On Thanksgiving Day, President Joe Biden called for unity among Americans, urging them to put aside their differences and come together. He and his family are spending the holiday in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and during a call into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, Biden said that despite different political views, Americans should focus on dealing with their problems and being together. He concluded by encouraging Americans to treat each other with decency and to unite in addressing the nation's problems.
Posts published in “Politics”
Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom won a huge victory in the Dutch elections, with 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament, more than double the 17 seats he won at the last election. This is a reflection of the growing support for far-right parties across Europe, and could lead to a shift in the country's policies if Wilders is able to form a coalition government. This could also embolden other far-right parties in Europe, leading to further political shifts to the right.
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to release 50 kidnapped women and children, as well as 150 Palestinians held in Israeli jails, and to deliver hundreds of aid trucks to Gaza. This agreement comes after weeks of pressure from the international community and demonstrations in Israel demanding the release of the hostages. The details of the agreement are still being finalized, but it could potentially bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Bob Vander Plaats, an influential evangelical leader, has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. This marks the second major endorsement for DeSantis in Iowa this month, and supporters of DeSantis point to Vander Plaats' audience and influence to argue that his endorsement will help DeSantis make inroads with evangelical Christian voters in Iowa. DeSantis' campaign is hoping that Vander Plaats' endorsement will help him gain traction with this key voting bloc, potentially giving him a major boost in the upcoming Iowa caucuses.
Donald Trump has called for an end to Republican debates for the party's presidential candidates, citing low ratings. This demand comes as his former rival, Nikki Haley, has risen steadily in the polls, and an altercation broke out between Jeff Roe and Scott Wagner of the Never Back Down super PAC. Trump has not attended any of the debates and does not intend to attend the fourth one next month, and it is unclear how the RNC will respond to his demand.
19 Democratic voters have filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin to declare the state's current legislative maps unconstitutional and to order new maps to be drawn by March 2024. Supporters of school choice and independent charter school programs are urging the court to reject the lawsuit, as it could create chaos for enrolled families. The court's new liberal majority will decide the outcome of the case, which has become a flashpoint for the state's purple politics.
Adrienne Watson, National Security Council spokesperson, condemned North Korea's attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit, which was detected by South Korea's military and successfully launched late Tuesday night. Japan briefly issued an advisory in Okinawa and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch, while the missile was believed to have passed into the Pacific Ocean. Watson's statement called the launch a "brazen violation of multiple international laws and norms."
Utah voters in the 2nd congressional district will decide between Republican Celeste Maloy and Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. If elected, Maloy would become the first woman in Utah’s congressional delegation since 2019 and Riebe would be the first Democrat since 2011. The 435th member of the House will be determined by the election, with Maloy being the heavy favorite in the Republican-leaning district. The election is expected to draw a large turnout, with the winner being sworn in shortly after the election.