A debate with bad blood

But first, the candidates are taking the stage.

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The big story

Under my skin

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump sure made the most of their first time together.

The vice president and former president squared off in a wide-ranging discussion that touched on everything from the economy to immigration to foreign policy. Here’s a rundown of the biggest moments from the night.

However, a key exchange during the debate wasn’t about either candidate’s policies. When discussing immigration, Harris took a shot at Trump’s rallies, saying that people leave them early “out of exhaustion and boredom.”

Trump seemed rattled by the jab, which Jon Stewart described as an attack on “Trump’s most cherished family member.” Trump responded with his own attack about Harris’ rallies, but his demeanor also took a noticeable turn for the remainder of the debate.

Ultimately, Harris’ strategy of baiting Trump to get strong reactions out of him and throw him off his game seemed to work, writes Business Insider’s Brent D. Griffiths.

However, Trump supporters quickly criticized ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis for what they described as a “3-on-1 debate,” citing their fact-checking of some of Trump’s statements but none of Harris’ comments.

It wasn’t just about Harris trying to get under Trump’s skin.

Another big topic of the night was abortion. Harris made clear her intention to restore Roe v. Wade if she were to win the White House and pressed Trump on if he’d support a national abortion ban.

And while the two candidates basically don’t agree on anything, Harris took one page out of Trump’s book. The vice president had some noticeable facial expressions during the debate, something the former president has been known for.

To be clear, the debate likely won’t change the mind of a good chunk of voters — but even Elon Musk said that Harris’ performance “exceeded most people’s expectations.” (He still thinks Trump will do a “far better job,” though.)

In a race as tight as this one, it might not take much to swing the election one way or another.

Which is why it might not be the last time we see these two on stage together. The Harris campaign said following the debate the vice president would participate in another one in October.

One debate, however, was enough for one very influential potential voter. Shortly after the debate, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris in a post on Instagram — and it took just one hour for the Harris-Walz campaign to start selling friendship bracelets.

News brief

Top headlines

3 things in markets

1. Jamie Dimon’s top priority: finding his replacement. The JPMorgan boss is extremely focused on finding a successor to lead the bank, as his name’s been floated by both Harris and Trump for a spot in the White House.
2. Goldman Sachs sees greenlights for the bull market. Yes, macro and policy uncertainty pose some risk to stocks. But the bank is still optimistic that the chance of a bear market returning are low.
3. Apple to $4 trillion? Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes the tech giant’s market cap could reach $4 trillion next year after getting a look at the iPhone 16’s AI features. “Apple launching AI coupled by a massive pent up upgrade cycle is creating this new era of iPhone growth,” Ives said.

3 things in tech

1. How to succeed on TikTok and YouTube without really trying. AI startups are pitching a new passive-income side hustle: revenue-generating automated videos for YouTube and TikTok. They may clog up social media with even more generic AI videos.
2. Apple just made geriatric tech a whole lot cooler. The new AirPods 2 will soon be able to serve as a hearing aid, a move that could cut both costs and stigma associated with hearing loss.
3. EV infrastructure is improving, but drivers still won’t switch. Despite improvements in electric-vehicle range and expansion of charging infrastructure, the EV industry can’t entice potential new buyers. Hybrids are still the top choice for green-car enthusiasts.

3 things in business

1. How Megabus went mega-bust. Millennials’ once and former favorite budget travel option hit a bump in the road in the mid-2010s when the bus market slowed. Throw in an ill-timed private equity buyout and a pandemic, and those blue double-deckers became a thing of the past. (The rest of the intercity bus industry isn’t doing too hot, either.)
2. Costco’s app finally got a key upgrade for shoppers. The wholesaler has been quietly rolling out a new feature on its app and website that lets shoppers check a product’s in-store availability. Find out if an item is in stock near you.
3. Work meeting anxiety is real. Here’s where it comes from — and how to beat it. Confidence and speaking up are key to career advancement, and not doing so can hold you back. A career expert shared key strategies to beat the nerves.

In other news

What’s happening today

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the UK Foreign Minister meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine.
• The MTV Music Video Awards, hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, airs on MTV.
• Monthly CPI data is released.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.