INTERNACIONAL
Trump campaign insider reveals strategy behind midterm blitz that White House hopes pays off big
A veteran campaign strategist who worked for Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection bid told Digital that pundits are misreading the strategy behind the president’s 32-state pre-midterms rally tour, which includes stops in deep red states.
Thursday, the president spoke in Denton, Texas, a suburb of Dallas before traveling to Oklahoma, a longtime bastion of conservatism that hasn’t been carried by a Democrat in a presidential election since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Trump on Friday will rally in Mobile, Alabama, another traditionally Republican-dominated state.
While political analysts speculate Trump’s blitz signals doom for the GOP in November, Luke Ball, who knows intimately the inner-workings of how the 47th president operates on the campaign trail, has a different view.
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«So, for people who are maybe commenting and doing it from a perspective of ‘the president’s in trouble,’ I think that it’s kind of a lazy analysis for you to just take it at surface value that he’s in red states,» Ball said.
He added that Texas and Oklahoma go «hand in hand,» and that the appearing in both places can boost Republican midterm turnout in November across swing district or more competitive districts found in some deep red states.
Though he admits the strategy is a «risk» for Trump, he says the month-long tour isn’t a fly-by-night operation.
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«They keep saying — and it’s a risk politically for the president — but they keep saying that he is on the ballot and on the top of the ballot, but the reason they’re doing it is because the RNC the MAGA Incs, and the James Blair’s of the world have the data that show who’s going to turn out for the president and nobody else,» said Ball.
MAGA Inc. is a Super PAC that poured more than $375 million into electing Trump in 2024, and is now backing Republican congressional candidates nationwide. James Blair was Trump’s 2024 campaign political director, and is now the White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
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«The next stop is in Mobile, Alabama, another media market that I worked in, which is going to encompass Pensacola, Florida — which always brings out the vote for the rest of the state,» Ball said. «So if you want to solidify your standing in Florida and show that you still are the kingmaker in that state that used to be purple a few years ago, and now Democrats don’t even bother spending in it, you’ve got to make sure that you lock that down.»
«So, great optics in Alabama, great optics in Oklahoma, but in addition to that, you’re getting a red area of Texas motivated to turn out and a very, very red area of Florida to turn out for those elections.»
Nationwide media coverage of the rallies is in itself part of the strategy, too.
«Other traditional candidates would strategically target and fine-tune the principal’s time in various states, but people were saying Trump wasn’t going to go out on the campaign trail at all, and now it’s the total opposite,» Ball explained. «It’s, ‘why is he doing so much? Why is he hitting all of these deep red states?’ It’s also from a perspective too, when you have these major rallies in Mobile, Alabama, or Oklahoma or deep red states across the nation, that still gets major national coverage.»
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In Denton, Trump toured a Peterbilt truck manufacturing plant, where he met with employees of the company and made brief remarks. Stops like that are part of a broader campaign strategy, according to Ball.
«When we were on the campaign trail, I remember [former co-campaign manager] Susie Wiles saying that at every stop he goes to, she wants him at an off the record event, whether that’s going into the Bluebird Diner in Iowa or eating a hoagie in Buc-ee’s or whatever it might be, and I almost see a little bit of parallel here with the macro strategy behind the tour,» he said.
Wiles is now Trump’s closely trusted White House Chief of Staff.
«Instead of popping into a mom and pop show or store, he’s touring manufacturing or he’s going to a specific industry in one state and then holding a rally that captures the media market in another. So you’re not just showing up and leaving,» Ball continued. «You always think about what’s the additional thing you can do to draw out voters in that state.»
politics, donald trump, midterm elections, fox news media, campaigning, texas, oklahoma, alabama
INTERNACIONAL
Hero FlyDubai pilot says he was ‘fighting for my life’ as plane plunged after copilot attack
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Capt. Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai pilot who heroically opened the plane’s cockpit door after being stabbed by his copilot in a mid-flight attack, told Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi he was fighting for his life before taking the heroic action.
«You are my biggest idol, and I am feeling very proud that you called me and encouraged me. I was fighting for my life in that moment,» he told Modi during a Friday phone call.
«It was a moment when I thought, because I had fallen on the floor, I was wounded and fell down. At that moment, I thought if I don’t get up, I’ve been flying for the last 17 years and I have been a captain for the last 11 years, and even if I shut my eyes, I can tell what is happening inside a plane. When I was lying on the floor, I could feel that the aircraft was plunging, and I said to myself while I was getting beaten, ‘This is the last push Smit, do it, the door is right there,’» he recalled.
«Somehow, I opened the door and everyone came in and everyone else had an equal role (in the rescue). I was trying to save myself, but I also knew that I can’t let anyone die,» he said.
FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD ‘THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,’ INDIA’S PM SAYS
A side-by-side image of Capt. Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai pilot who was stabbed in midair on Sept. 30, 2026, and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi during an Oct. 2, 2026, phone call between the pair. (Narendra Modi YouTube Channel via AP)
Machchhar’s ability to open the door allowed Israeli passengers on board to rush into the cockpit, incapacitate the copilot, and stabilize the quickly plummeting aircraft after it had plunged more than 14,000 feet in 30 seconds.
FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING
The heroic pilot, whose efforts have garnered praise from Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and numerous passengers on the flight, said he turned to his faith to get through the harrowing ordeal.
«Whenever I’m in pain, I know only one thing, I chant the Hanuman Chalisa. I know that God saved me,» Machchhar said.
FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD ‘THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,’ INDIA’S PM SAYS
Modi, in turn, told Machchhar that all of India was praying for him.
«Yesterday, prayers and chants were offered in all the temples and holy places, wishing for your long life, and we all are praying for your good health. You are going to be in good health very soon and India is very eager to welcome you,» Modi said.
Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi speaks to FlyDubai pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar during an Oct. 2, 2026, phone call. (Narendra Modi YouTube Channel via AP)
«People are chanting mantras. Your courage, patience, and presence of mind. You took a decision in a fraction of a second and saved the lives of so many people and today, the whole country can say this with pride — we Indians are not killers, we are lifesavers,» Modi said. «And you endured so many wounds on your body and you are fighting a battle of life and death. In that moment as well, you did not think of your life, rather thought about the lives of the passengers. And the biggest thing is you enhanced the honor of 1.4 billion Indians and that is why I am feeling proud from my heart.»
Machchhar was stabbed in the head and «his arm was basically split in two» during the attack, Netanyahu revealed to Fox News in a Thursday interview. But the pilot expressed hope that he would achieve a full recovery.
NETANYAHU PRAISES HEROIC BYSTANDER IN BLOODY COCKPIT ATTACK FOR PREVENTING ‘ANOTHER 9/11’
«I am not thinking about my wounds like typical wounds because that will hinder my recovery. I am taking these wounds like a journey which will progress slowly, and it will take time, but I am very confident that this recovery will happen, and I will be absolutely healthy,» he told Modi.
Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who allegedly was attacked on a FlyDubai plane heading to Israel on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Israel Foreign Ministry)
After being stabilized in Saudi Arabia, where a second flight crew on board the plane safely landed the plane, Machchhar was taken to a hospital in the UAE, where he is now recovering.
FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING
«I am fine and everything is all right,» he told Modi.
world, heroism, faith, benjamin netanyahu, saudi arabia
INTERNACIONAL
Socialist streamer Hasan Piker faces fury after pressuring Talarico to enact far-left policy if elected
Far-left streamer Hasan Piker is getting dragged online after calling for Texas Senate nominee James Talarico to «play ball» by governing as a leftist if elected in this year’s midterms.
Talarico, running to be the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas in more than three decades, has publicly realigned on some of his more radical stances and tried to campaign on a more moderate platform despite his previous comments.
But Piker, who has gained prominence through his relationship with socialist-aligned Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, appears to want Talarico to pull a bait-and-switch if he wins in November.
«Hopefully, after James Talarico wins, we’ve got to hold him to account,» Piker said during a campus event at the University of Texas at Austin. «We’ve got to make sure that he doesn’t become another, ‘do nothing Democrat’ ‘business as usual,’ and we’ve got to keep up that pressure.
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As his campaign has progressed, Talarico has rolled back on some of his controversial statements like his claim that «God is non-binary.» But he continues to back progressive policies like universal healthcare, arguing his beliefs stem from «biblical grounds.»
Piker’s recent remarks quickly became ammunition for Republicans. Talarico’s opponent, GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pounced, claiming that Piker is saying the quiet part out loud and showing the pressure Talarico could face from the party’s left flank if he were to ascend to the U.S. Senate representing the Lone Star State.
«James Talarico is bought and paid for by the Democratic Socialists,» Paxton posted in response to Piker’s comments on Talarico. «And if he wins, they’ll cash in at YOUR expense: raising your taxes and making life more expensive to pay for their radical agenda. Texas can’t afford Talarico.»
Ted Cruz said on X: «When they tell you who they are…believe them.»
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«James Talarico will be nothing more than a puppet of the radical left,» Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas posted.
Piker erupted in the left-wing party over the past couple years, most notably campaigning with El-Sayed. Democrats, including El-Sayed, are now distancing themselves from Piker after many of his controversial statements caught heat — like his claim that «America deserved 9/11.»
«Hasan ‘America Deserved 9/11’ Piker expects James Talarico would support his extreme agenda & be beholden to his base,» Political Analyst Guy Benson warned.
«He think he’s a mafia boss, and with the psychotic state of today’s Democrat party, he’s kinda right…» Dave Rubin posted.
New York City Council member Vickie Paladino said, «Hasan Piker says he’s the one actually in charge of the Democrat party.»
Piker’s comments, mixed with Talarico’s back-and-forth from progressive to moderate rhetoric, have sparked skepticism about the direction the Texas Democrat would take in governing if elected.
«Here we have Hasan Piker—an outspoken socialist, hater of Israel and opponent of capitalism — telling us exactly what he expects from James Talarico if elected,» one user posted. «He says, ‘We gotta remind [James] that we are the force that backed him…’ and got him elected and that we expect him to remember that and fall in line. Every Republican, Independent and even common-sense Democrat even thinking about voting for Talarico needs to see this and think deeply about it.»
«A huge reason not to vote for Talarico he has to answer to the Fascist wing of his party,» another posted. «No thanks.»
TALARICO SAYS HE ‘MISSED THE MARK’ AS HE BACKTRACKS ON CONTROVERSIAL WOKE STATEMENTS
Other users on social media argued Piker’s comments are irrelevant to Talarico’s campaign, and would not impact the agenda he would bring to the Senate if elected.
«Hasan needs to shut the hell up,» a X user named Adam Cochran posted. «He has nothing to do with Talarico’s campaign. Talarico’s campaign is the success of Talarico’s morals, policies and his hard working team’s outreach to the people of Texas.»
«What is Hasan even talking about,» another user posted. «Talarico isn’t DSA and doesn’t owe DSA anything. He will be a senator that represents Texans, not California Socialists like Hasan.»
Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.
hasan piker, politics, midterm elections, socialism, democrats elections, democratic party, senate
INTERNACIONAL
Murió a los cinco años Elis Lima Carneiro, una gemela brasileña con un caso único de progeria
Elis Lima Carneiro, de cinco años, murió tras luchar contra la progeria, una rara enfermedad que provoca envejecimiento acelerado. Junto a su hermana gemela, Eloá, ambas se convirtieron en un fenómeno en redes sociales, donde compartieron su día a día y visibilizaron la realidad de quienes conviven con síndromes poco frecuentes.
Las gemelas, consideradas las únicas en el mundo diagnosticadas con el síndrome de Hutchinson-Gilford, sumaron millones de seguidores en TikTok e Instagram.
Sus videos, que mostraban desde sus primeros pasos y palabras hasta momentos de juego, acumularon más de 970 millones de “me gusta”. Uno de sus videos acumula 144 millones de visualizaciones.
En el último video compartido en 2025, un año antes de la muerte de Elis, se las vio riendo y jugando con una muñeca de trapo. La frase que acompañaba la escena resumía su vínculo: “POV: tenés a alguien para compartir las cosas buenas de la vida”.
Una vida compartida y un mensaje de fortaleza
La familia de Elis y Eloá utilizó las redes para mostrar cómo transformaban la vulnerabilidad en fuerza.
Desde pequeñas, las gemelas compartieron todo: juegos, travesuras y hasta pequeñas “peleas” llenas de humor. En uno de los videos más populares, una de ellas impedía que la otra tomara un vaso, mientras en otro, Eloá se mostraba “fuerte” y hacía reír a su hermana.
A pesar de las dificultades que imponía la enfermedad, las niñas participaban en actividades cotidianas. Incluso en los momentos más difíciles, como exámenes médicos o internaciones, encontraban espacio para la risa y la complicidad.
La familia también se dedicó al activismo por la inclusión y la defensa de personas con enfermedades raras, mostrando que la infancia debía ser vivida plenamente, más allá de cualquier diagnóstico.
El recuerdo de Elis y el impacto de su historia
La noticia de la muerte de Elis fue comunicada por su hermano, Guilherme Lago, quien cuidaba de las gemelas.
“Hoy Elis descansa en el Señor. Es muy difícil porque no queríamos que esto sucediera, pero tampoco podemos ser egoístas. Creo que el Señor ha sido muy bueno con nosotros y estoy seguro de que la vida de Elis, su historia con nosotros, nos impactó a todos, y este no es el final. Hoy nos despedimos con mucho cariño”, dijo.
En un emotivo mensaje, destacó la fortaleza y el amor que rodearon a su hermana: “Elis fue muy fuerte, luchó mucho, nos sorprendió muchas veces y vivió rodeada de amor”.
Guilherme remarcó que el legado de Elis no está en cómo partió, sino en lo que enseñó durante sus cinco años de vida: “Enseñó sobre fuerza, coraje, amor y sobre valorar la vida todos los días. Tocó a muchas personas, dio visibilidad a las enfermedades raras y mostró que, aunque la vida sea corta, se puede dejar una historia inmensa”.
La madre de las gemelas, Eleismar Carneiro, la recordó como una nena “siempre sonriente, extrovertida” y llena de energía: “Elis era dulce, cariñosa, un poco gruñona y le encantaba jugar con autitos y no le gustaba compartir los juguetes con su hermana. No era miedosa, era algo traviesa y se reía por todo. Amaba las canciones infantiles y era encantadora”.
En mayo de 2026, las gemelas pasaron su cumpleaños separadas: mientras Eloá estaba internada, Elis permanecía en casa.
Qué es el síndrome de Hutchinson-Gilford
La progeria de Hutchinson-Gilford es una enfermedad genética extremadamente rara que acelera el envejecimiento alrededor de siete veces más rápido que lo normal, según explicó la neuropediatra Charlote Briglia al sitio g1.
Entre los síntomas se encuentran el bajo crecimiento, la pérdida de cabello, la falta de grasa y masa muscular, piel fina y sensible, venas visibles, voz aguda y rigidez articular. Además, puede afectar el sistema cardiovascular y provocar fragilidad ósea y problemas de nutrición.
“Los sistemas del organismo sufren las consecuencias de ese envejecimiento acelerado. La piel se vuelve más frágil y reacciona más al sol y la luz. El sistema cardiovascular se ve afectado antes de lo previsto para la edad”, detalló la especialista.
enfermedades raras, Brasil, Gemelas
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