The author reflects on a meeting with Mitt Romney in 2011 and praises his intelligence, confidence, and clear stance on geopolitical issues. Both the author and Romney were concerned about the lack of a firm response from the US government towards Russia during the Obama administration, and the author notes that recent events have shown that Romney was correct about Russia. The author also comments on the current state of US politics, which may have influenced Romney's decision to leave the political scene. The author concludes by expressing gratitude for individuals like Romney who have contributed to America's national life through public service.
Non-White Americans are much more confident in democracy
Washington Post
23-09-18 16:36
A recent national poll conducted by SurveyMonkey found that a majority of respondents believed that democracy in the US was not working well. The poll revealed that Asian Americans and Black Americans were more likely to say that democracy was working at least somewhat well, while a majority of Hispanic Americans and White Americans said that democracy was not working well. The partisan breakdown showed that Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were more likely to view democracy positively than Republicans. The erosion of confidence in election results, fueled in part by former President Donald Trump's false claims about the 2020 election, likely contributed to these views.
Biden, at U.N., faces a tough sell on extending support for Ukraine
Washington Post
23-09-18 16:00
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, will use his visit to the United Nations General Assembly to highlight Russian atrocities in Ukraine and to unite the international community against Russian aggression. The US will continue to support Ukraine militarily, even as calls for a negotiated settlement grow louder in developing nations. Although Ukraine has not made a major breakthrough against Russian forces, it continues to make steady progress, according to senior US officials. A significant arrow in President Biden’s quiver will be a planned meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has called for peace talks in Ukraine and accused the West of prolonging the conflict. However, many developing countries have grown concerned about the prospects of an unending stalemate, as they maintain close ties with Russia and fear the economic impact of Western sanctions. President Biden will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly rebuffed the US president’s requests to stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Following the meetings in New York, Zelensky will travel to Washington with President Biden to make the case for additional funding for Ukraine.
President Biden’s most sensitive diplomatic challenge this week may not be at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Instead, the toughest test of his negotiating and leadership skills may be the standoff between striking United Auto Workers and America’s three largest carmakers. The economic and political repercussions of the work stoppage — 12,700 UAW members, or 8 percent of the union’s autoworkers, went on strike Friday — loom large over the 2024 presidential race, with organized labor still a force in several of the critical battleground states that may decide the outcome. Biden constantly talks up his blue-collar roots and his ties to unions — he has said he wants to be “reelected the most pro-union president in history.” In February 2021, he recorded a video in support of Amazon workers trying to unionize in Alabama — an unusual step for a sitting president.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was impeached following allegations of corruption and bribery, has been acquitted, allowing him to play the martyr and lash out at his enemies. This parallels former President Donald Trump's acquittals and subsequent ability to portray himself as tough and take on his enemies. The impeachment trials of both Paxton and Trump were marked by timidity from within the Republican ranks, where Republican senators declined to vote against them out of fear of repercussions. The support of their political allies allows Paxton and Trump to dismiss the accusations against them and present themselves as tough leaders.
Who are the Democrats running for US president in 2024?
Reuters
23-09-18 19:20
U.S. President Joe Biden is facing two long-shot challenges from within his own party for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 election. Biden, who is already the oldest U.S. president ever, will have to convince voters that he has the stamina for another four years in office. One of his challengers is Robert Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The other challenger is Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author and self-help guru who previously ran as a Democrat in the 2020 presidential primary. Despite these challengers, Biden is not expected to face a serious threat from within his own party.
Mitt Romney’s recent criticisms of the Republican Party are well-founded, but he must face the fact that he and his colleagues helped create “a monster” that is now impossible to control. Since the 1970s, the party’s proponents of right-wing economics have exploited social intolerance and animosity to sell their agenda, and the extremists they thought they were using now rule the party, according to Paul Krugman in the New York Times. Romney was a victim of a smear campaign in 2012, but his party’s subsequent radicalisation was its own fault.
New ‘Meet the Press’ moderator Kristen Welker fails to meet the moment as Trump unleashes flurry of lies in debut interview
CNN
23-09-19 02:31
The Kristen Welker era of “Meet the Press” is off to a bleak start. The high-stakes sit down with disgraced former president Donald Trump was all risk and little reward for Welker as she assumed the esteemed moderator chair of “Meet the Press” for the first time Sunday. Television executives I surveyed before and after the interview were baffled that NBC News and Welker willfully chose to take on such a fraught assignment, given Trump’s notorious propensity to lie.
Chaos erupts in House GOP as lawmakers fail to advance spending bill
The Independent
23-09-19 20:45
The floor of the House of Representatives devolved into chaos on Tuesday afternoon as a vote to advance the annual defense bill failed. House Democrats began to taunt Republicans shouting by “regular order” as five Republicans joined them in opposing a rule to pass the annual defense spending bill as House Republican leadership tried to have their ranks coalesce. GOP Reps Dan Bishop, Matt Rosendale, Ken Buck, Andy Biggs and Ralph Norman opposed the rule. Four Republicans did not vote on the bill. All five members are part of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus that has demanded spending cuts across the board.
Comedian Larry David berated Elon Musk about voting Republican
The Independent
23-09-19 20:07
Comedian Larry David confronted Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over his support of the Republican Party at a wedding in France last year, according to a new biography about Musk. David was reportedly upset by Musk's negative tweets about the Democratic Party and asked him how he could vote Republican if he was against child murder. Musk responded that he is "anti-kid murder." The incident is detailed in Walter Isaacson's biography titled Elon Musk. David is a well-known supporter of the Democratic Party and co-created the sitcom Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld.
The age gap in U.S. politics contributes to the cynicism gap
Washington Post
23-09-19 19:40
New data from the Pew Research Center shows a significant divide between young and old Americans when it comes to political pessimism. The research indicates that younger Americans are less likely to see a significant difference between the two major political parties, and are more likely to hold negative views of both parties. They are also less likely to believe that voting can affect the future or that members of Congress support policies that reflect the public good. This cynicism is a challenge for democracy, as people need to believe that their vote can effect change. The article suggests that this divide is not simply about age, but also about the different concerns and priorities of younger and older Americans. Younger Americans are more likely to have concerns such as school shootings, gay rights, and climate change, which they feel are not being addressed by older Americans in positions of power. The article argues that this cynicism is partly a result of the large, powerful older generation in the US.
Who are the candidates running in the 2024 US presidential election?
Reuters
23-09-19 19:13
Ten Republican candidates are vying for the party's nomination for the November 2024 election to challenge President Joe Biden. The front-runner is former President Donald Trump, who has embraced his indictments in four separate criminal cases, which have boosted his popularity among Republicans. Trump has vowed to enact tougher immigration restrictions and harsher curbs on trade with China. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is Trump's top rival, but he remains far behind the former president in opinion polls. Former Vice President Mike Pence has broken with Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and is appealing directly to the evangelical Christian community. Other Republican contenders include Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, and Will Hurd. On the Democratic side, President Biden does not face a serious threat from a Democratic challenger. However, Robert Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, is making a long-shot bid for the nomination. Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author and self-help guru, has also launched a bid for the Democratic nomination. Political activist Cornel West is running as a third-party candidate from the Green Party.
Some Virginia Democrats say livestreamed sex acts a distraction from election’s real stakes
Associated Press
23-09-20 00:03
Several Virginia Democrats have described as a distraction the controversy surrounding a legislative candidate who livestreamed herself performing sex acts. While the state party and the House Democratic caucus have not publicly called for Susanna Gibson to end her campaign, neither group has declared how much support she can expect moving forward. Many Democratic candidates in competitive districts have coalesced around a GOP candidate's proposed ban on abortion after 15 weeks with certain exceptions, while Virginia Democrats, including Gibson, have made protecting abortion access a top campaign priority.
Some Virginia Democrats say livestreamed sex acts a distraction from election's real stakes
The Independent
23-09-20 00:03
Virginia Democrats have said that the controversy surrounding a legislative candidate who livestreamed herself performing sex acts is a distraction from the stakes in this year's elections. The state party has not called for Susanna Gibson to end her campaign after revelations that she had sex with her husband in videos posted on a pornographic website. House Democratic Caucus Executive Director Amy Friedman said: “Our focus is and has always been on flipping the House and taking back the majority."
Protesters condemn Iran prisoner swap as Raisi speaks to UN
The Independent
23-09-19 23:30
Protesters gathered outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to call for the arrest of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi over alleged human rights abuses. The US government typically ensures that visiting heads of authoritarian regimes can address the UN without fear of arrest. However, Raisi’s address coincided with the release of seven Americans from Iranian custody after being held on charges the US government said were false. The prisoner swap, which saw $6bn in funds released to Iran, has been criticised by opponents who argue that the money will bolster the authoritarian government.
Trump wants Republicans to shut down US government for his own benefit
The Independent
23-09-21 14:08
Former US President Donald Trump has called on congressional Republicans to shut down the US government to prevent further investigations against him. He made the comments on newly launched social media app, Truth Social, stating that the Republicans had the opportunity to "defend the country" by using their control of the purse strings. However, critics of Mr Trump have accused him of trying to obstruct criminal proceedings against him and his supporters.
Rupert Murdoch steps down as Fox and News Corp. chairman
CNN
23-09-21 13:05
Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media mogul, has announced his resignation as Chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp. His eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become sole Chairman of both companies. While it is unclear if Fox’s direction will change under Lachlan, Rupert has said he will still be “involved every day in the contest of ideas.” The resignation of Murdoch, who has commanded considerable influence in the Republican Party, will send shockwaves through the media industry and will be significant ahead of the 2024 presidential race.
Russian missiles pound Ukraine as Zelenskyy set to meet Biden, U.S. lawmakers
CBC
23-09-21 11:59
Russian missiles struck cities across Ukraine, killing at least two people and injuring several others. The missile attack coincided with the International Day of Peace and was the largest attack by Russia in over a month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was due to meet with US President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to discuss a proposed $24 billion aid package, had denounced Russia as a terrorist state earlier in the week. The attacks come as Ukraine faces opposition to further aid from Republicans in the US and a dispute over grain imports with Poland.
Democrats think Trump is the opponent they want. They’re wrong, again
Telegraph
23-09-21 15:14
Joe Biden may be benefiting from promoting Donald Trump as the standard-bearer for the Republican Party. By highlighting Trump's positions on issues like abortion, Biden is able to rally support from his own base and strengthen his own candidacy. This strategy has been successful for Democrats in the past, as they have used negative partisanship to boost vulnerable Republican candidates and ultimately defeat them in general elections. However, the article warns that this is a high-stakes gamble, as Trump's surprise win in 2016 caused near-existential despair among Democrats.
DeSantis rattles off laundry list of reasons he’s better than Trump
The Independent
23-09-21 22:09
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is distancing himself from former President Donald Trump as he campaigns for the 2024 presidency. In an interview with ABC News, DeSantis highlighted the differences between himself and Trump, including their upbringings and their activities as young men. DeSantis also criticized Trump for refusing to participate in GOP debates, stating that he owes it to the people to make his case and defend his record. This shift in strategy may be an effort to boost DeSantis' image after poor polling numbers in the primaries.
