The Note: Trump bets on divisions in angry midterm climate

The TAKE with Rick Klein

It's a casual observation at this stage to remark upon the anger that animates politics -- anger that serves as an energizing and motivating factor in the coming midterms.

That anger was largely non-violent -- until this past week. The façade of words being separate than deeds was shattered by a spate of awful violence and tragedy that has subsumed other campaign messaging with eight days to go.

It has not, though, quieted President Donald Trump.

"I could really tone it up," he said Friday, after the arrest of a Florida man suspected of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats. A day later, hours after 11 were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue, Trump kept his scheduled campaign event.

Trump rallies seem out of step with a national moment of mourning, and of debate over the proper bounds of political rhetoric. But that's always been a big part of the president's point -- that voters want the Trump show, and won’t punish him for actions taken by those who support him.

No one is responsible for horrific actions except those responsible for those actions. But by continuing to bet on divisions, Trump has kept his style of politics on the midterm ballot.

The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks

Third rail no more.

For decades, gun safety reform largely was seen as too politically perilous to delve into deeply.

In this midterm cycle full of firsts and new beginnings, the conversation around gun reform has changed markedly too.

No longer are Democratic candidates only bringing it up when asked. In fact, from Georgia to Florida we hear stories of candidates who specifically entered electoral politics to run on the issue. The influx of female candidates seems to have propelled conversation, as well as Democratic moms tending to incorporate policy ideas around gun violence into their stump speeches.

The March for Our Lives advocates, spurred into action after the mass casualty shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in February, have held events almost daily across the country encouraging young people to vote. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, in particular, has solidified her place as a prolific fundraiser and strong advocate for those candidates running on a gun-safety platform.

The issue, in the forefront of voters’ minds again after the violent headlines this week, and specifically, the unspeakable act of hate at the Tree of Life synagogue, is one of the clearest dividing lines between the two parties, as the Republican Party continues to advocate for easier access to guns and the loosening of rules.

The TIP with Kendall Karson

Donald Trump might not be on the ballot in Mississippi, but for the two front-runners in the Senate special election, a race that could potentially decide the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, the contest is all about the president.

Stumping in Mississippi's Gulf Coast, a deeply red enclave, Democratic candidate Mike Espy condemned Trump's divisive rhetoric.

"I think his rhetoric has caused our discourse to become harsher," Espy said after a rally in Biloxi.

He struck a similar tone in his response to the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh, writing, "I’m praying for Pittsburgh, especially today’s victims, their families, and first responders. Our country’s leaders must do more to condemn bigotry and anti-Semitism and bring Americans together."

Espy’s run could potentially be historic: if elected in November, he will be the first African-American senator to represent the state since the Reconstruction Era. But standing in his way are three other opponents including Trump-endorsed GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who made her final pitch to voters this weekend, with a focus on her loyalty to the White House.

"We’ve got a president that is a leader," she told a small crowd in Nesbit. "They talk about the caravan headed for the border down there, we’ve got somebody that can handle that caravan. There’s no doubt in my mind."

THE PLAYLIST

ABC News’ "Start Here" Podcast. Monday morning’s episode features a closer look at Saturday’s synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that left 11 people dead. ABC News Senior National Correspondent Matt Gutman tells us about his conversation with a rabbi was who inside the synagogue at the time. ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz and ABC News contributor John Cohen say social media is playing a big role in fueling hate in this country. And, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl explains President Trump’s shifting rhetoric around this tragedy and the spate of suspected explosive devices sent through the mail. https://bit.ly/2M7OS5c

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