The 2024 US presidential election saw high turnout, yet an estimated 90 million eligible Americans did not vote—a number exceeding the votes for either major candidate. Many non-voters cited the Electoral College as rendering their votes insignificant in their respective states. Other reasons included dissatisfaction with both candidates, a perception that neither represented working-class interests, and policy disagreements, particularly regarding the candidates’ stances on issues like Israel and climate change. Finally, some expressed disillusionment with the two-party system and extreme political polarization.
Read More
President-elect Trump’s transition team is exploring the possibility of weakening or abolishing key banking regulators, including the FDIC and OCC, potentially transferring their functions to the Treasury Department. This aligns with Project 2025’s proposal to merge several financial regulatory agencies. Concerns have been raised that dismantling these agencies, particularly the FDIC, could undermine public trust in the banking system and increase the risk of another financial crisis. The potential elimination of the CFPB is also under consideration, reflecting a broader push for deregulation within the financial sector.
Read More
President Biden’s commutation of Judge Michael Conahan’s sentence in the “Kids for Cash” scandal has sparked outrage among victims. Conahan and Judge Mark Ciavarella were convicted of accepting kickbacks to send juveniles to private detention centers. While the White House cited successful reintegration for the commutation, victim Amanda Lorah argues this ignores the lasting harm suffered by those wrongly imprisoned. Lorah highlights the perceived injustice of Conahan’s reduced sentence compared to the lack of justice she and others received.
Read More
President Biden is on track to appoint more federal judges of color than any president before him, with over 60% of his 233 judicial appointees being people of color. This includes a record-breaking 40 Black women appointed to lifetime federal judgeships, exceeding previous presidential appointments. If confirmed, Benjamin Cheeks’ nomination would bring Biden’s total of Black federal judges to 63, surpassing the number appointed by any other president. This increased diversity aims to improve judicial decision-making and public trust in the courts, impacting legal outcomes for decades to come.
Read More
This list encompasses a comprehensive array of countries and territories worldwide. The included entities range from sovereign nations like the United States and China to smaller territories and dependencies. The geographic scope is global, spanning all continents. The list’s purpose is to provide a complete enumeration of recognized political entities.
Read More
Donald Trump’s repeated refusal to disclose whether he has spoken with Vladimir Putin, citing inappropriateness, contrasts sharply with his willingness to publicize conversations with other world leaders. This pattern began in 2016 and continued through his first presidency, with reports alleging undisclosed communications even after leaving office. Trump’s recent claim that he “can’t” discuss potential conversations with Putin further fuels concerns about the nature of their relationship. This secrecy stands in stark contrast to his public boasting about interactions with other foreign leaders.
Read More
Democratic Representatives Markey and Lieu urged President Biden to curtail the president’s sole authority to launch nuclear weapons, citing concerns about the potential for unilateral action by a future president. Their letter emphasizes the inherent danger of this unchecked power, particularly given Donald Trump’s past rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons. The lawmakers proposed requiring Congressional authorization for any nuclear first strike, reserving unilateral presidential response only to an existing nuclear attack. This policy change, they argued, would be a significant part of Biden’s legacy.
Read More
Donald Trump repeatedly promised to lower grocery prices, attributing this pledge to his election victory, despite the complexity of food pricing. He now claims lowering prices is difficult, contradicting his previous assertion of a simple solution. This reversal reveals the unsubstantiated nature of his promise, which ignored factors like supply chain issues and corporate profits. Ultimately, Trump’s pledge was a deceptive campaign tactic, leaving voters disillusioned and potentially accepting perpetually high food costs as the “new normal”.
Read More
Despite initially dismissing the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 as “ridiculous and abysmal,” President-elect Trump later acknowledged some of its proposals as “very conservative and very good.” He maintains he had no involvement in the project and disapproved of its pre-election release, yet several key Project 2025 architects have been nominated for positions in his administration. This raises questions about the extent of the project’s influence on his second term, with critics arguing a direct connection and supporters downplaying its role. Trump’s ultimate agenda, however, remains focused on his campaign promises and loyal appointees.
Read More
President Xi Jinping will not attend President Trump’s inauguration, though he received a personal invitation; China’s ambassador will represent Beijing instead. This decision breaks with no precedent of a Chinese head of state attending a U.S. presidential inauguration. Despite Trump’s past threats of high tariffs and trade disputes, China expressed a willingness to cooperate with the new administration through dialogue and win-win cooperation. This willingness is demonstrated both publicly and through diplomatic channels.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker