I’m not American, but I did live there for a while and even my youngest son was born there. That is the reason why I am somewhat emotionally tied with the US. What James Bennet (The Economist columnist) says below does tickle me: why even some voter groups who historically had always been identified as the Democrat’s biggest supporters (black, latinos, Asians) now cast their votes for Donald Trump, instead of Kamala Harris? Was it because the Democratic Party has gone so wrong and perceived as the culprit of making the life of hundreds of millions Americans worsened off over the last 4 years? Some quick fact check: according to Gallup’s poll held in early October 2024, more than half of Americans (52%) say they and their family are worse off today than they were four years ago, while 39% say they are better off and 9% volunteer that they are about the same. This was aligned with the Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index (ECI) published also in October 2024, which showed that over the past four years, ECI had been largely negative. Gallup further reported that for the past three years, Americans had seen inflation as the most crucial financial problem facing their family. This finding actually was built upon a backdrop of generally low unemployment, steady economic growth, and record stock and housing values. In addition to that, the Fed had held interest rates steady for most of 2024 at 5.25%-5.50%. Even as the data showed that inflation cooled and economic growth improved, the Fed finally slashed the federal funds rate by 50 basis points in September. So why then inflation, or economic factor has been seen as the culprit that eroded a big chunk of Americans household purchasing power, thus making them feel worsened off? Therefore, I think this is the high time for the Democratic Party to find the answer for James Jennet’s question.

Insiders from Donald Trump’s campaign report that the former president is once again preparing to challenge election results in the event of a loss. Here are some of the strategies the candidate and his team are considering deploying. • Use the immunity idol he earned during the debates: The tiki-shaped totem gives Trump one chance to save himself from elimination. • Strap a bomb to J.D. Vance’s chest and take the Senate hostage: Legally impermissible, but not among the worst things that Vance would jump at the chance to do. • Pout: The former president is already reportedly practicing a pout so piercing it could sway some electors to his side. • Fake a hamstring pull: This election doesn’t count if it happened while he was injured. Move into White House and claim squatter’s rights: Worth a shot. • Put on a ton of weight: If Kamala Harris sees he’s stress-eating, she might feel bad and give him the job. • Jan. 7 rally: With a different date, no one will ever see it coming. • Ask nicely: There’s a first time for everything. https://lnkd.in/gM3-_ZTe

NEW: We sat down with three of the five Democrats in Congress who won in Trump districts. They told us what the Democratic party can learn from their victories: “I think we're not winning because we don't respect working people.” Check out the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/etjYHYa6

1. I have the ultimate respect for Tio. But I tend to have the ultimate respect for all human beings on earth, except the sexually deviant among us...so take my respect with a grain of salt (and a few grains of black pepper)  2. Yet still, Tio statements here, represent the 'ultimate failures' of the prior generations of Americans.  3. Chicago, Illinois, America's STRONGEST DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD, is perhaps the simplest example to use, in observation and explanation, of the failing crumbling foundation that is continuously passed from generation-to-watered-down-generation... 4. The Democratic Party of Chicago, with exemplary leaders like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke, plus the nepotistic monsters like the Daley's and so many others, plus the unstable fundraising feigns like Rahm Emanuel, did not CREATE puritans like Barack Obama!!!!  5. The Democrats of Chicago and Illinois fought to suppress Barack Obama at every turn. His purity and intelligence conquered them. Same Democrats of Chicago, the party leaders, fought against Harold Washington...and his intelligence conquered them.  6. Same with Brandon Johnson. The party establishment were not supporters of Brandon Johnson either... 7. They (the Democrats) are EXTREMELY FLAWED!!!  8. The pension problems persist. The violence and murders in the inner cities is the main never-ending story, all major Urban Centers.  9. But the Republicans are EQUALLY AS FLAWED. ESPECIALLY IN ILLINOIS. Notice Mark Carter and Rod Blagojevich attended the Republican National Convention as Illinois reps, so that clown circus is just as senile!!!!!  10. Long story short, YOU ALL STILL NEED ME!!  11. AND I STILL FOREVER REJECT THE ELITISM... 12. CAPITALISM IS THE DISEASE. MISEDUCATION WAS THE SWAY. YOU HAVE ZERO CLUE, ALL THE BS, AND TRICK KNOWLEDGE, THEY TAUGHT YOU!!! #PerpendicularToTheSquare

In the Trump administration, both branches of Congress were working on bipartisanship. Gaetz has shown us time and time again how a very small gorilla can stop the show. Bipartisan particularly in the passage of a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. This measure, which extended funding through November 17, 2023, was achieved with significant Democratic support, highlighting a collaborative approach. However, this bipartisan endeavor faced challenges from within the Republican Party. Representative Matt Gaetz, a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus, criticized Speaker Kevin McCarthy for working with Democrats on the resolution. Gaetz's opposition culminated in a motion to vacate the Speaker's chair, leading to McCarthy's removal—the first such occurrence in congressional history. Gaetz's actions underscore how a single determined legislator can significantly disrupt legislative processes, even in a closely divided House. His influence reflects the complexities of maintaining party unity and the challenges leaders face when balancing bipartisan cooperation with internal party dynamics. Now Gaetz's is McCarthy.

WILL TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR BRING ABOUT THE MIRACLE OF 2024? What miracle you ask? The miracle of turning 2024 into a Democrat landslide, enabling Dems to win the trifecta -- the House, the Senate, and the presidency. Some Republican House candidates are concerned that Trump's rants will turn the independent vote and a good portion of the Republican vote against Republicans. One can only hope and pray that Republican worries do turn into the Miracle of 2024 and bring about a Dem trifecta win. https://lnkd.in/egqpsCNP

THIS should tell us all something. Trump is a danger to ALL. Those who were on the INSIDE saw this. Rarely can we rise as ONE Nation. We must vote for President Biden. Not voting for Trump is not enough. We face dangerous and pivotal times. Frankly, I can think of no one better than Joe Biden at this moment in our history. Only Biden has managed to get Republicans to do ANYTHING. And now that seems done with events in the House. Only Democrats are willing to act. What's needed? 1) Biden re-elected 2) Democrats take House 3) Democrats keep the Senate with enough votes to alter the filibuster. THIS is the only road forward. Together WE Can.

Ok, I am loving this format from the NYT! There's been so much consequential reporting about how former President Trump plans to run his administration if he is elected in November. A lot of that reporting can be hard to follow, especially for folks (most Americans) who aren't following the election closely just yet. On big subjects, it can be difficult to illustrate to readers why it is all so important. This simple format makes Trump's plans easy to understand, and they link out to the deeper reporting in each section for those who want to read more. Just goes to show that a basic approach gets the job done! https://lnkd.in/guZ59G53

I won't pretend to be a legal expert or to know all of the factors involved in the "arguments" in the legal discussions before the Supreme court but, IMHO, I viewed the range of questions asked by the Supremes to be very limited and that possible exceptions were ignored. There appears to be a question that seems to be driving the Supremes, namely, "why a single state should be able to decide who should be on the ballot in a national election". I have to asked, don't we already have this happening in every election? Not all people running for president appear on all state ballots, for a variety of reasons, some of which are purely political (i.e., keeping certain people off the ballot because they would draw votes from another candidate). In any event, the Supremes will probably be very narrow in their decision if they don't punt this year.