept under the rug, they responded that the reasons for keeping it quiet will come out more during the trial. 

As far as outsiders go, Police refer to Penny in their reports as a Good Samaritan. However, the city medical examiner said Neely died of homicide from compression of the neck— the two showcasing how the United State is divided on this case. 

The defense tried to dismiss Penny’s case since “Dr. Cynthia Harris, who performed the autopsy, failed to explain in her testimony to the grand jury that Neely suffocated to death due to a chokehold.” 

While Penny’s bid to dismiss his case was denied, Penny has been free on a $100,000 bond.

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FROM THE EDITOR

You’re a special kind of person if you reached the end of the road here. :)

-Mike