i'm not supposed to say it but we are winning by a lot, actually. we are winning by a lot, actually-— we are winning by a lot, actuall . i, , , , actually. he really belittles her country. _ actually. he really belittles her country. this _ actually. he really belittles her country. this is - actually. he really belittles l her country. this is someone who— her country. this is someone who is— her country. this is someone who is a _ her country. this is someone who is a former president of the united states.— who is a former president of the united states. mark, did chairman — the united states. mark, did chairman of _ the united states. mark, did chairman of the _ the united states. mark, did chairman of the joint - the united states. mark, did chairman of the joint chief . the united states. mark, did| chairman of the joint chief of staff, — chairman of the joint chief of staff, 6 — chairman of the joint chief of staff, a career— chairman of the joint chief of staff, a career military- staff, a career military officer. _ staff, a career military officer. a _ staff, a career military officer, a direct - staff, a career military officer, a direct quotei staff, a career military- officer, a direct quote that said — officer, a direct quote that said donald _ officer, a direct quote that said donald trump- officer, a direct quote that said donald trump is- officer, a direct quote that said donald trump is the i officer, a direct quote that- said donald trump is the most dangerous— said donald trump is the most dangerous person _ said donald trump is the most dangerous person ever- said donald trump is the most dangerous person ever that i said donald trump is the most| dangerous person ever that we face in — dangerous person ever that we face in this— dangerous person ever that we face in this nation. _ dangerous person ever that we face in this nation.— face in this nation. because we are so polarised, _ face in this nation. because we are so polarised, it _ face in this nation. because we are so polarised, it is - face in this nation. because we are so polarised, it is really - are so polarised, it is really tough for us to change the outcome of an election but it is a smart strategy to stab all hands on deck and as many people to hear your message as possible and more people are inclined to listen if you have a rock star on your side. joining me tonight are former liberal party parliamentary candidate and political

strategist joining me tonight are former labour party parliamentary candidate and political strategist kevin craig and brett bruen, former director of global engagement at the white house. a uk court has sentenced one of the world's most prolific online child abusers to life in prison. thejudge in northern ireland said alexander mccartney's crimes were sadistic and depraved. he used a fake identity to target thousands of children worldwide. donald trump and kamala harris are campaigning in texas as the race for the whitehouse hots up. ms harris is due to appear at a rally in houston alongside beyonce, while mr trump is visiting austin to record with the podcasterjoe rogan. the un rights chief says gaza's darkest moment is taking place, more than a year after the war began. volker turk said the entire population faced bombing, siege and possible starvation. he said the world had a duty to act.

president zelensky says ukraine has intelligence that russia plans to deploy north korean soldiers on the battlefield within days. he called the move as a clear escalation. moscow and pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied the reports. to the us presidential election now where the two candidates vying for the white house vying for the white house are taking a break from chasing are taking a break from chasing votes in battleground states votes in battleground states to campaign in texas. to campaign in texas. recent history shows recent history shows the lone star state the lone star state resoundingly backing resoundingly backing the republican candidate the republican candidate for the presidency in fact for the presidency in fact the democratic contender hasn't the democratic contender hasn't won there since 1976. won there since 1976. donald trump is in austin beyonc. donald trump is in austin where he's recording an episode where he's recording an episode of thejoe rogan experience, of thejoe rogan experience, the biggest podcast in the us. the biggest podcast in the us. the appearance is part of the trump campaign s the appearance is part of the trump campaign s calculated media strategy calculated media strategy focusing on podcasts popular focusing on podcasts popular with younger men over with younger men over traditional media outlets. traditional media outlets. meanwhile kamala harris is set meanwhile kamala harris is set to appear at a campaign event to appear at a campaign event in houston 7 likely alongside in houston 7 likely alongside

beyonc. the vice president will be trying to attract voters from beyond the democrats base and star power might be the answer. speaking not long ago trump told people in texas that he was winning the election. take a listen. well, after tell you, i'm not supposed to say

kamala harris has also been speaking. the vice president made a surprise stop and took questions from reporters ahead of a rally later tonight. she promises she will codify the right to abortion if she's elected. i believe it is critically important to acknowledge that this is notjust the political debate, this is notjust some theoretical concept, real harm has occurred in our country and real suffering has occurred. people have died and it is important to highlight this issue because this is among the most critical issues that the american people will address when they vote for who will be the next president of the united states. meanwhile her campaign has doubled down on the message that trump is a danger to democracy. this time it was her vice presidential pick tim walz who pointed to officials from the previous trump administration describing the former president in dire terms.

now, mark millie, tromp's chairman of the joint chief of staff, — chairman of the joint chief of staff, 6 — chairman of the joint chief of staff, a career military officer. _ staff, a career military officer, a direct quote that says— officer, a direct quote that says donald trump is the most dangerous person ever that we faced _ dangerous person ever that we faced in— dangerous person ever that we faced in this nation. doctor james _ faced in this nation. doctor james madison of the 4—star marine — james madison of the 4—star marine general, trump's secretary of defence agreed wholeheartedly with that. earlier _ wholeheartedly with that. earlier this week, the chief of staff— earlier this week, the chief of staff 4—star generaljohn kelly staff 4—star general john kelly came — staff 4—star generaljohn kelly came out— staff 4—star generaljohn kelly came out and said on the record. _ came out and said on the record, that donald trump is a textbook— record, that donald trump is a textbook fascist would rule like a — textbook fascist would rule like a dictator. textbook fascist and would rule like a dictator. but trump's team have been doing their best to take the wind out of these types of accusations. the aim is to soften the former presidents image. as well as podcasts where donald trump talks about himself there's also been a series of photo ops where he serves french fries or plays golf. the latest of these was a visit to a las vegas bakery. he took that opportunity to deny reports that he praised hitler, telling reporters that his former chief made the whole thing up. take a listen.

no, i never said that, no, i neversaid that, i no, i never said that, iwould never say that. he made that up. he's done it before. it's a failing magazine right before the election. it'sjust failing magazine right before the election. it's just a failing magazine. with all these competing messages money counts and the latest figures show team harris has out raised and outspent team trump. new reports from the harris campaign report they raised $97 million in the first half of october. fortrump s campaign that figure wasjust $16 million according to the federal election commission. the harris campaign also significantly outspent trump over the first 16 days of october using just under $166 million. that compares to $99 million for the former president s campaign. former labour party parliamentary candidate and political strategist kevin craig. brett bruen, president of the consulting firm global situation room and former director of global

engagement at the white house. good to have you with us on the context this evening. let us begin with those reports those mentioning to her audience a little while ago from the washington post which for the first time since the 1980s, i believe i'm correct in saying, is not endorsing either candidate and traditionally, the washington post has endorsed the democratic candidate. how much will blow you think that's going to be for the harris campaign? list to see how — for the harris campaign? l st to see how astonishing this is, yesterday we heard that the los angeles times on the direction of patrick, the billionaire owner of the times would not be issuing an endorsement and today, it isjust issuing an endorsement and today, it is just basals, reported by the washington post itself who directed his paper not to issue an endorsement. you have two billionaires in two days were essentially

saying, we do not want to take incoming fire from donald trump and this is a paperfor those who are not familiar, actually have his slogan, democracy dies in darkness and yet, we are not going to get a pronouncement from the paper of records here in washington on who should be the next president. it is just an absolute abdication of responsibility for journalists from one responsibility forjournalists from one of responsibility for journalists from one of the responsibility forjournalists from one of the most important newspapers in this country. {line newspapers in this country. one former executive _ newspapers in this country. one former executive saying that this is cowardice with democracy is the casualty. on those spending figures that we're just talking about, the harris campaign clearly raising and spending way above and beyond the trump campaign at the margins in the swing states really, tight. nationally as well. this illustrates that spending money doesn't

necessarily give a huge lead to a candidate. necessarily give a huge lead to a candidate-— a candidate. clearly not in what we _ a candidate. clearly not in what we have _ a candidate. clearly not in what we have in _ a candidate. clearly not in what we have in this - a candidate. clearly not in i what we have in this election dehver— what we have in this election denver will be described that the newspapers shows just denver will be described that the newspapers showsjust how close _ the newspapers showsjust how close the — the newspapers showsjust how close the election is. and it is remarkable, if you look at the statistics of how trump is coming — the statistics of how trump is coming back against the harris campaign, trump is leading on the economy at 52 to 45 and he is leading — the economy at 52 to 45 and he is leading on immigration, 54 to 43— is leading on immigration, 54 to 43 and _ is leading on immigration, 54 to 43 and what we know is we saw _ to 43 and what we know is we saw this— to 43 and what we know is we saw this over that the polls have — saw this over that the polls have a _ saw this over that the polls have a very good accuracy and performance. i think we can be very— performance. i think we can be very confident that this is going _ very confident that this is going to be extremely close and the money being raised. it's not the money being raised. it's heurist— the money being raised. it's notjust the fact the money being raised. it's not just the fact that presidential candidates, the democrats trying very hard to try to — democrats trying very hard to try to win _ democrats trying very hard to try to win in texas and as well as the — try to win in texas and as well as the presidency, look at the numbers— as the presidency, look at the numbers in the senate and the house. — numbers in the senate and the

house, 51—49 with democrats, the house _ house, 51—49 with democrats, the house republicans leading, and the house republicans leading, ahd i_ the house republicans leading, and i agree with the assessment about— and i agree with the assessment about the — and i agree with the assessment about the newspapers being worried _ about the newspapers being worried and this looks like, what — worried and this looks like, what this— worried and this looks like, what this shows is another knife — what this shows is another knife edge contest in america with— knife edge contest in america with implications for assault. -- us — with implications for assault. -- us alt _ with implications for assault. —— us all. and portraying their candidates, harris started talking aboutjoy candidates, harris started talking about joy and candidates, harris started talking aboutjoy and i was talking aboutjoy and i was talking aboutjoy and i was talking about donald trump, comparing him to a fascist, meanwhile, donald trump is visiting bakeries mcdonald's and going on the golf course which is something everyone knows he loves to do. given the donald trump boss was campaign, his apparent share of the vote is holding up well, according to the polls, whetherfocusing on his character is the right thing to do for the harris

campaign when a lot of people are talking about, they think they would be better off under a donald trump residency? there is a lot of democrats _ a donald trump residency? there is a lot of democrats who - a donald trump residency? there is a lot of democrats who are - is a lot of democrats who are at least currently at the moment, grumbling about this u—turn back to a focus on trump's threat to our ideals and our institutions but at the same time, we are going to see vice president harris go out on the last major campaign engagement in that spot where donald trump stood and essentially urged on his supporters to the capitol on january six of 2021, she in front of the white house is going to deliver her closing argument as she would a prosecutor. i think what is decided in the harris campaign is the independent voters and those seven key states, this is what they need to hear and that

is why it may not necessarily win over large swathes of the american population. but those in the trump voters who supported perhaps in 2016, 2020. they're sitting on the fence right now and are wondering whether or not we give him another try and bear in mind that there will be casting that voted for the first time since january six of 2021 and so, it is a pivotal point in the pivotal question for those independent, modern republican voters to weigh. to the and tweak with their messages are in the remaining days depending on what they think the voters want to hear. let's move on now to our discussion point in one one of the world's most prolific online child abusers has been sentenced to life in prison. alexander mccartney faked his identity to sexually abuse and blackmail thousands of children online. the judge at belfast crown court described mccartney's crimes as acts of sadism , which "scarred" the childhoods of his victims.

police believe thousands of children were targeted, with many victims never identified. before sentencing today, mccartney, who is 26 and from county armagh in northern ireland, pleaded guilty to 185 charges. those charges involved 70 victims aged between 10 and 16, in new zealand and the united states. before we go any futher, i need to warn you that many of the details we'll be hearing about this case are really distressing. catherine kierans, chief prosecutor at the northern ireland police service, spoke at a press conference earlier. many of the details will be hearing about in this case are really distressing. held accountable for manslaughter where the victim and the perpetrator have never met in person. the prosecution team was also able to apply the offence of black

r ,we , we have since been able to prosecute suspects for this and other cases of cat fishing. will use the full extent of the law to hold abusers responsible for their actions. law to hold abusers responsible fortheiractions. —— for their actions. —— blackmail. as we heard, one of mccartney's victims was a 12 year old girl from west virigina in the united states who took her own life after being abused by him. cimarron thomas was targeted by mccartney on snapchat. she killed herself rather than comply with his demands, which included the abuse of her younger sister. her father ben took his own life 18 months later not knowing what happened to his daughter. it wasn't until 2021 that investigators discovered the abuse. a short time ago, detective chief superintendent eamonn corrigan, read out a statement on behalf of the the grandparents of cimarron thomas.

we all have been devastated by her granddaughters passing and we know nothing that we do or say will bring her back. but if we can help another family did not have to go through what we did, something good can come out of her death. perhaps parents, police, keep the doors of communication open concerning the evil of some people online. kevin, i will begin with you. horrific is not even an adequate word to describe this case. i adequate word to describe this case. ., �* ~ ., , adequate word to describe this case. ., �* ~ . y ., adequate word to describe this case. ., �* a. y ., , case. i don't think any of us really are — case. i don't think any of us really are able _ case. i don't think any of us really are able to. - case. i don't think any of us really are able to. what - case. i don't think any of us really are able to. what we | case. i don't think any of us i really are able to. what we are learning from this is their are may keep lengths to try to tackle this kind of abuse and education and giving people the tools to try to educate parents and children and other trusted adults on how they can talk about this. what role do you think government has to play in all of that? if i

think government has to play in all of that?— all of that? if i talk about this side _ all of that? if i talk about this side of _ all of that? if i talk about this side of the _ all of that? if i talk about this side of the atlantic, | all of that? if i talk about i this side of the atlantic, this truly— this side of the atlantic, this truly terrible, awful case may well— truly terrible, awful case may well have _ truly terrible, awful case may well have repercussions in the spotlight that it shines again on the — spotlight that it shines again on the major social media networks and digital platforms because as you heard for the first— because as you heard for the first time _ because as you heard for the first time in history, we have a loss— first time in history, we have a loss of— first time in history, we have a loss of life on the other side _ a loss of life on the other side of— a loss of life on the other side of the atlantic due to online _ side of the atlantic due to online grooming crimes from this side _ online grooming crimes from this side of the atlantic and there's— this side of the atlantic and there's a _ this side of the atlantic and there's a huge issue of awareness and reactions of parents _ awareness and reactions of parents but also, there is an increasing _ 15