Trump’s attacks on Jewish Democrats and a look ahead at the NFL season: Morning Rundown

As Trump courts the Jewish vote, his faith-based attacks on Jewish Democratic leaders polarize some in the community. A man is charged for the fatal shooting of four people sleeping on a commuter train in Chicago. And a look at the most exciting games in the upcoming NFL roster.

Here’s what to know today.

Trump repeats attacks on Jewish political leaders and votersAs former President Donald Trump tries to win over swing-state Jewish voters ahead of the November election, his attacks on three prominent Jewish politicians and Jews who support Democrats have some advocates accusing him of antisemitism.

Trump’s campaign has ramped up outreach to the voting bloc with the launch of “Jewish Voices for Trump.” But in public comments and on social media, Trump has also criticized Jews who support Democrats as “absolute fools” and touted himself as “the best friend that Israel and the Jewish people ever had” in his condemnation of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who himself is Jewish.

A number of Jewish advocates, quick to note Jewish voters care about an array of issues beyond Israel, say Trump’s attacks are blatantly antisemitic. “Trump believes that he’s entitled to the Jewish vote … and when they don’t give it to him, he immediately defaults to this idea of the disloyal or bad Jew,” says Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonpartisan Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

The Trump campaign scoffs at the notion that his comments have been offensive, instead calling Harris’ positions and rhetoric unacceptable to Jewish voters. But even some prominent conservatives have spoken out against them. 

Reporter Allan Smith takes a closer look at Trump’s controversial approach to attracting Jewish voters, which could be critical in the swing states of Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. 

More election coverage:

U.S. charges Hamas leaders for Oct. 7 attacks

The Department of Justice has charged six senior Hamas leaders, including political head Yahya Sinwar, with terrorism in connection with the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Sinwar has led Hamas in Gaza for roughly eight years and was tapped as the group’s political leader after Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran in July. Sinwar, along with the other leaders charged, played key roles in overseeing a decadeslong campaign of terrorism and committing what Attorney General Merrick Garland called the group’s “most violent, large-scale attack to date.”

Chicago man charged with murder in deaths of 4 people sleeping on a train

A 30-year-old man was charged with four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Labor Day shooting of four people who were sleeping on a commuter train in Chicago, according to the Forest Park Police Department. 

Cook County State Attorney Kimberly Foxx called the incident a “random attack.” The victims sat apart from each other in two different train cars, according security footage. Three of the victims died immediately and the fourth died at the hospital, authorities said. 

The suspect was found on a different train in the Chicago area and was taken into custody carrying a handgun that matched evidence found on the train, according to police. Read more here.

Are you ready for some football?

The NFL season kicks off tomorrow night, with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens on NBC. 

Some storylines around the league are picking up where they left off — Christmas football is here to stay, Taylor Swift is still dating Travis Kelce — while others have taken intriguing twists: Jim Harbaugh is back, and the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders may finally have franchise quarterbacks. Sports reporter Rohan Nadkarni sets the stage.

🏈 The favorites: Familiar faces are the favorites headed into the 2024 season, with the Chiefs, Ravens and 49ers still favorites to win the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes, who is indisputably the best quarterback in the league, and a winning machine come playoff time. The 49ers and Ravens, meanwhile, have arguably the two most complete rosters in the NFL — they can suffocate opponents defensively while being dynamic on offense.

🤫 Upset threats: The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers are two sleepers to keep an eye on. The Lions play an aggressive style of football and were a couple close fourth down calls away from making the Super Bowl last season. The Chargers have an exciting but frustrating quarterback in Justin Herbert. Fortunately for them, their new coach Jim Harbaugh has proven adept at getting the most out of players at that position.

🍿 Storylines: Which young quarterbacks will enter the ranks of the game’s elite? The Texans’ C.J. Stroud and the Packers’ Jordan Love were banging on the door at the end of last season, and it’s possible they start becoming serious playoff threats as early as this season. And can the Buffalo Bills finally get over the hump? Without Stefon Diggs, who was traded in the offseason, Buffalo is putting a lot of pressure on Josh Allen to finally carry the team to a Super Bowl.

See Rohan’s picks for the 10 most exciting games to look for this season.  

Politics In Brief

Trump on Trial: A judge denied Trump’s last-ditch bid to move his New York hush money case to federal court. The change would have significantly pushed back his sentencing, currently set for Sept. 18.

Abortion rights: The Supreme Court allowed the Biden administration to withhold federal family planning funds from Oklahoma after the state refused to provide patients with a hotline number for abortion information.

Transgender rights: Over 30 Republican leaders have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition to a Tennesee law that bars transition-related care for minors.

Afghanistan withdrawal: A Republican-led House committee subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide more testimony on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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Staff Pick: What is the Philadelphi corridor?

Understanding the nuance and complexities of the Israel-Hamas war can often be difficult, but this article by Chantel Da Silva does an excellent job of explaining why the Philadelphi corridor — a 9-mile sliver of land that is just 100 yards wide — has become a central issue in cease-fire negotiations. — Matt Grimson, Assistant Managing Editor, platforms

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