As fires continue to rage across the Western coast of the United States, a record breaking 3 million acres have now burned across California. The Los Angeles Times reports that, “On Thursday, the August Complex — the product of 37 fires in and around Tehama County — became the largest ever recorded in California at 471,000 acres.” At least 23 people have died across California, Oregon, and Washington. In Oregon, at least half a million people are under evacuation orders. Gov. Kate Brown warned, “We have never seen this amount of uncontained fire across our state,” adding, “If you’re advised to evacuate, do so immediately. You may not get a second chance.” Several small towns including Phoenix, Talent, Detroit and Blue River in Oregon were nearly destroyed. Walden, Washington, and Berry Creek, California are also devastated. Meanwhile rumors began spreading on social media platforms about anti-fascist activist setting off fires as authorities quickly moved to quash them declaring them false. While scientists are in agreement that catastrophic climate change is to blame for the fires, the issue has hardly been raised during the presidential campaigns of the two major party candidates, less than two months ahead of the election. 

In other news, Friday marks the 19th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 attacks—an issue that both candidates are only too thrilled to raise as part of their campaigns. President Donald Trump traveled to Shanksville, Pennsylvania where the passengers of Flight 93 fought back against their hijackers before their plane crashed. Democratic Nominee Joe Biden traveled to New York where the Twin Towers were destroyed nearly 2 decades ago and then headed to Pennsylvania as well. Neither men acknowledged the mass death and displacement on the other side of the world that the post 9-11 U.S. wars brought in the decades since. 

In news from the election trail, the Trump campaign has pulled back from spending on television ads as its coffers are dangerously low. The move has worried many in the Republican Party that have thrown their lot behind Trump. Trump rallied in Freeland, Michigan on Thursday evening as thousands of red MAGA hat wearing Trump supporters thronged with no social distancing and very few masks. One New York Times reporter Kathy Gray, who tweeted about the lack of masks was tracked down by Trump’s security and kicked out of the rally after she posted her photos. A government official, Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health said he was