Kamala Harris went into the first round of the presidential debate like a seasoned campaigner, dodging questions about her past and aiming her attacks with precision. But when she took aim at Donald Trump, she didn’t hold back. From jibes about his chaotic time in office to mocking his dwindling attendance at campaign rallies and his financial failures, Harris delivered a barrage of blows designed to rattle him. With an immediate endorsement from pop star Taylor Swift, Harris appears to be gaining momentum while Trump is dealing with the fallout.

1) General Harris wins round 1

She ducked, she dodged, and she dodged questions about her policy reversals and her dubious record in office. In between, Kamala Harris took sharp jabs at Donald Trump, reminding American voters not only of his chaotic years in office but also of his ego-torturing. She said world leaders and U.S. generals thought he was a “disgrace,” she mocked him for people leaving his rallies, and she derided him for his inherited wealth, his poor business record, and his bankruptcies. Read more.

2) The Zingers and Memes

Following the debate, Harris received significant support when pop icon Taylor Swift publicly endorsed her and her vice president. Tim Walzto her 283 million Instagram followers. Swift’s post garnered 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 and accused him of boring attendees, provoking Trump to boast about the size of his events before making an unsubstantiated claim about Haitian immigrants. Here are the best witty remarks and memes.

3) Traders support Harris

Traders are pulling back more bets linked to a Donald Trump victory in the White House after he suffered what many pundits called a defeat in last night’s crucial debate with rival Kamala Harris. Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp plunged 14% and bitcoin, a prized asset of the former president, edged lower. A Bloomberg index for the dollar fell as much as 0.3% before recovering. A strong dollar is increasingly associated with Trump as he plans to punish countries that move away from the currency. Read more.

4) Single cat ladies for Harris

After watching the debate, Swift explained that a fake AI version of her support for Donald Trump prompted her to voice her opinion. She wrote, “This made me realize that as a voter, I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election. The easiest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.” She continued, “I did my research and made my choice. Your research is entirely yours, and the decision is yours. I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: remember that you must be registered to vote! I also find it much easier to vote early. I will post links in my story about where to register and find dates and information on early voting.” Read more.

5) Republicans say 3 against 1

The recent debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked controversy among Republicans, with many claiming it was an unfair “3 on 1” battle. The criticism stems from allegations that moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News were biased, frequently fact-checking Trump’s statements while being lenient toward Harris. Republicans felt that Trump was pitted not only against Harris but also against the moderators, making the debate uneven. Read more.

6) Meet Benjamin Button

Taylor first met Benjamin on the set of the “ME!” music video and was instantly smitten with him. The cat’s owner described Benjamin as a “purr box” due to his constant purring, and after forming a bond 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 smitten with Benjamin, and throughout the shoot, Taylor expressed how much she loved the kitten, often reflecting on how the video marked the first moment they met. Read more.

7) Trump attacks Swift

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

8) Make America a cat again

As future generations watch the 2024 US presidential debate, they will wonder how the cat became such a major issue 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 cat 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 the MAGA crowd has ever concocted to thank. Read more.

9) Kamala Harris owns a gun

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

10) Chinese social media plays a role

The heated exchanges of the debate drew widespread attention in China, especially after Trump’s baseless claim that Harris was a “Marxist.” One user provocatively asked, “Is this a contest of who is more loyal to the (Communist) Party?” Another post reflected the heated atmosphere, describing the debate as a “match full of gunpowder.” Read more.