Live Reporting

Edited by Johanna Chisholm in Washington DC

1. What’s happening tonight?published at 02:3602:36IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSWe’re less than two weeks away from election day and this evening both campaigns will continue with their attempts to win over key swing states – but they won’t be making their cases alone.Over the next few hours, we’ll see the two White House hopefuls backed by not only the vocals of popular artists, but also notable DC insiders – some of whom used to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.Singer James Taylor will be joining Tim Walz in North Carolina, while Kamala Harris will hold her first rally with Barak Obama (and Bruce Springsteen) in Georgia.Meanwhile, the Trump campaign are targeting Arizona and Nevada – with rallies at 1700 EDT (2200 BST) in Tempe and then later in the night in Las Vegas. He’ll be joined by former presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard alongside the band Common Kings.We will be keeping track of events in all four states and look to bring you some wider analysis from our correspondents on the ground. Stick with us.Share
2. Six key moments from the campaign trailpublished at 02:0702:07IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
   • Swing states are top of mind (again) for both presidential candidates, with events taking place in Georgia,Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and North Carolina in the coming hours
   • The race to the White House remains a tight one, with polling averages for a number of these key states showing less than one percentage point separating the two main candidates
   • When it comes to stopping foreign interference in US elections, the White House national security adviser says there is a “long way to go”, but believes the country has “made progress”
   • Meanwhile, Trump has called his opponents “crude, rude and vicious” – Harris has said voters face a “very serious decision” after she praised Republicans who are now backing her
   • Elsewhere, the former presidentsaid he would fire Special Counsel Jack Smith– who has brought two federal indictments against him – “within two seconds”, if elected
   • And US media reports suggest superstar Beyoncé will be joining Harris’s campaign in Houston on Friday
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3. ‘I am currently viewing everyone as a potential threat’published at 01:3101:31BBC’s Outside Source has been speaking with US election officials about the threats they faced in 2020, and how they are preparing for the upcoming election.Tina Barton is a Republican from Michigan and the former city clerk for Rochester Hills. A week after the 2020 election, she received threatening phone calls, where a man told her he will kill her and that she deserved a knife to her throat.”To have your live threatened is a life changing experience, it impacts the way you secure your home, it impacts the conversations you have with family members about their safety,” she says.“I am my mum’s only child and having her listen to the voicemail where someone says when I least expect it they will kill me, that is a hard conversation to have.”I am living in this state of hyper-vigilance. I am currently viewing everyone as a potential threat and that was not a way that I used to live my life.Quote MessageHaving your family put in harm’s way for doing a job you love is a very heavy burden that election officials have to bear.”Tina Barton, former city clerk for Rochester Hills, MichiganShare
4. Would Harris’s price gouging plan really help US consumers?published at 01:1401:14By Ben Chu, policy and analysis correspondentDuring her CNN town hall event on Wednesday, Kamala Harris was asked by an undecided voter in Pennsylvania what she would do to tackle the price of groceries.She said she would introduce a national ban on price gouging, to “stop companies taking advantage of the desperation… of the American consumer and jacking up prices”.Harris’s plan – according to her campaign team – would only apply to “essential goods during emergencies or times of crisis”.So, it is unclear what – if anything – it would do to bring prices down when there aren’t emergencies, something she was challenged about by CNN’s Anderson Cooper.And 37 US states already have laws prohibiting price gouging after local states of emergency have been declared.
   • BBC Verify has been looking in detail at the Harris plan on price gouging
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5. Chitthi Brigade: The Indian American women rallying behind Kamala Harrispublished at 01:0001:00Divya Arya
   BBC World ServiceA group of 200 middle-aged Indian American women have come together as the “Chitthi Brigade” to campaign for presidential nominee Kamala Harris.Chitthi Brigade members are knocking doors in South Asian neighbourhoods hoping to make a desi (South Asian) connection.It started in 2020 when Kamala Harris thanked her “chittis” in her acceptance speech for the Democrat Party’s Vice-President nomination. “Chitthi” is Tamil for aunt. It struck a chord.New York-based Shoba Vishwanathan called her friend and they decided they’ll use their Indian networks, that generally came together for festival celebrations, to tap into this energy.The idea spread via Whatsapp groups and connected women across the US.“Her Indian roots mattered in that moment, but the outrage against Donald Trump and his policies united us,” she says.Suba Srini in Washington DC is organising postcard writing sessions and phone banks.“So many times when we call and the person on the other end realises it’s someone who speaks their native language, they are much more open to sharing and discussing the issues that matter to them,” she says.Within their communities, it has also help challenge the widespread notion that women vote like their husbands and ‘aunties’ were mainly concerned with getting their children married.Share
6. Early voters in Georgia flip-flop between old political allegiancespublished at 00:2700:27Kayla Epstein
   Reporting from GeorgiaImage caption,Kaitlyn Peake, an early voter in Georgia, says she cast a ballot for TrumpI’ve encountered many voters who typically voted one way, but this race has made them reconsider. It’s a snapshot of how this election is shuffling pre-conceived notions about voting habits – making the race difficult to predict.I met some of these voters today at the Briarwood Recreation Center, an early voting site in the Atlanta suburbs.Drew Sandage always considered himself a Libertarian and voted third party in past elections. But this year he decided to vote for the Democrat, Kamala Harris.“It’s a little bit of an anti-Trump vote,” Sandage says.Meanwhile, 35-year-old Kaitlyn Peake cast a ballot for Republican Trump despite always voting for Democrats.“The way I see voting for Trump and Vance is like a vote to reset the political stage,” she says.She was raised in a Democratic family in the liberal-leaning Bay Area, but wants to see a presidency that backs more traditional views.She adds that she does not agree with Democrats’ support for transgender rights and believes that on abortion, the party was “too aggressive – they’re too liberal”.Share
7. Harris reiterates ‘serious decision’ for voterspublished at 00:1300:13Speaking to reporters moments ago in Philadelphia, Kamala Harris has again hit out at her campaign rival Donald Trump.Harris says people have been presented with a “very serious decision… Donald Trump who will sit in the oval office, stewing plotting revenge”.Or, she says, “what I will be doing, which is responding… with a to-do list, understanding the need to work on lifting up the American people”.Harris later adds that she believes having a number of Republicans endorse her candidacy – including over the last few days the mayor of Waukesha and former representative Fred Upton – shows that “people who have been leaders in this country, regardless of their political party, realise what’s at stake”.Share
8. Election official wears bullet proof vest in fear of violencepublished at 00:0300:03IMAGE SOURCE,JOSH ZYGIELBAUMThe BBC OS Team has been speaking with US election officials about the threats they faced in 2020, and how they are preparing for the upcoming election.Josh Zygielbaum is a Democrat from Denver and the elected Adams County Clerk and Recorder.He wears a bullet-proof vest to work every day after a man followed him home from work in 2020.”Before I get out of the car I check my mirrors, I look around. When I leave my house I look around, it is constant concern,” Zygielbaum told BBC OS.”The threat is very real to us and it is very scary. I spent almost six years in the Marines and oftentimes now I am back at that heightened level of concern and I carry a firearm with me.”Asked why he continues his work despite the threats, he said: “I love what we do, I believe in democracy and this is the foundation piece of our country, without that we would not have the democracy we have. Without that you are either back to a monarchy or a dictatorship.”It is very important to me to continue our way of life, especially for the future, for my kids and grandkids.”Share
9. Traditionally Democratic, US unions divided over presidential racepublished at 23:43 24 October23:43 24 OctoberNatalie Sherman
   New York business reporterOver the last four years, the US has seen a swell in unionisation, public support for unions and strike activity.The latest example is Boeing, where factory workers on Wednesday rejected, for a second time, a pay offer from the company, further extending the strike.In theory, the rise of labour power could be a good sign for Democrats, who have long counted unions as an important part of their base and been supportive of issues, like stronger worker protections, that have been key labour priorities.But as Donald Trump has made appeals to union rank-and-file a key part of his campaign, that’s not how it has played out.Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have won endorsements from key organisations such as the United Autoworkers, the AFL-CIO, and the Boeing machinists.But other major unions, such as the Teamsters, have withheld endorsements at the national level, a sign of fierce internal divisions among its members about the candidates.This divide is playing out especially visibly in swing states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania. For example, though the leadership of the US Steelworkers union backed Harris, Trump has held rallies in Pennsylvania spotlighting support he is receiving from local members of the union.Share
10. Listen: 911 calls from Trump assassination attempt releasedpublished at 23:30 24 October23:30 24 October00:30Media caption,Rally-goers call 911 after Trump’s attempted assassinationEarlier we brought you the news that 15 calls made to the emergency services after an assassination attempt on Donald Trump have been released.You can listen to a few of those in the video above.Share
11. Election workers face violent threats as campaign enters final weekspublished at 23:01 24 October23:01 24 OctoberThe US Justice Department has given an update on cases against four men accused of threating election workers across state lines.
    • A man from Alabama was sentenced to 30 months in prison for sending threatening messages to officials, saying they would be executed and sending a picture of Woody from Toy Story with a projectile in his back
    • Two men, from Florida and Philadelphia, were charged for telling staff they would be raped and killed
    • A man from Colorado pleaded guilty to threatening officials, including saying he could shoot a state judge. The man also admitted to illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition
    The Justice Department set up its Election Threats Task Force in June 2021, six months after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.The BBC has been speaking to election worker on the front line of these conspiracy theories, braced for threats against them in the final weeks of the campaign.Share
12. Trump says he will fire Jack Smith ‘within two seconds’ if electedpublished at 22:44 24 October22:44 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSDonald Trump says he would fire Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Counsel Jack Smith, immediately if he were elected to a second term in the White House. Smith has brought two federal indictments against Trump.”It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds. He’ll be one of the first things addressed,” he says as he addresses radio host Hugh Hewitt’s question on whether he would pardon himself.Share
13. Beyoncé appearance at Harris rally confirmedpublished at 22:34 24 October22:34 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,GETTYBeyoncé will appear at Kamala Harris’ Houston rally on Friday evening.A source familiar with the plans confirmed the star’s appearance in comments to BBC’s US partner CBS.Previously, Beyoncé was expected to appear at the Democratic National Convention, but ultimately did not attend the event.Share
14. ‘Long way to go’ to stop foreign election interference, US security advisor sayspublished at 22:27 24 October22:27 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSThe White House national security adviser says that US has “made progress” in identifying foreign interference in its elections, “but there’s a long way to go to get to where we need to be”.Jake Sullivan says the US now has systems that “rapidly identify deep fakes and and call them out”, and that these systems had even spotted foreign interference “over the course of the last few days”.”We are not where we need to be, I acknowledge that,” Sullivan adds as he calls out Russia and Iran for attempting to interfere in the November election.
    • Read more: What to know about US election hacking, Iran and other countries
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15. ‘Crude, rude and vicious’: Trump campaign responds to Harris’ CNN town hallpublished at 22:04 24 October22:04 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSDonald Trump’s campaign have responded after Kamala Harris said she believes her opponent is a “fascist”, in a CNN town hall yesterday.Trump’s campaign says Harris’ comments are evidence that the Democrats are “increasingly desperate”, adding the town hall was full of “lies, smears, and radical leftism cloaked in word salad”.Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump adds that his opponents “are crude, rude and vicious”, and says that Harris “has got nothing, she’s got nothing, and you can’t have a leader like that”.Share
16. Ask us your questions about the US electionpublished at 21:48 24 October21:48 24 OctoberDo you live outside the US and have a question about the election? Tell us here or use the contact information below. Next Tuesday, our reporters will be answering your queries.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.You can also get in touch in the following ways:
    • Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
    • WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
    • Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
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17. Could it Be(yoncé)?published at 21:36 24 October21:36 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSBeyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, is earmarked to appear at Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Houston, Texas, tomorrow, alongside Willie Nelson.There are also reports that Houston-born Beyoncé herself could be in attendance, according to US media who are citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The BBC has not confirmed this.This is not the first time the singer was tipped for a potential appearance in support of Harris at a campaign event.Before Harris spoke at this summer’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) rumours began circulating claiming Beyoncé would introduce the vice-president on stage, but she did not show.Share
18. Voter Voices: ‘There’s fighting between the parties – it’s awful’published at 21:13 24 October21:13 24 OctoberRachel LookerBill Harms has already cast his ballot for Trump in Sacramento, California. He’s retired and emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1957.The last administration has ruined our country in my opinion. We voted early… so we’re excited, actually, more than nervous.The main thing [that surprised me about politics in the US] would be the total lack of responsibility by politicians as to immigration and the economy, especially the last administration. I think it was the worst this country has ever experienced.The other thing is the fighting between parties. It was years ago that Democrats and Republicans got along. They had America on their mind first. Now, it’s infighting, politically speaking. It’s awful in my opinion.In the lead-up to election day, BBC Voter Voices is hearing from Americans around the country about what matters to them. Are you an American voter? Want to join in? Apply to be featured in future BBC stories here.Share
19. Star-studded rally in Georgia, as Harris focuses on swing statepublished at 20:59 24 October20:59 24 OctoberIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSImage caption,Kamala’s trip to Georgia comes after she visited Pennsylvania yesterdayToday, Kamala Harris will be focusing on one of the key battleground states, Georgia, where she’ll be joined for the first time this campaign by former President Barack Obama.Bruce Springsteen is also set to join Harris and Obama on stage at a rally in the city of Clarkston, just outside Atlanta, at around 19:00 ET (00:00 BST).Eyes have been on Georgia ever since the Democrats unexpectedly triumphed there four years ago. While Harris doesn’t necessarily need to win here to become the next president, Trump almost certainly does.Share
20. Podcasts give Harris and Trump free exposure with little pushback, expert sayspublished at 20:30 24 October20:30 24 OctoberThomas Copeland
    Live reporterIMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGESEarlier today, we brought you an update on the newspaper endorsements for each candidate. But in this race, podcasts have stolen the headlines.Donald Trump is appearing tomorrow on the world’s most listened to podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, continuing his so-called ‘Bro’ podcast tour to reach young male voters.Harris joined Call Her Daddy, the second most popular podcast, focusing on abortion rights.”These shows are relatively safe spaces where Harris and Trump can get their message out to a lot of people without receiving much direct pushback,” says Dr Steven Buckley, a digital media expert at City, University of London.”Clips then get picked up by mainstream media and earn the candidates more free exposure,” he says.