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Republicans Swipe Senate for First Time in 4 Years
International Desk
06 Nov 2024, 11:58
Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks during a watch party on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio, Photo: AP
Republicans regained control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday, flipping Democratic-held seats and securing GOP incumbents. The pivotal moment came in Nebraska, where incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer narrowly defeated independent Dan Osborn.
Republicans also flipped a seat in West Virginia, with Jim Justice replacing retiring Sen. Joe Manchin. Democratic attempts to oust Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida failed. Cruz’s victory in Texas, a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat in nearly 30 years, was fueled by his support for reproductive rights amid strict abortion laws. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno defeated Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, marking the first loss for an incumbent senator in the cycle.
As Democrats fought to retain their majority, attention shifted to critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. With the Senate split 50-50, control could hinge on just one seat, with the vice president holding the tie-breaking vote.
Historic victories also marked the night. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland became the first Black women elected to the Senate, while Andy Kim of New Jersey became the first Korean American senator. Meanwhile, Sarah McBride of Delaware made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
Amid these battles, the economy, immigration, and the future of democracy emerged as key issues for voters. With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the presidential ballot, Congress’s role in certifying election results remains critical. As vote counting continues in several key races, both parties are closely watching outcomes in Montana, Arizona, Nevada, and other battleground states.
Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.
(Source: AP)
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Kamala Harris Says She Believes Donald Trump is a Fascist
US presidential hopeful Kamala Harris said she believes her opponent Donald Trump is a fascist after reports emerged that he praised Adolf Hitler.
Speaking at a town hall event hosted by CNN on Wednesday night, Harris was asked by anchor Anderson Cooper whether she believed Trump is a fascist. "Yes, I do," Harris answered. "And I also believe that the people who know him best, on this subject, should be trusted."
Harris: 'Trump is a danger to the security of America'
Harris cited numerous former Trump administration officials, including his national security advisor and vice president.
"They have said explicitly he has contempt for the constitution of the United States," she said. "They have said he should never again serve as president of the United States." "I believe Donald Trump is a danger to the well-being and security of America," she added.
Trump accused of praising Hitler
Harris' comments came after a report by the New York Times, in which Trump's longest-serving chief of staff, John Kelly, said the former president had openly admired German dictator Adolf Hitler while in office.
Kelly had told the newspaper that Trump remarked that "Hitler did some good things too" and that instead of the US military, he "wanted generals like Adolf Hitler had." Trump denied the account in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. He claimed that Kelly "made up a story."
Early voting record numbers
Nearly 25 million people have already voted, either through in-person early voting or mail-in ballots, according to tracking data from the Election Lab at the University of Florida.
Several states, including the battlegrounds of North Carolina and Georgia, set records on the first day of early voting. The record early turnout comes as Harris and Trump remain neck and neck in the seven most
competitive states.
Biden Makes Historic Apology to Native Americans
US President Joe Biden traveled to Arizona on Friday where he spoke with members of the Gila River Indian Community, offering a historical apology to Native peoples who suffered a century-and-a-half of unjust federal policies.
Biden, who has sought to invest in long neglected Tribal communities, as well as expanding Tribal autonomy and protections, was accompanied by US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American ever to serve in a Cabinet position.
Stephen Roe Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community, introduced Biden, praising his "compassion, character and empathy," saying "no other president or vice president has done more for Native Americans."
Speaking to those gathered, Biden called the opportunity to offer an official apology, "one of the most consequential things I've ever been able to do."
Biden's apology was offered for decades of abuse suffered by Indian Nations at the hands of the US government and its policy of forced assimilation among Indian children.
Biden told those gathered, "The Federal Indian Board Era is one of the darkest chapters of American history. The trauma experienced in those institutions haunts our conscience to this very day."
He spoke passionately about the need "to right a wrong... to chart a new path forward," before praising "thousands of years of [Native American] culture" in government, culture and agriculture.
Addressing the "trauma and shame" of "generations of children stolen," Biden slammed his fist on his podium, bellowing "I formally apologize!"
A perfidious scheme to 'civilize Indians'
The boarding school system, which began as part of the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, remained in place until 1970 and at one point comprised some 400 schools, many of them church-operated, across the breadth of the continent.
Over the course of 150 years, records show that more than 18,000 Native American children, some as young as four, were taken from their parents and put into abusive boarding schools aimed at eradicating Tribal cultures. In his remarks, Biden acknowledged that the true number of children taken was likely far greater.
Boys at the school, for instance, had their braids cut off and children were forbidden from speaking in their native tongue. Catholic educators condemned traditional Tribal religion as "evil," pushing forced conversions under the motto, "kill the Indian, save the man."
At least 973 children died in the schools.
First Native American Cabinet member instrumental in acknowledging historical injustices
After Haaland took over at the Department of Interior, she ordered a comprehensive review of federal boarding school policies. It was that report that motivated Biden to offer an official presidential apology.
"He made commitments to Indian country," said Haaland, "and he has followed through on every single one."
Biden, whom Haaland called "courageous," put federal protections on a number of sacred Tribal sites in the Southwest, including restoring protections for the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, which his predecessor Donald Trump had opened to drilling and mining under Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
Biden on Friday, listed the many initiatives his administration had undertaken to assist Tribal communities, such as investment in infrastructure, health and education.
Political observers point out that the move by Biden during his last days in office also seeks to highlight the administration's work while attracting a very specific group of voters in a critical swing state as Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump remain in a dead heat just days before the US presidential election.
In his remarks, President Biden labeled the Federal Boarding School Era "a sin on our soul" and called for history books to be rewritten, "just because history is silent doesn't mean it didn't happen," he said, adding, "we must know who we are as a nation."
In closing, Biden spoke of hopefulness and the strengthening of ties between the federal government and Tribal Nations. While acknowledging that it was impossible to change the past, he said saying his apology was about "finally moving forward, into the light."
Donald Trump Attacks Kamala Harris at New York City Rally
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally at Madison Square Garden, New York City, on Sunday night. "You've destroyed our country. We're not going to take it anymore, Kamala, you're fired. Get out. Get out. You're fired," Trump told the crowd. He also called Harris a "very low IQ individual."
"This election is a choice between whether we'll have four more years of gross incompetence and failure, or whether we'll begin the greatest years in the history of our country," he said. The Republican nominee was introduced by his wife, Melania Trump, whose appearance came as a surprise as she has been largely absent from his campaign.
What did Trump promise?
In his speech, which lasted about an hour and 15 minutes, Trump mostly reiterated promises he made on the campaign trail, such as curbing illegal immigration. He repeatedly linked gang violence to illegal immigration, promising that he would stop an "invasion of criminals coming into our country" if he wins the November 5 election.
He called for the death penalty for any migrant who kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer. The Republican nominee also announced a new policy that would provide tax credits for family caregivers. "If I win, we will quickly build the greatest economy in the history of the world. Which is what we had in our last term," Trump said.
He promised to "teach children to always respect our great American flag" and said that burning the American flag would be punishable by a year in jail.
Incendiary remarks by Trump allies
Madison Square Garden was packed hours before Trump was scheduled to speak. Outside the arena, the sidewalks were overflowing with his supporters wearing red "Make America Great Again" hats.
In the hours before Trump spoke, some of the introductory speakers at the 20,000-seat Madison Square Garden venue drew cheers with their barbs against Harris, Puerto Rico and Latinos in the final stretch of one of America's closest ever White House races.
Trump's childhood friend David Rem referred to Harris, who is vying to become the first woman to be elected president, as "the Antichrist" and "the devil."
Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and Trump's former personal lawyer, claimed that Harris was "on the side of the terrorists" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wanted to bring Palestinians to the United States.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe used crude language to joke that Latinos "love making babies" and called the Caribbean US territory of Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."
Hinchcliffe's comments were immediately criticized by Harris' campaign and by Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin, who was among the first to endorse Harris when she launched her presidential bid in July.
"Puerto Ricans deserve a president who sees and invests in (their) strength," Harris said in a clip posted on social media along with Hinchcliffe's comments.
Meet the Young, First-time US Voters Going for Trump
Locked in a tight race for the US presidency, Republican Donald Trump has been pushing hard to make inroads with young, first-time voters.
AFP spoke with three such teenagers in Georgia, one of the most hotly contested of the swing states that will decide the US election on November 5.
'Someone to look up to'
Kamron can't wait to blow out the candles for his 18th birthday on Thursday, just in time for the presidential election.
For this high school student, who was wearing a red cap bearing Trump's name, there is no doubt about who he is voting for.
"A lot of young men don't like what's going on in the US right now," he said, adding that he believes the Democrats were spending too much time on "LGBTQ agendas, transgender agendas" and not enough on everyday problems.
"That's not really what the young men are looking for right now, they're looking for a strong, powerful leader that has a backbone, they're looking for someone to look up to," he said.
'For the economy'
On Monday, Trump held a campaign rally on the Georgia Tech university campus in Atlanta.
Cesar Viera, 18, said he's ready to vote for the billionaire as early as "tomorrow," taking advantage of early voting arrangements, which are in place in several states.
"Trump would be way better for young Americans," he said, a US flag draped across his shoulders.
"He's just the best for the economy right now," said the teenager, a craftsman who refurbishes houses and who already has concerns about never being able to afford his own.
At 78, Trump would be the oldest man to take oath as US president if he wins. For Viera, however, there are no concerns about his age.
"I think it doesn't matter, it just matters how he's doing mentally," he said.
'Sense of community'
"Neither candidate is perfect," said Trenton Dykes, a 19-year-old computer engineering student from Kennesaw, Georgia.
Dykes was unmoved by allegations of racism leveled at Trump, who has repeatedly characterized migrants as "animals" and "criminals" throughout his campaign.
"Based on policy, we've already seen him in office four years, I don't think he did anything racist," said Dykes.
The student initially supported Robert Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate who dropped out of the race to support Republican Trump.
"I don't vote based on character," he said, adding that Trump was "bringing people across party lines."
This would be Dykes's second rally for the septuagenarian, and he said he was drawn to "the sense of community, people coming together with the same set of beliefs."
Trump Strongly Condemns Alleged Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh
U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has issued a strong condemnation against Bangladesh, alleging persecution of Hindus, Christians, and other minorities in the country. Trump claimed that Bangladesh is currently in a state of complete chaos.
In an X post (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, October 31, Trump criticized Bangladesh harshly, stating, “I strongly condemn the brutal violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities in Bangladesh. They are being attacked and looted in an organized manner. Bangladesh is now in a complete state of chaos.”
Trump mentioned that such incidents never happened during his administration. He wrote, “Kamala (another presidential candidate) and Joe (President Joe Biden) have ignored Hindus in the U.S. and around the world. From Israel to Ukraine, and at our southern border, they have been a disaster. But we will make America strong again and restore peace through strength!”
He further stated, “We will protect American Hindus from the radical left. We will fight for their freedom. Under my administration, we will strengthen our broader partnership with India and my good friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The former president added, “Kamala Harris will destroy your small businesses with high taxes and more regulations. Where I cut taxes, reduced regulations, strengthened American energy, and built the strongest economy in history, we will do it again, bigger and better than ever. And we will make America great again.”
In closing, he extended Diwali greetings to everyone, saying, “I hope this festival of lights will drive away darkness and bring victory of good over evil.”
'I Truly Love Gen Z', Says Kamala Harris
U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris once again spoke to draw young voters, this time with a heartfelt appeal. Speaking at a rally in Wisconsin, Kamala addressed Gen Z with words of admiration.
According to a BBC live report on Saturday (October 2), many Gen Z voters will be voting for the first time in this election. Kamala Harris is making every effort to reach them, stating, "I love Gen Z. I really do."
She added that young people want change regarding issues like gun violence and the climate crisis, and they’re growing impatient. Kamala urged them to vote for her to make these demands a reality.
At the end of her speech, Harris encouraged her supporters to knock on doors, text their friends, and remind their families to go out and vote.
In her words, "Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power."
Harris’s speech lasted around 30 minutes, much shorter than Trump’s rally in Warren, Michigan. Later that night, Kamala Harris was set to appear again at a Milwaukee rally alongside rapper Cardi B, while Trump was also scheduled to hold a separate rally in Milwaukee.
As the November 5 presidential election approaches, the final phase of campaigning between the two candidates remains heated, with exchanges of attacks and counter-attacks. Republican candidate Donald Trump has sparked controversy by comparing immigrants to "trash" and then making further comments about women. Kamala Harris and her campaign team quickly seized upon this, with Harris openly criticizing Trump at a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday night. A highlight of this rally was the appearance of pop star, actress, and producer Jennifer Lopez, who urged women voters to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
(Source: BBC News)
Presidential Impact on the US Economy
A lot of time, effort and money goes into presidential and national elections in the United States, and this year is no exception. But combing through the data since 2009 shows that no matter who was in power, the economy seemed to be equally driven by global events, demographic developments and decisions made in the White House.
The period from 2009 to 2024 covers both of Barack Obama's two terms in office, plus the single terms of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, whose presidency is now coming to an end.
Looking back at Obama, Trump and Biden
There were two major disrupters for the economy during this period. The first was the financial crisis that started before Obama took office in January 2009, and the second was the COVID-19 pandemic that struck in the final year of the Trump administration in 2020.
The financial crisis led some to fear the collapse of the entire banking system. Soon afterward, GM and Chrysler, two of the biggest American carmakers, declared bankruptcy to reorganize their businesses, and the housing market, specifically mortgages, spun out of control.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a more immediate impact on the US and global economies. Lockdowns, shortages due to delicate supply chains and the closure of borders caused deaths, economic chaos and massive job losses.
Partly through large stimulus checks, the US managed to quickly escape the pandemic slump, picking up where the economy left off and creating a strong recovery.
American GDP vs. other economic giants
One problem comparing the impact presidents and their policies make is the lag in time it takes for their decisions to make a difference. Investing in infrastructure or industries like chipmaking is necessary, but the benefits are only felt way in the future. Tightening the border to Mexico may keep out some migrants, but the impact of missing workers takes time to affect supermarket prices.
Another problem is assessing the impact of presidents separately from decisions made together with policymakers in Congress or independent institutions like the Federal Reserve.
Since 1990, American gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has grown each year except 2009, and that was another knock-on effect of the financial crisis. Last year, the country's GDP per capita was over $81,000 (€74,700).
At the same time, when it comes to the annual percentage of growth per capita, China and India have had stronger growth. Despite this higher growth rate, America's per capita GDP is still three times higher than China's and eight times higher than India's.
In 2023, America's overall GDP was an astounding $27.36 trillion, making it by far the biggest economy in the world. China came a distant second at $17.66 trillion, followed by Germany and Japan.
Many jobs for many people
In the first few months of Obama's presidency, unemployment went up because of the financial crisis. From April 2009 to September 2011, it was at 9% or more.
After that, the unemployment rate slowly crept down until it reached its lowest level since the 1960s before a short-lived spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, which put many out of a job. This year, it has hovered around 4%.
On another front, American workers are more productive than workers in other nations thanks to innovation, spending on research and development and the willingness of workers to change jobs or move.
Pay inequality at the bottom
Another measure that has increased is pay inequality: America is the most unequal country in the G7 group. The top 1% of Americans hold a huge proportion of the country's wealth.
In the US, to get into the top 1% of earners requires an annual household income of around $1 million a year before taxes. In the United Kingdom, it only takes around $250,000.
The salary of company bosses was over 250 times more than their average employee, Obama wrote in an open letter to his successor in The Economist in October 2016.
Moreover, in 1979, "the top 1% of American families received 7% of all after-tax income. By 2007, that share had more than doubled to 17%," he wrote. More positively, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell.
Migration is changing America
Irregular migration into the US is hard to measure, but documented migration can be counted. One measure of this is the number of green cards granted, and from 2009 to 2022, over 14 million people were given such status.
The foreign-born population living in America, legally or otherwise, has grown considerably over the past 50 years in size and share of the population, according to a report issued by the US Census Bureau in April.
In 1970, there were 9.6 million foreign-born residents. By 2022, there were over 46 million, or nearly 14% of the total population.
Of the overall total, nearly one-third of the country's foreign-born population came to the US in 2010 or later, and half live in just four states: California, Texas, Florida and New York. More than half have become citizens.
High inflation comes to America
Since January 2009, inflation has gone on a wild ride, based on the Consumer Price Index.
When Obama took office, inflation was at zero, went into negative territory and eventually climbed to a high of 9.1% in June 2022. This past September, it was down to 2.4%, the lowest since February 2021.
This relatively short period of higher inflation is having a long afterlife and has led to big cost of living increases for many Americans.
Consumer prices are up, and voters are very unhappy about it. It's one of the most important issues this year and could decide the election in swing states. It's also one of the hardest things for any president to control.
