Kamala Harris entered the first round of the presidential debate like a seasoned fighter, dodging questions about her past and weaving through attacks with precision. But when she took aim at Donald Trump, she didn’t hold back. From jabs at his chaotic tenure to mocking his dwindling rally crowds and financial failures, Harris unleashed a barrage of blows designed to shatter his composure. With the support of pop star Taylor Swift immediately following, Harris appears to be gaining momentum as Trump grapples with the fallout.

1) General Harris wins round 1

She ducked, weaved and danced around questions about her policy flip-flops and sketchy record in office. In between, Kamala Harris slammed Donald Trump, reminding American voters not only of his chaotic years in office but also torturing his ego. She said world leaders and American generals considered him a “disgrace,” teased him about people walking out of his rallies and mocked him for his inherited fortune, his poor business record and his bankruptcies. Read more.

2) The Singers and Memes

After the debate, Harris received a major boost when pop icon Taylor Swift publicly endorsed her and her running mate, Tim Walzto her 283 million Instagram followers. Swift’s post received nearly 2 million likes in just 25 minutes. Harris, 59, a former prosecutor, repeatedly pressed Trump, 78, who responded with visibly frustrated and false claims. In one exchange, Harris mocked Trump’s campaign rallies, accusing him of boring attendees, prompting Trump to brag about the size of his events before making an unsubstantiated claim about Haitian immigrants. Here are the best zingers and memes.

3) Traders back Harris

Traders are further paring bets on Donald Trump’s White House victory after he suffered what many experts called a resounding defeat in last night’s pivotal debate with rival Kamala Harris. Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp fell 14% and Bitcoin, an asset embraced by the former president, fell slightly. A Bloomberg gauge of the dollar fell as much as 0.3% before recovering. A strong dollar has been somewhat associated with Trump, given his plan to punish countries that abandon the currency. Read more.

4) Single Cat Ladies for Harris

After watching the debate, Swift explained that a fake AI version of her endorsement for Donald Trump prompted her to speak out, writing, “It made me realize that I need to be very transparent about my true plans for this election as a voter. The easiest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.” She continued, “I did my research and I made my choice. Your research is entirely yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: remember that you have to be registered to vote! I also find it much easier to vote early. I will link in my story where you can register and where you can find early voting dates and information.” Read more.

5) Republicans say 3 to 1

The recent debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has generated controversy among Republicans, with many claiming it was an unfair “3 vs. 1” fight. The criticism stems from allegations that the moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News, were biased and frequently fact-checked Trump while being lenient toward Harris. Republicans felt that Trump not only took a dig at Harris, but also at the moderators, making for an uneven debate. Read more.

6) Meet Benjamin Button

Taylor first met Benjamin on the set of the “ME!” music video and took an instant liking to him. The cat’s owner described Benjamin as a “purr box” due to his constant purring, and after bonding with him, Taylor asked if she could adopt him. The owner confirmed that Benjamin was available, and Taylor knew she wanted to take him home. Brendon Urie was equally enamored with Benjamin, and during filming, Taylor expressed how much she loved the kitty, often reminiscing about how the video marked the first time they met. Read more.

7) Trump attacks Swift

Former President Donald Trump dismissed Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, saying he actually prefers Brittany Mahomes. Read more.

8) Make America Cat Again

When future generations watch the 2024 U.S. presidential debate, they will wonder how the feline became such a prominent topic during, before, and after the debate. Not since ancient Egypt, where cats were worshipped and the goddess Bastet is depicted with a cat’s head, has the feline been so central to the country’s politics. For that, we have Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the most bizarre anti-immigrant rumor concocted by the MAGA mob. Read more .

9) Kamala Harris owns a gun

An old clip of Vice President Kamala Harris discussing her support for an assault rifle buyback program was widely shared by MAGA supporters after her fiery debate with Donald Trump, in which she claimed to be a “gun owner.” The video shows Harris advocating for an assault rifle buyback, citing public safety concerns. Read more.

10) Chinese social media weigh in

The heated exchanges in the debate drew widespread attention in China, particularly after Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that Harris is a “Marxist.” One user provocatively asked: “Is this a contest of who is most loyal to the (communist) party?” Another post reflected the charged atmosphere, describing the debate as a “gunpowder contest.” Read more.