Former President Donald Trump is set to do something a bit different this time. He'll be trading the rally stage for a comedy night as he heads to the annual Al Smith charity dinner in New York City. This isn't his first time at this event, though. Eight years ago, he was at the same dinner and faced some serious jeers for his remarks. This year, he'll be joined by his wife, Melania, and even New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued him in a civil fraud case.

Vice President Kamala Harris won't be there in person, as she's busy campaigning in crucial states. Instead, she'll make an appearance via a recorded video. This dinner is a big deal; it raises millions for Catholic charities and is often the last time the two major candidates share a stage before Election Day. Usually, it's a chance for some light-hearted fun, but Trump's past speeches have been anything but friendly.

Back in 2016, Trump faced boos when he called his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, "corrupt." He even praised WikiLeaks for revealing her private emails. Clinton, however, got some laughs when she joked about Trump's views on the Statue of Liberty.

This event has a long history. It's named after Alfred E. Smith, the first Catholic to run for president from a major party. The dinner has been a tradition since 1960, though there were times when candidates weren't invited, like in 1996 when President Bill Clinton and his challenger, Bob Dole, were snubbed.

Trump's sense of humor is a big deal to his supporters. He can sometimes poke fun at himself, like when he joked about his hair at a rally. But with this dinner, it's anyone's guess what kind of jokes he'll crack.

Trump and Harris Headline Charity Dinner, with Harris on Video

Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks co-founder, is a free man after five years in London's Belmarsh Prison. His journey home to Australia was made possible by a generous donation of Bitcoin worth nearly half a million dollars. This massive gift helped cover his private flight, which the Australian government organized but didn't pay for. Assange's wife, Stella, launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the needed funds. The remaining money will go towards Assange's recovery and well-being.

Assange entered an Ecuadorian embassy in 2012, seeking asylum from sexual assault charges that have since been dropped. His legal troubles are linked to his work publishing secret government documents with WikiLeaks, including the infamous "Collateral Murder" video from Iraq. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in a U.S. federal court on Saipan Island before flying home to Canberra, Australia.

The timing of Assange's release is notable, given his past interactions with former President Trump and the upcoming 2024 election. WikiLeaks played a significant role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by releasing hacked emails from the Democratic Party. With Trump running again, there's uncertainty about what might happen next in this complex political landscape.

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Trump and Harris Headline Charity Dinner, with Harris on Video

Assange's Freedom Flight: A Bitcoin-Funded Journey Home