NEWS AND OPINION:

Rep. Elise Stefanik has scored a significant victory for a historic site.

“I am so excited to announce that my office has worked to deliver $750,000 from the National Park Service Semiquincentennial Grant Program to Fort Ticonderoga for the reconstruction of the fort walls. This is incredible news for our region,” the New York Republican said in a statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

The fort went into operation in 1755 at the confluence of Lake Champlain and Lake George. Find its significant and complicated history at FortTiconderoga.org.

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Ms. Stefanik, meanwhile, currently serves as co-chair of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus, which monitors the upkeep and preservation of historic sites. She also was awarded the National Preservation Leadership Award from the American Battlefield Trust for her leadership on battlefield preservation in 2023.

Ms. Stefanik introduced bipartisan legislation in November — the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act — which passed the House of Representatives unanimously. This legislation makes improvements to the American Battlefield Protection Program and would allow non-profits such as Fort Ticonderoga to apply for ABPP Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants directly.

ARIZONA BOUND

The reelection campaign of former President Donald Trump never appears to slow down.

Mr. Trump heads for Glendale, Arizona, on Friday for another jumbo rally, this one to be staged at the Desert Diamond Arena, which comfortably seats 20,000.

Mr. Trump’s visit to the state includes a tour of the Arizona-Mexico border. It is of note that his running mate J.D. Vance visited the region himself on Aug. 1.

BILL O’REILLY ON THE MOVE

It’s been seven years since news anchorman Bill O’Reilly left Fox News. He’s been busy ever since, according to one industry source.

“O’Reilly has been flourishing as an author, entrepreneur, and independent talk media personality. He continues to turn out chart topping best-seller books – his latest title: Confronting the Presidents (St. Martin’s Press 2024) – and his website BillOReilly.com has proven to be a formidable platform housing a variety of his programs, properties, and projects,” notes Talkers.com, a news site tracking talk radio and broadcast trends.

Mr. O’Reilly has made an impression.

“His digital video show ’No Spin News’ is the talk media centerpiece of his sprawling empire consisting of internet and radio shows and he makes non-stop widely-consumed guest appearances on other personalities’ shows which continue to raise his profile and promote his various enterprises,” the Talkers report said.

“The metrics for his shows are stunning. His total combined internet views for July 2024: 26 million. YouTube views: 20 million. Podcast feed: five million downloads. From June 1 to August 18, 2024: 43 million views on YouTube,” the report noted.

“His show is seen on Direct TV, The First TV, Pluto, U-Verse, Roku, as well as on Apple and Amazon TV apps. @BillOReilly has 3.3 million followers on X; 2.4 million followers on Facebook. Approximately 300 radio stations carry No Spin News including its flagship WABC, New York,” the report noted.

Mr. O’Reilly’s podcast and social media presence have drawn “millions” of views, it also noted.

“The new media world is here. Corporate domination is receding fast. Survival of the fittest in cyberspace. My operation is up for it,” Mr. O’Reilly told Talkers.

THE GETAWAY

Need to get out of town for a while? Consider National Trust Tours, which is actually a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Guests are accompanied by educational and cultural experts; the many itineraries cover destinations in the U.S. and North America, along with Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Central and South America, and Europe. They include river, rail, ocean and even private jet voyages.

“Where do you dream of going?” the organization asks prospective travelers.

Those who want to stay on U.S. shores can consult “Closer to Home” journeys — like a cruise of the Great Lakes or the Hudson River. Here’s where to find the details: nationaltrusttours.com.

THE HORSE RACE CONTINUES

“Former President Donald Trump still leads Vice President Kamala Harris, but the Democrat continues closing the gap,” advises Rasmussen Reports. The pollster has some numbers for us.

“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, in a two-way matchup, 49% of likely U.S. voters would vote for Trump, while 46% would vote for Harris. Two percent (2%) say they’d vote for some other candidate and another two percent (2%) are undecided,” the pollster said in a statement.

The survey of 1,893 registered U.S. voters was conducted Aug. 15 and Aug. 18-21 and released Thursday.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

For sale: Contemporary, modernist-style home built in 1978 on 12 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean and coastline in Malibu, Calif. Includes two-story, 3,092-square-foot primary residence plus guest house and art studio; open floor plan throughout. Four bedrooms, four baths; natural wood, concrete and stone interior, plus atrium, fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, formal dining room, state-of-the-art kitchen, loft and office. The property includes an in-ground pool, pool house, garage and parking for 12 vehicles. It also includes landscaped gardens plus avocado, citrus, guava and apricot trees. Priced at $7.3 million through Compass.com; enter MLS number 24-415963 in the search function.

POLL DU JOUR

• 45% of U.S. adults think Vice President Kamala Harris has the temperament to be U.S. president; 91% of Democrats, 36% of independents and 7% of Republicans agree.

• 68% of Blacks, 47% of Hispanics and 41% of Whites also agree. 47% of women and 44% of men also agree.

• 42% overall think Ms. Harris does not have the temperament to be president; 4% of Democrats, 38% of independents and 87% of Republicans agree.

• 18% of Blacks, 32% of Hispanics and 49% of Whites also agree. 39% of women and 45% of men also agree.

• 12% overall are not sure about the issue; 6% of Democrats, 26% of independents and 5% of Republicans agree.

• 14% of Blacks, 21% of Hispanics and 10% of Whites also agree. 14% of women and 10% of men also agree.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,565 U.S. adults conducted online Aug. 17-20.

• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com. Follow her on X @HarperBUlletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.