Donald Trump stays as a top GOP favorite for 2024

Claire Peterson on April 3, 2023

Donald Trump — Donald Trump made history as the first president, former or current, to be charged last week.

After much deliberation, the Manhattan grand jury reached its conclusion.

This is one of a number of high-profile Trump issues.

A surprising rally

One would believe that Donald Trump’s political ambitions are jeopardized by a slew of accusations leveled against him.

Yet, many Republican leaders have refrained from attacking him.

Instead, they have targeted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against Trump.

Similarly, betting markets continue to imply that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee in 2024.

Improved prospects

The indictment tipped the globe on its axis, ushering in a one-of-a-kind situation marked by altering political realities.

Donald Trump’s popularity is most likely due to three factors:

Despite the indictment hanging over his head, Trump’s polling lead in the GOP primary for 2024 has increased in the previous month.
Republicans think the inquiries are driven by politics.
Most Trump supporters are indifferent about his odds in November.

Similarly, surveys from Fox News, Monmouth University, and Quinnipiac University indicate that Donald Trump’s chances in the Republican primary are growing.

In March, Trump had a double-digit lead in surveys.

Furthermore, the former president earned an edge over his closest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to launch his campaign.

In February, Trump had a 12-point lead.

Divided sentiments

The Quinnipiac poll’s results were made public last week.

Just 18% of registered Republican voters believed Trump’s claims about a New York hush money scheme were true.

58% of people thought they weren’t.

The indictment may cause a shift in thinking, but it may not be as big as it appears.

The majority of Republicans, according to the Quinnipiac survey, do not believe Alvin Bragg is objective.

Virtually every Republican (93%) and the majority of people (63%), thought his case was politically motivated.

When it comes to any indictment, Republicans appear to be on Trump’s side.

According to a recent Marist College survey, respondents thought the multiple Trump probes were justified or a “witch hunt.”

The 2020 elections

In addition to the Manhattan case, Donald Trump has been tied to the Capitol Riot.

Most Republicans believe his efforts to reverse the 2020 election result were not unlawful.

According to polls, the vast majority of Republicans feel President Trump’s actions were appropriate.

The majority of Americans thought Joe Biden won only because of voting fraud.

The bigger picture

Republicans’ notion that the cases are politically motivated is only part of the issue.

Another thing to consider is how Republicans see Donald Trump in comparison to the larger general electorate.

Republicans feel he is innocent, but his legal concerns will be a stumbling block in the general election because people believe the investigations are fair.

Polls suggest that agreement on ideology is more important than electability for Republican primary candidates.

A CNN survey found that Republicans and Republican-leaning independents preferred criticizing Biden over policy agreement by a margin of 59% to 41%.

Trump supporters were divided, with 61% believing that agreement on issues should take precedence over electability and 39% disagreeing.

The results indicate a significant shift from what occurred in the 2020 Democratic primary.

By March 2020, 73% of Biden backers had persuaded voters to choose electability above issue agreement.

In other words, Biden’s pitch to Democrats surpassed Trump’s pitch to Republicans.

A new hope

Even while most Republicans believe other possible contenders have a better chance of unseating Biden, Trump remains the favorite.

According to a February Marist survey, 54% of Republicans believe that someone other than Trump may help the Republican Party reclaim the White House in 2024.

But, Republican voters in 2023 may not have made a mistake.

Notwithstanding the expected electability challenges, Donald Trump appears to be developing a general election poll advantage against Joe Biden sooner in the 2024 cycle than he did in the 2020 cycle.

But, according to the same study, DeSantis outperforms Trump vs Biden, which is aligned with how most Republicans feel.

…

Donald Trump indictment announced by Manhattan grand jury

Nicholas Alexander on April 3, 2023

Donald Trump — In a Manhattan grand jury indictment, Donald Trump is indicted with more than 30 charges of corporate fraud, according to two sources.

The indictment marks the first time in American history that a current or past president has been charged with a crime.

Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

The indictment was filed under secrecy and will be released soon, but no charges have been released.

Investigations

The District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan was looking into Donald Trump’s possible involvement in a hush money payment scheme and protection involving adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The adultery scandal broke almost a decade ago, but the hush money claims broke just before the 2016 presidential election.

Although grand jury proceedings are private, a source alleges that a witness spoke with the grand jury for more than 30 minutes before deciding to indict Trump.

The decision

With this decision, the American political system will undoubtedly alter and enter unknown territory.

The fact that a previous leader faces criminal charges while running for president for the second time is unprecedented.

Notwithstanding this, Donald Trump issued a statement following the indictment in which he alleged political persecution and high-level electoral intervention.

“I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” said Trump.

“The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it.”

“So our Movement, and our Party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Getting the news

According to one insider, Trump was surprised by the grand jury’s decision to charge him.

Trump predicted an indictment, but he expected it to take several weeks.

“Is this a shock today? Hell yes,” said the anonymous source.

Meanwhile, Bragg’s office summoned Trump’s legal team.

“This evening, we contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan DA’s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal,” Bragg’s office said on Thursday.

“Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”

The campaign and witch hunt

Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy in 2024 received a new twist when he announced his intention to run despite criminal accusations.

Trump has often called his probes a “witch hunt.”

He has tried to persuade the public by presenting himself as a victim of Democratic prosecutors’ political investigations.

As the day for his indictment approaches, Donald Trump urged his followers to protest his arrest, repeating his call to action in the 2020 election, when he swore retribution for his failure.

He has long dodged legal consequences for his personal, professional, and political acts, settling numerous private civil cases and making payments to get out of Trump Organization issues.

As president, he was impeached twice by the Democratic-led House but was not convicted by the Senate.

Despite the fact that he has not been indicted, the Trump Organization was charged with multiple tax fraud offenses in December.

Trump loyalists and Republicans alike pressured the Manhattan district attorney’s office for the indictment in 2024.

“I think the unprecedented indictment of a former president of the United States on a campaign finance issue is an outrage,” said former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday.

“It appears to millions of Americans to be nothing more than a political prosecution that’s driven by a prosecutor who literally ran for office on a pledge to indict the former president.”

GOP comes to Trump’s defense

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has promised to look into the incident.

Republicans in Congress, on the other hand, rushed to Trump’s support, accused Bragg of waging a political witch hunt on Twitter.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan slammed the charges and requested that Bragg come before Congress about the probe.

Senator Ted Cruz called the indictment “completely unprecedented,” claiming that it further militarizes the justice system.

On the other side, one Republican trusted in the judicial system.

“I believe in the rule of law,” stated Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon.

“I think we have checks and balances and I trust the system.”

“We have a judge. We have jurors. There is appeals. So I think in the end, justice will be done.”

“If he’s guilty, it will show up. But if not, I think that will be shown too.”

…

East Palestine is GOP’s next investigation

Claire Peterson on February 27, 2023

East Palestine – A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed earlier this month in East Palestine, Ohio.

The train derailment caused a fire due to the toxic chemicals on board.

Also, because of the risk of an explosion, officials ordered an evacuation of the area within a mile of the incident, which occurred near James Street.

Dams stopped the flow of tainted water while the EPA community cleared floating garbage and monitored the air.

Despite the fact that people have returned, some have claimed health problems such as:

Breathing troubles
Nausea
Rashes

The company in charge of the hazardous material, Norfolk Southern, has actively participated in the monitoring by supplying bottled water to East Palestine locals.

Yet, some passengers have launched a class action suit against Norfolk Southern.

In addition, Republican senators have proposed an investigation into the train catastrophe.

The news

Several House Republican committees plan to examine the event in East Palestine, Ohio, according to committee chairmen.

Republican senators have pledged to examine the Biden administration’s “flawed” reaction to the tragedy.

On February 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed, threatening East Palestine inhabitants’ access to city air and public water.

Republicans, according to authorities, have left the door open for hearings, including calling Michael Regan and Pete Buttigieg to appear publicly.

Buttigieg is the Transportation Secretary, while Regan is the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sadly, no decisions have been made.

A fresh sense of urgency

The Republican Party is putting more focus on surveillance after multiple senators blasted President Joseph Biden for failing to visit East Palestine.

Biden stated last week that he had no intentions to visit the site, citing his administration’s stance.

“You know, we were there two hours after the train went down – two hours,” said the president.

“I’ve spoken with every single major figure in both Pennsylvania and in Ohia, and so the idea that we’re not engaged is just simply not there.”

“And initially, there was not a request for me to go out even before I was heading over to Kyiv, so I’m keeping very close tabs on it. We’re doing all we can.”

A committee has been formed to investigate what happened and hold the Biden administration and the railroad industry responsible for the catastrophe.

The committee consists of:

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform

Furthermore, some GOP committee members are considering holding a field hearing in East Palestine.

According to people participating in the discussions, formal arrangements have yet to be completed.

Reaching out

The Energy and Commerce Committee requested that the EPA appear before the panel’s Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee.

According to a committee staffer, the subcommittee is chaired by GOP Rep. Bill Johnson, who represents East Palestine.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Energy and Commerce Committee Chair and a Republican from Washington state, joins Johnson.

On February 17, they tried to launch the investigation by writing to Regan and requesting information on the circumstances leading up to the train catastrophe.

They also asked for the following:

A list of the chemicals on the train
Materials relating to the EPA’s and local agencies’ response
Other information regarding the derailment

Johnson and McMorris Rodgers’ request must be responded to by March 3.

Meanwhile, the Energy and Commerce Committee asked EPA officials for an all-members briefing and a hearing date.

Insiders said they are still waiting for a response.

Close tabs

According to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee spokesperson Justin Harclerode, the committee intends to keep members updated as new information becomes available.

The committee is also closely monitoring the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.

“The important thing is to learn exactly what happened, what factors played a role in the accident, and what factors did not,” said Harclerode.

“The Committee is staying engaged on this issue, but no one should jump to any conclusions or act without all the facts. Which is exactly what the NTSB is working to provide through their investigation.”

House Oversight Chairman James Comer wrote to Pete Buttigieg on Friday, calling the situation an environmental and public health calamity affecting Citizens.

Comer asked Buttigieg to give over papers related to the incident, such as what the administration learned about the disaster and correspondence concerning the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s handling of the derailment paperwork.

“At this time, Chairman Comer is focused on acquiring the documents and information requested in his February 24 letter to Secretary Buttigieg,” said Austin Hacker, a spokesman for Comer.

…

TikTok ban might be pushed back due to its popularity

Jason Robinson on January 2, 2023

…

TikTok: Over the past few years, the video-sharing app has drawn a lot of attention, and a ban looks inevitable.

Security problems have plagued TikTok consistently from the former President Donald Trump’s administration.

However, the business has endured the Trump term.

Since then, it has gained popularity, becoming the most downloaded app in the US between 2020 and 2022.

If the ban were to go into effect, it would have an effect on numerous business owners who were successful on TikTok.

The future of TikTok

In 2020, there were over 100 million users of the video-sharing app.

Over the following years, TikTok’s influence on American culture, influencers’ lives, and business owners’ lives grew.

During that time, Republican governors had started to be cautious of the app.

They recently ruled that state employees are not allowed to install TikTok on devices that belong to the government.

While this was going on, an FCC panel with a Republican majority pressed Apple and Google to take more severe action against TikTok.

A bill to ban the app in the US was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio and two other US lawmakers.

A thorough investigation into TikTok’s and other social media platforms’ effects on younger users is currently ongoing as the political witch-hunt continues.

On whether the content on TikTok is appropriate for teenage viewers, there are differences of opinions.

Since the TikTok algorithm could lead to the uploading of potentially harmful content, worries concerning it are also frequently voiced.

Criticism

Washington has criticized TikTok because of its parent company’s connections to China.

The concerns grew after a Buzzfeed News report this year revealed that some US user data had been accessed from China.

According to a worker cited in the article, China could see everything.

While this was going on, TikTok acknowledged that some Chinese employees had access to user data from the US.

Negotiations

Negotiations between the video-sharing app and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) date back a few years.

They have been working to reach a compromise that would meet national security concerns while still enabling the app to run.

However, there have been reports of negotiation delays.

According to national security experts, TikTok’s popularity just makes it more challenging to ban the program.

The effectiveness of a ban on TikTok has been questioned by some of its critics.

A bill written by Senator Josh Hawley forbids TikTok from being used on US government devices.

He said last week that he would be okay with a deal between TikTok and the US government that safeguards user data.

“But if they don’t do that then I think we’re going to have to look at more stringent measures,” said Hawley.

The community

Even as lawmakers have stepped up their calls for stricter rules on the app, TikTok users have been developing a sense of community.

The video-sharing app has become a source of income for many people.

Through TikTok, the following were made possible:

Culinary habits
Fashion and beauty trends
Reviving old music
Popularizing new songs

Additionally, US politicians have promoted their campaigns for the midterm elections using TikTok.

The renowned news organization Associated Press, which has been around for 176 years, just joined the app in an effort to reach new audiences.

“So many people, myself included, are always on TikTok,” said user Kahlil Greene.

“That’s where we get our entertainment from, our news from, our musical taste from, our social inside jokes we make with friends come from memes that started on TikTok.”

Green has amassed more than 580,000 followers as a result of his documentation of social and cultural issues, as the “Gen Z historian.”

The Biden administration ultimately took notice of his popularity and invited him to a White House press briefing about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“So much of our culture and lives are driven by TikTok,” Greene added.

“Now that it’s not just something you can rip away easily.”

Popularity

TikTok is unquestionably one of the most popular social networking services in the US.

The company, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is dedicated to moving user data to Oracle’s cloud platform.

Significant modifications are also being made to isolate US user data from that of other business sectors.

Weeks earlier, TikTok declared it will restructure its US-focused legal, policy, and content moderation teams in collaboration with a special internal committee led by US-based authorities.

In response to the bill, a TikTok spokesperson said:

“It’s troubling that rather than encouraging the Administration to conclude its national security review of TikTok, some members of Congress have decided to push for a politically-motivated ban that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States.”

“We will continue to brief members of Congress on the plans that have been developed under the oversight of our country’s top national security agencies – plans that we are well underway in implementing – to further secure our platform in the United States.”

In addition, the spokesperson highlighted TikTok’s popularity by saying:

“TikTok is loved by millions of Americans who use the platform to learn, grow their businesses, and connect with creative content that brings them joy.”

Other notes

While other tech companies have been dismissing employees, TikTok has continued to hire staff, particularly American engineers.

Recent job listings suggest that the business may be attempting to build its own domestic warehouse network in an effort to overtake Amazon as the top online retailer.

TikTok’s enormous popularity poses issues for the federal government, according to Rick Sofield, a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP who specializes in export restrictions, national security reviews, and economic penalties.

“I think their minds are made up that ByteDance owning is a national security concern,” said Sofield.

“The reason that we’ve been hung up is it’s too big to fail, and they’re trying to figure out a soft landing.”

“There’s a whole lot of things I think that would have to happen first, before there’s a ban.”

Reference:

TikTok might be too big to ban, no matter what lawmakers say

Donald Trump slumps in voter standing based on recent poll

Leah Cooper on December 19, 2022

…

Although he doesn’t have the same power as before, former president Donald Trump recently announced his bid for the presidency in 2024.

Trump’s support among voters has reportedly dropped to its lowest point in more than seven years, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.

The poll

Only a tiny 31% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of the former US President, according to a Quinnipiac University survey.

An adverse opinion was held by 59% of poll respondents.

According to the university, Donald Trump’s rating in the study is at its lowest point since he declared his first presidential campaign in July 2015.

Independent voters believed that nothing was improving.

In contrast, only 25% of respondents endorsed Donald Trump, while 62% thought less favorably of him.

The evaluation was his lowest among the group ever since Quinnipiac published the survey in May 2015.

Trump saw a somewhat stronger showing from his fellow Republicans, who gave him 70% favorable and 20% negative votes.

Despite the significant difference, Trump’s approval rating was still at its lowest since March 2016.

One thousand four hundred fifty-six registered voters were questioned between last Thursday and this past Monday for the poll, which had a 2.6 percentage point margin of error.

“Former President Trump’s post-presidential announcement numbers are heading in the wrong direction,” said Tim Malloy, a polling analyst for Quinnipiac University.

“You would have to go back at least six years to find less support for him from Republican, independent, and American voters as a whole.”

Biden

A Quinnipiac University survey found that President Joe Biden’s job approval rating rose to its highest point since September 2021, despite being still below average.

The survey showed an improvement from the Quinnipiac poll in November, even though 43% of participants supported and 49% disapproved of Biden’s initiatives.

According to the poll, he had a 36% approval rating for his performance and a 55% disapproval rating.

President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 but hasn’t said whether he plans to run for politics again in 2024.

He did, however, promise to challenge Trump once again.

Despite his assertions, the majority of registered voters polled by Quinnipiac stated they would rather not see Trump or Biden nominated for President in 2024.

Signs

The most recent poll, by Quinnipiac, shows that following the midterm elections in November, Trump’s support is either waning or falling.

Donald Trump has recently come under criticism from his fellow Republicans due to the failure of many of the candidates he personally supported in well-known elections.

As a result, the Democrats strengthened their Senate majority during a season many expected to be favorable to the GOP.

A rising power

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been gaining support as Donald Trump’s standing is eroding.

DeSantis is a rising star in the Republican Party.

He won reelection with ease in November and built a sizable lead over Trump in the early 2024 Republican primary polls.

DeSantis held a double-digit lead over Trump among likely GOP primary voters in a Wall Street Journal poll published on Wednesday (52% to 38%).

The margin of error for the result was six percentage points, plus or minus.

DeSantis didn’t officially announce his candidacy for President, but the polls showed the outcome.

He chose to accept a second four-year term as governor.

The Florida governor was not mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in the Quinnipiac poll, either.

When questioned, a source with ties to Trump cited a recent Morning Consult poll showing Trump as the undisputed front-runner.

He received 49% of the support of potential GOP primary voters, compared to 31% for DeSantis.

Trump

So far, only Donald Trump has officially announced his bid for President in 2024.

Unfortunately, he still needs to put more effort into his campaign.

Instead, scandals and setbacks have damaged his presidential campaign.

For example, Trump posted on social media that the Constitution should be abolished to restore power.

He would later apologize for his comments.

Ye, a rapper who fell out of favor after making antisemitic remarks and identifying as a white supremacist, and Trump also had dinner together.

The former President’s first choice for the Georgia Senate, Herschel Walker, was defeated by Senator Raphael Warnock in a runoff vote in December.

In the end, two Trump Organization companies were found guilty of crimes.

This week, a New York jury found Trump’s businesses accountable for a number of infractions, including:

Tax fraud
Falsifying business records
Conspiracy

Trump was found guilty of 17 charges three weeks after announcing his bid for the presidency in 2024.

Trump said he would appeal the decision because he was unhappy with it.

“It is a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country,” he wrote in a statement.

“New York City is a hard place to be ‘Trump.'”

Other notes

On Wednesday, Donal Trump hinted on social media that he would make a significant announcement on Thursday.

The article includes a video of Trump saying, “America needs a superhero.”

The movie also included a brief animation of a cartoon Trump shooting lasers out of his eyes in front of Trump Tower.

References:

Trump hits 7-year low in new national poll as Biden approval climbs

Trump Organization convicted in New York criminal tax fraud case

Republicans don’t take kindly to Trump’s campaign run

Edward Anderson on November 24, 2022

Republicans in the House and Senate are not thrilled that former President Donald Trump launched his third presidential race this week.

Trump’s presidential bid announcement came Monday.

Capitol Hill’s response showed a drop in support after years of disputes and scandals.

Moreover, the lack of interest in the Republican Party stems from its disappointing midterm performance.

Interviews

A few dozen Republicans from both chambers were asked about Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

However, very few expressed enthusiasm for the 2024 race.

Instead, many have pinned their hopes on another emerging candidate or in a broader field so voters can choose someone who appeals to wider audiences.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds was among those who wanted a new candidate, saying:

“I want someone who is going to unite our party. That’s how we win elections. A reasonable person who would unite the party.”

Idaho Rep.Mike Simpson echoed his sentiments, saying:

“Let’s see who runs. Personally, I don’t think it’s good for the party.”

“I think his policies were good,” Simpson added. “I just don’t need all the drama with it.”

One-time allies

Many of Trump’s former allies shared Mike Simpson’s sentiments.

Most pointed out how alienated the former president has become on Capitol Hill, especially after Tuesday’s election.

When asked if Donald Trump was in the running again, Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw responded: “Still?”

He was questioned if he would join Trump, and Crenshaw responded, “Hell no.”

“None of us are entitled to these jobs,” said Trump ally and North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer regarding the 2024 bid.

“He’s certainly not entitled to it. And I certainly wouldn’t be making any decision (to endorse) this soon.”

Moreover, according to Cramer, the party would have higher chances of winning if more candidates were running in 2024.

“I think we’re all better if there’s more of them up on the stage.”

Meanwhile, others began fielding competing candidates.

GOP Sen. Jerry Moran said he was focusing on Mike Pompeo, a Kansan colleague and former secretary of state, and Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina.

“I think we have lots of Republicans who are interested in being our nominee for president,” said Moran, referencing Trump.

“And I’m interested in letting the American people make this decision. And I’m interested in seeing those people rise to the top.”

Republican Florida Representative Maria Elvira Salazar avoided questions about supporting Trump, saying instead:

“Let me tell you something: I do know the next Republican presidential contender is coming from Florida.”

Blame and distance

Several Republicans on Monday accused Donald Trump of pushing half-hearted candidates.

They also highlighted his obsession with his 2020 election loss, undermining the case they tried to file against Democrats that year.

South Dakota Senator John Thune of South Dakota said pursuing the 2020 election was not a winning strategy.

Surprisingly, many agreed with his opinion.

“I think looking forward is always a better campaign strategy,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.

“Looking back to 2020 obviously didn’t work out.”

However, a moderate-leaning GOP lawmaker offered a harsh take on Trump’s presidential bid, saying:

“It’s like we’re on season 7, 8 of ‘The Apprentice.’ People are sick of it, they want to turn the channel. Let’s find something else.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s longtime critics, like Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, want no involvement with Trump’s third run.

Reference:

Trump’s 2024 bid gets harsh reaction among Hill Republicans

Hillary Clinton calls out Republicans on their hypocrisy

Leah Cooper on November 21, 2022

Hillary Clinton calls Republicans hypocrites for their focus on crime ahead of Thursday’s 2022 midterm elections.

The former secretary of state told CNN’s Don Lemon that Republicans don’t care about voter safety.

Instead, she implied they want to scare voters.

Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump’s former presidential rival praised President Joe Biden’s efforts to fight inflation, calling the efforts impressive.

However, she added that it was more difficult to “focus on the future” than to deal with complaints.

Hillary Clinton’s attacks on Republicans centered primarily on crime.

She said it was ironic that they did not proactively speak out against the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Crime has been a significant issue for Republicans throughout the 2022 campaign.

Party members have spent millions attacking Democratic opponents for being soft or connecting them to efforts to defund the police.

Hypocrisy

One example Clinton cited of Republican hypocrisy is the contest between Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin, her GOP challenger.

Zeldin condemned the crime in New York in his attempt to become the state’s first Republican governor following George Pataki in 2006.

According to ad tracker AdImpact, Zeldin has aired six TV commercials in the past month, with five focusing on crime.

Some ads showed violent crimes in New York, including shootings and assaults – crimes Republicans blame Hochul for.

According to Hillary Clinton, the Republicans are trying to instill fear and anxiety in the people.

“They are not dealing with it. They are not trying to tackle it,” said Clinton.

“So I view it as an effort to scare voters.”

Response to Pelosi attack

Although Hillary Clinton agreed that crime was a legitimate concern for voters, she suggests that Republicans don’t want to solve the problems.

Instead, they want a problem.

Clinton shows contempt for Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial candidate for mocking the attack on Paul Pelosi.

According to her, the Republican response to the attack indicated where the country is to have people like the Republican candidate who laugh at an attack on a person.

“I am rarely shocked anymore, but making fun of that attack, somehow trying to turn it into a joke, the same party that wants us to be worried about the crime,” she said.

“You know the hypocrisy is incredibly obvious.”

Campaigns

Although Hillary Clinton is one of America’s most famous Democrats, she has been the least visible figure in the party at election campaign events in recent years.

Her event with Hochul is the first candidate-specific rally she will headline this year.

New York Democrats have called for help, emphasizing the party’s concerns as Election Day approaches.

However, according to polls during a ticket rush in New York in mid-October, Hochul has 50% voter support, while Zeldin has 46%.

Hillary Clinton also noted that the tight race between Hochul and Zeldin is more of a “turnout problem.”

She also expects Kathy Hochul to come out victorious on Tuesday.

Reference:

Clinton accuses Republicans of trying to ‘scare voters’ over crime

President Joe Biden wary of Elon Musk

Leah Cooper on November 17, 2022

President Joe Biden recently noticed Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and new owner of Twitter, has a unique relationship with other countries.

He also says Musk’s relationship is worth looking into.

However, Biden declined to specify how.

President Biden

At a Wednesday conference in the White House, the president shared his thoughts on Elon Musk as a threat to the United States.

Interviewers brought up the joint acquisition of Twitter by Musk and foreign governments.

“Elon Musk’s cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at,” said President Joe Biden.

“Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate – I’m not suggesting that.”

“I’m suggesting it’s worth being looked at, and that’s all I’ll say.”

Elon Musk

Conversely, Elon Musk is not a fan of the US President.

The new Twitter owner actively criticizes Democrats on his social media accounts.

Throughout the year, Musk accused President Joe Biden of neglecting his electric vehicle company despite Tesla’s success.

Instead, Biden would prefer the old automakers and their union.

As a result, Elon Musk pledged to vote for the Republicans.

National security reviews

Before Musk completed the $44 billion acquisition, Bloomberg reported that Biden administration officials discussed putting his operations to national security reviews.

According to CNN, the Biden administration dismissed the report, citing people familiar with the matter.

National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said: ‘We do not know of any such discussions.’

According to a Treasury Department spokesperson, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States does not comment publicly on transactions it may or may not review under law and practice.

Additionally, several foreign companies and investors have pledged to help Musk fund the deal, including Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was one of Twitter’s most prominent investors.

References:

President Biden says Elon Musk’s relationships with other countries are worth looking into

President Joe Biden’s speech draws the wrath of Republicans calling for civil war and his assassination

Claire Peterson on September 12, 2022

On Thursday, President Joe Biden traveled to Philadelphia and delivered his most vocal anti-Republican speech.

During the speech, Biden focused on how they “thrive in chaos” and warned people that their attempts to undermine democracy could lead to violence.

The speech

President Joe Biden delivered his speech at Independence Hall against a red-lit backdrop, calling for a reckoning with a movement led by Donald Trump.

His speech comes ahead of midterm elections, which help determine control of Congress.

Although billed as an official address, Biden’s comments contained the outline of his campaign message. While trying to convey optimism about the country’s future, the president also painted his political opponents in a dark light.

Biden said Trump and his followers are threatening the American experiment.

Minutes after stepping onto the podium, he called his predecessors and suggested that Americans should face an existential choice in the upcoming election.

“Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal,” said Biden over the speech.

“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”

Despite his feelings, Biden tried to separate Trump’s loyal followers from the Republican Party as a whole.

President Joe Biden ended his speech on a more upbeat note, stating that it is up to voters to control the dark forces brewing in the country.

Biden felt the time was right to speak out against the growing anti-democratic forces in the country after recently calling Republicans “MAGA extremism” and “semi-fascism.”

Meanwhile, officials say the president’s message was nonpartisan and intended to target an extreme wing of the GOP.

Either way, Biden urged his audience to go to the polls in November.

Building up to the speech

The past few weeks have focused on many campaign promises that initially seemed unrealistic before the law was signed.

The factors that grow together are creating a sense in the West Wing that the political wind is changing, especially as more Americans have signed up for midterm elections.

It has also hit the White House, where months of war within the party have emerged, a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and crises that many have looked beyond their control to change course.

Biden himself was struck by the sense of darkness that hung over the west wing for months.

The changing winds also coincided with Trump’s re-emergence.

Republican politicians and candidates have started a campaign on the false basis of fraudulent elections.

As the campaign season kicked off with a boost midway through the campaign, multiple factors emerged with enough ammo for Biden to publicly share his thoughts.

“The President felt that this was an appropriate time before the traditional campaign season begins next week to lay out what he sees at stake, not for any individual political party, but for our democracy itself,” said a senior administration official.

Response to Biden’s speech

On Friday afternoon, popular forums among white supremacists and far-right extremists began pouring in with posts calling for Biden’s assassination.

The President was not alone, as Jewish government officials such as Attorney General Merrick Garland, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Alejandro Mayorkas were identified as potential targets.

According to documents covering some of the threats, there were also reports of declarations of civil war.

A threat alert from the Site Intelligence Group was issued Friday, alerting law enforcement and others.

The group tracks extremist activity online and has issued several threat alerts detailing calls for violence after Biden’s speech.

The potential threats were posted on online forums teeming with Proud Boys and neo-Nazis, among other extremist groups.

“Users on several far-right and ultranationalist venues made violent threats against President Joe Biden following his speech addressing political extremism on September 1, 2022,” an alert said.

“Users advocated for Biden to be murdered and predicted violence if he continues speaking about the topic.”

The White House defended Biden’s speech on the grounds that he was standing up for democracy and speaking out against political violence.

Reference:

Biden warns Trump and his closest followers are trying to undermine American democracy in combative speech

Biden speech denouncing Trump, ‘MAGA ideology’ sparks threats, calls for violence