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Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has come under the scrutiny of the Secret Service due to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40870646/elon-musk-comments-on-why-they-want-to-kill-trump-desantis-promises-floridas-own-probe">contentious social media post</a> involving President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
What Happened: The Secret Service is investigating a post by Musk in which he questioned why there were no assassination attempts on Biden or Harris. The agency refrained from revealing any details about the investigation, citing it as an &#8220;enforcement proceeding,&#8221; <a href="http:// 
<h2&gt;Elon Musk's Controversial Post Sparks Secret Service Investigation</h2&gt; <p&gt;In a recent development, <b&gt;Elon Musk</b&gt;, the CEO of <b&gt;Tesla Inc.</b&gt; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</h2&gt;elon></a>), has come under the scrutiny of the Secret Service due to a contentious social media post involving President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
<p&gt;<b&gt;What Happened</b&gt;: According to a <a href=&quot;https://www.businessinsider.com/secret-service-elon-musk-investigation-tweet-biden-kamala-assassination-2024-9&quot;&gt;Business Insider</a&gt; report on Sunday, the Secret Service is investigating a post by Musk in which he questioned why there were no assassination attempts on Biden or Harris. The agency refrained from revealing any details about the investigation, citing it as an &quot;enforcement proceeding.&quot;</p&gt; <p&gt;Musk's controversial post was in response to a user who asked why there were attempts on the life of former President Donald Trump. Musk later took down his post, attributing it to a misunderstood sense of humor.</p&gt; <p&gt;<i&gt;See Also: <a href=&quot;https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40911991/hillary-clinton-compares-melania-trump-to-the-little-kid-at-a-birthday-party-who-doesnt-know-anyone?itm_source=parsely-api&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Hillary Clinton Compares Melania Trump To 'The Little Kid At A Birthday Party Who Doesn't Know Anyone' In</a&gt;</i&gt;</p&gt;<p&gt;Spokesperson for the Secret Service, Melissa McKenzie, stated, <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;&quot;The Secret Service is aware</span&gt; <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;of the social media post</span&gt; <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;made by Elon Musk and</span&gt; <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;as a matter of practice,</span&gt; <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;we do not comment on</span&gt; matters involving protective intelligence.&quot; She further added that the agency <span style=&quot;color:#FF0000&quot;&gt;investigates all threats related to</span&gt; their protectees.</p&gt; <p&gt;It is important to note that Musk, who is a known supporter of Trump, has previously highlighted the former president's survival of an assassination attempt. Musk endorsed Trump following a near-miss shooting incident in July.</p&gt; <p&gt;The White House has denounced Musk's post, describing it as irresponsible rhetoric that should never be encouraged or joked about.</p&gt; <p&gt;<b&gt;Why It Matters</b&gt;: This controversy comes in the wake of a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, as reported by <a href=&quot;https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40870646/elon-musk-comments-on-why-they-want-to-kill-trump-desantis-promises-floridas-own-probe&quot;&gt;Benzinga</a&gt;. Musk's contentious post was made shortly after this incident, sparking a wave of backlash and criticism, including from the White House, as per <a href=&quot;https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40890277/elon-musk-says-his-now-deleted-controversial-post-after-latest-trump-assassination-which-was-labeled&quot;&gt;Benzinga</a&gt;. The Tesla CEO later removed the post, claiming it was a joke that was misunderstood due to lack of context. The Secret Service's investigation into Musk's post underscores the seriousness of such comments, even when made in jest.</p&gt;<p&gt;<i&gt;Read Next: <a href=&quot;https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40931458/obama-era-economist-says-she-is-pleasantly-surprised-that-jd-vance-thinks-the-economy-is-too-strong?itm_source=parsely-api&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Obama-Era Economist Says She Is 'Pleasantly Surprised' That JD Vance Thinks The 'Economy Is Too Strong Fo</a&gt;</i&gt;</p&gt;">reported Business Insider.</p&gt;<b&gt;what>
Musk&#8217;s controversial post was in response to a user who asked why there were attempts on the life of former President Donald Trump. Musk later took down his post, attributing it to a misunderstood sense of humor.
A Spokesperson for the Secret Service, Melissa McKenzie, stated, &#8220;The Secret Service is aware of the social media post made by Elon Musk and as a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters involving protective intelligence.&#8221; She further added that the agency investigates all threats related to their protectees.
It is important to note that Musk, who is a known supporter of Trump, has previously highlighted the former president&#8217;s survival of an assassination attempt. Musk endorsed Trump following a near-miss shooting incident in July.
The White House has denounced Musk&#8217;s post, describing it as irresponsible rhetoric that should never be encouraged or joked about.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40911991/hillary-clinton-compares-melania-trump-to-the-little-kid-at-a-birthday-party-who-doesnt-know-anyone?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hillary Clinton Compares Melania Trump To &#8216;The Little Kid At A Birthday Party Who Doesn&#8217;t Know Anyone&#8217; In Her Latest Book</a>
Why It Matters: This controversy comes in the wake of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40869836/donald-trump-safe-and-unharmed-after-shooting-incident-at-florida-golf-club">second assassination attempt</a> on Trump. Musk&#8217;s contentious post was made shortly after this incident, sparking a wave of backlash and criticism, including from the White House, as per Benzinga. 
The Tesla CEO later <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40890277/elon-musk-says-his-now-deleted-controversial-post-after-latest-trump-assassination-which-was-labeled">removed the post</a>, claiming it was a joke that was misunderstood due to lack of context. He wrote on X, &#8220;Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don&#8217;t know the context and the delivery is plain text."
In a separate post, Musk said that he had learned the lesson that &#8220;just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X.&#8221;
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>
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'The Secret Service Is Aware Of The Social Media Post Made By Elon Musk,' Says Law Enforcement Agency

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Millions of Americans face tougher times managing their bills as inflation bites. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 40% of consumers say it&#8217;s getting &#8220;somewhat&#8221; to &#8220;very difficult&#8221; to cover their monthly expenses.&nbsp;
This struggle is set to deepen with the return of student loan payments, which paused for years during the pandemic. Add to that the cost of summer child care and vacations and it's no wonder many are feeling the heat. But there's one payment you can't afford to put on the back burner: your student loans.
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Financial expert <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40304035/suze-orman-says-ignoring-this-will-ruin-your-investment-future-heres-what-you-must-do-now-to-sec">Suze Orman</a>, host of the popular &#8220;Women &amp; Money&#8221; podcast, warns that skipping student loan payments is not an option. "It should be a priority," she said.
Pushing student loans aside with everything else on your plate might be tempting, but ignoring them could land you in hot water. The restart of these payments in fall 2023 has forced many people to figure out how to squeeze them back into already-tight budgets. However, Orman stresses that this is one bill you can't sweep under the rug.
Trending: Founder of Personal Capital and ex-CEO of PayPal<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/evergreen-money"> re-engineers traditional banking with this new high-yield account — start saving better today.</a>
Orman offers practical advice for those overwhelmed: &#8220;Make a plan or a budget that works so you can pay [your student loans] each month.&#8221; Her suggestion? Start by trimming the fat from your spending.&nbsp;
&#8220;Give up eating out or other unnecessary expenses so you can start making your payments,&#8221; she advises. Cutting back on indulgences can free up the cash needed to keep up with loan payments and it's a simple step toward regaining control over your finances.
Trending: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/miami-take-new-yorks-place-financial-capital"> Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible.</a>
The silver lining is that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40879305/the-22-6-trillion-crisis-neither-harris-nor-trump-mentioned-but-its-the-top-concern-for-millions">Biden </a>administration has rolled out a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This plan could offer significant relief to borrowers, especially those on the lower end of the income scale.
According to the Department of Education, single borrowers earning $32,800 or less and families of four earning $67,500 or less won't need to make any payments at all. Even those earning more will see some savings – at least $1,000 annually compared to older IDR plans.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/irs-finalizes-10-year-rule-adv">IRS Finalizes 10-Year Rule For Retirement Withdrawals, Making Things &#8216;Even More Insanely Complicated&#8217;</a>
"With the new guidelines, many people's payments will be cut in half," Orman explained. This makes it much more manageable to stay on top of those monthly payments, reducing the risk of falling behind. For borrowers feeling stretched thin, this adjustment might just be their lifeline.
There's no sugarcoating it – budgeting for loan payments can feel like a juggling act. But as Orman points out, it's a necessity. &#8220;People need to remember not to put off paying your student loans. It's not going away; it should be the first monthly bill you pay. You can't bankrupt your student loan.&#8221;
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Personal Finance

Suze Orman Says Missing This One Crucial Monthly Payment Could Cost You Big – Here's The First Bill You Should Never Ignore

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $48.

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Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Portland Gen Electric with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $48

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo initiates coverage on Dominion Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $58.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Dominion Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $58

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $107.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On American Electric Power with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $107

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Southern (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $94.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Southern with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $94

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Idacorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDA#NYSE">IDA</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $110.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Idacorp with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $110

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on WEC Energy Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEC#NYSE">WEC</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $102.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On WEC Energy Group with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $102

The head-to-head matchup between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris could come down to how several swing states fall in the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election"> 2024 presidential election.</a>
A new poll shows which candidate is making up ground in the key seven states.
What Happened: Harris has been trending up <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/09/40910999/trump-in-trouble-vice-president-harris-has-record-6-point-lead-in-2024-election-poll-after-debat">in 2024 election polls</a> of nationally registered voters, posting her largest lead in the weekly Morning Consult poll this week in the head-to-head matchup.
A new poll of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/swing-states">swing state</a> voters, which covers seven key battleground states, could show a different picture.
Here are the results from the September Emerson College swing state <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/september-2024-swing-state-polls-trump-and-harris-locked-in-tight-presidential-race/">polls </a>with the results from August in parentheses:
<ul>
<li>Arizona: Trump 49% (50%), Harris 48% (47%)</li>
<li>Georgia: Trump 50% (48%), Harris 47% (49%)</li>
<li>Michigan: Harris 49% (50%), Trump 47% (47%)</li>
<li>Nevada: Trump 48% (48%), Harris 48% (49%)</li>
<li>North Carolina: Harris 49% (48%), Trump 48% (49%)</li>
<li>Pennsylvania: Trump 48% (48%), Harris 47% (48%)</li>
<li>Wisconsin: Trump 49% (49%), Harris 48% (48%)</li>
</ul>
The results show that Trump leads Harris in four of the seven states and is tied with the vice president in one state. Harris leads Trump in two states. Each candidate led three states in the August poll.
Trump gained support in one state and lost support in two states, with four states remaining the same from August. Harris gained support in two states and lost support in four states.
"There has been marginal movement in the presidential election since the late August Emerson swing state polls before the presidential debate," Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said. 
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent091924">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: The seven swing states in question together represent 93 electoral votes in the 2024 election. Six of the seven states above were won by Biden in the 2020 election with Trump winning North Carolina. Several of the states were flipped from Trump's win in the 2016 election.
A Marist poll recently found how swing state voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin would vote in the 2024 election if it were held today. The race for Pennsylvania and Wisconsin was close with Trump and Harris tied in Pennsylvania and Harris leading by one point in Wisconsin.
In the state of Michigan, Harris had a five-point lead over Trump.
The three states together represent 44 electoral votes and could prove important in the 2024 election. Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to sweep the three states since Ronald Reagan in 1984, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/09/19/us-news/trump-harris-neck-and-neck-among-likely-voters-in-pennsylvania-and-wisconsin-veep-up-5-in-michigan-polls/">according </a>to the New York Post. Biden won all three of the states in the 2020 election.
All seven swing states see voters pick the economy as the top issue ahead of the election. Immigration, threats to democracy and housing affordability are also top voter issues in swing states.
With less than two months until the 2024 election, the race between Harris and Trump remains close and swing states continue to be one of the most monitored polling items given their importance.
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Harris In Trouble? New Swing State Poll Shows Trump Gains Ground In Key Battleground Areas For 2024 Election

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo initiates coverage on Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XEL#NASDAQ">XEL</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $70.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Xcel Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $70

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNT#NASDAQ">LNT</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $67.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Alliant Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $67

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on OGE Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OGE#NYSE">OGE</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $46.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On OGE Energy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $46

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Ameren (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEE#NYSE">AEE</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $97.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Ameren with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $97

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Evergy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVRG#NASDAQ">EVRG</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $70.

EVRG

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Evergy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $70

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNW#NYSE">PNW</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $104.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Pinnacle West Capital with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $104

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Exelon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXC#NASDAQ">EXC</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $46.

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