Today is a solemn Monday, the first anniversary of the heinous and demonic Hamas terrorist attack that saw 1,200 people slaughtered, including hundreds of children. Hundreds of others were taken captive — many of whom remain held in Gaza, including four Americans.

The first anniversary of October 7 is being met with prayer — and protests. Or should I say, celebrations from the genocidal, antisemitic forces on our college campuses and beyond that were invigorated by the blood of the slaughtered one year ago. We’ll discuss this in more detail on today’s serving of Al’s Afternoon Tea.

But first, let’s talk about Donald Trump’s triumphant return to Butler, Pennsylvania.

“As I Was Saying”

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump, with Elon Musk in tow, returned to the field in Butler, Pennsylvania where he very nearly lost his life less than three months ago. He opened with the words, “As I was saying … “ before offering a touching tribute to fireman Corey Comperatore, who lost his life in the assassination attempt, and the two other supporters who were seriously wounded.

At precisely 6:11 p.m., the time of the shooting, Trump paused to lead a moment of silence, followed by a tear-inducing performance of “Ave Maria” from opera singer Christopher Macchio.  

WOW. President Trump timed his speech so that at exactly 6:11pm ET, the very minute the shots rang out in Butler, PA 12 weeks ago killing Corey Comperatore, President Trump asks for a moment of silence followed by the singing of Ave Maria.

Chills. pic.twitter.com/loXf50pZfr

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 5, 2024

The speech, attended by a massive crowd of at least 60,000 people, went from the somber to the stoked when Trump brought out a pumped Elon Musk. Musk repeatedly implored those watching on TV to register to vote. If they don’t vote, he warned, “This will be the last election.”

Full video and transcript of Elon Musk's speech at Donald Trump's rally a few hours ago.

"Hi, everyone. As you can see I'm not just MAGA. I'm dark MAGA. First of all, I want to say what an honor it is to be here

You know, the true test of someone's character is how they behave… pic.twitter.com/azOTPaCLAz

— ELON DOCS (@elon_docs) October 6, 2024

“Vote! Vote! Vote! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The rally ended with Macchio returning for a few numbers, including a chilling rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”

🎶 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds thy hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my… pic.twitter.com/Nwcwol53iD

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 6, 2024

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was appearing on “Call Her Daddy,” a podcast known for its graphic talk about sex. More on that with Al’s Afternoon Tea. 

The Unconscionable Response of Kamala Harris and the Administration to the Horrors of Helene

While Donald Trump was demonstrating the astounding resilience of the American spirit, Kamala Harris was spitting in the eye of those suffering in the American Southeast.

On Thursday, she offered those impacted by Hurricane Helen the insulting pittance of $750 apiece. For two days, Harris was hammered for this because FEMA has doled out more than $640 million this year to illegal immigrants. So what did she do?

On Saturday evening, Harris boasted on X that her administration is now giving out an additional $157 million — but not to the citizens of North Carolina. She’s sending it to Lebanon.

Lebanon?! Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon?! The Hezbollah that has been raining missiles down on Israel and is now facing the consequences for that? Yup. 

The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there.

To that end, the United States will provide…

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 5, 2024

Is Harris really that tone-deaf and callous? While she may have proven that repeatedly, in this case, something more is going on. After all, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had already announced the $157 million in aid for Lebanon, incidentally, right around the time Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a whopping $2 million for South Carolina. So why would Harris feel the need to announce the Lebanon aid package, knowing the heat and heartache that would bring?

She did it because she’s losing in Michigan. You don’t boast about shelling out a huge amount of money to Hezbollah’s home turf unless you want to kindle favor with the anti-Israel hordes that make up a significant part of her base in Michigan, which has recently been turning its back on Harris. (Fox News reported Sunday that Muslims in the swing state of Georgia are also upset at Harris.)

Our only conclusion: She cares more about votes in Michigan than she does lives in Appalachia.

And heaven knows her administration cares more about Ukraine than they ever will us. As power grids remain wrecked through a wide swath of the Southeast, Biden official Samantha Powers released a video bragging about how the administration is helping to keep the lights on in Ukraine.

How Americans are helping Ukraine keep the lights and heat on despite Putin's attacks: pic.twitter.com/29f1AxpgR7

— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) October 4, 2024

For something even more grating, guess how Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas, who overseas FEMA, spent his Saturday? Working tirelessly in the region hit by the hurricane? Coordinating federal, state, local, and private emergency relief efforts? Rolling his own sleeves up to distribute food and water?

No. He was shopping at the ritzy Sid Mashburn men’s clothier in the District of Columbia.

For context about all the FEMA stuff, I saw Alejandro Mayorkas this afternoon at Sid Mashburn, which is the second time I’ve seen him there on a Saturday afternoon in about a month. So, suffice to say, the guy isn’t working around the clock pic.twitter.com/NC5yNzikET

— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) October 5, 2024

When the going gets tough, the inept and corrupt go shopping. 

Clueless FEMA and a Heartless Political Calculation

Harris has another reason to be okay with the sloth-like federal response to those in need in western North Carolina, Georgia, and elsewhere: cold political calculation. Obama advisor David Axlerod said the quiet part out loud over the weekend, noting that Democratic voters in liberal, “upscale” Asheville will likely “figure out a way to vote.” The poorer Republicans in the ravaged mountains will not. In a swing state as tight as North Carolina, that could make the difference in the election, as well as in Georgia. Politico pointed out.

Will North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper work to ensure the election deadline is extended for those hard-struck counties? And how soon do you think Harris surrogates will file a lawsuit if he tries to do that?

Meanwhile, as the regime media insists the federal recovery efforts have been fab, heartbreaking and infuriating stories continue pouring in from the ground detailing the way FEMA has actually been slowing down civilian recovery efforts. For example, only after feeling the heat from Elon Musk did Buttigieg make it easier for civilians to operate helicopters in the region.

Glenn Beck and Rep. Cory Mills interviewed a couple of FEMA agents who had quietly set up shop in Asheville — a week after the storm hit.

.@CoryMillsFL and I spoke with the ONLY FEMA crew we could find in Asheville, North Carolina. It was stationed OFF the main road where NO Hurricane Helene victims could easily see them:

“We got here yesterday.”
A WEEK LATE.

“They could go online, make a phone call, or use our… pic.twitter.com/IU5I6KAL5r

— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) October 4, 2024

Whoever said the exchange sounds like a Monty Python skit was spot on.

My Big Sister: Follow the Money

My sister Dodie spent decades fighting the Deep State bureaucracy while at the Pentagon. She suggested we follow the money to figure out why all this is happening.

My take: Biden/Harris admin promised their buddies Emergency Relief contracts.  An emergency takes place (Joe Bastardi predicted “flooding of Biblical proportions” 5 days ahead of the storm hitting). Biden/Harris’ corrupt DHS and Dept of Transportation say:  “OK, time to get these contracts signed so our friends can make billions off this Hurricane.” Govt is slow even with the best POTUS on earth. They finally got FEMA people in place. Contracts are signed to do job with FEMA. The civilians who have been doing the job and doing it well are now being told to stand down, so that corrupt political friends can move in.  A competent govt would have govt (when they finally show up) working with the civilian folks on the ground doing the heavy work until the govt can take over and give the good guys a rest.

That’s the one-minute tutorial on how the govt works.

The Fighting Spirit

With all the headaches and heartache, we can be encouraged by the fighting, can-do, spirit of the Appalachian people. A fellow calling himself @austerrewyatt1 posted on X:

“The Devil whispered, ‘This storm will destroy you all.’

The Appalachian people whispered back, ‘It’s “y’all,” and we are the storm.’”

Along the Stream: 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer for the Election

As we continue offering guides to help you pray for breakthrough in these final days before the election, check out “Praying for National Deliverance from Deceptive Spirits” from Intercessors for America. Later this week, we’ll have a powerful collection of thoughts from Stream Publisher James Robison that corresponds with that theme.

In the meantime, if you’re new to fasting, it’s not too late to start. Check out the short film from Shane Idleman,  “Transformed by Fasting: One Pastor’s 40-Day Fasting Journey.”

Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.