Happy Friday. The US election is now just a month away – and some big bombshells this week may have a profound influence on the result.
What We Now Know About January 6th
Nearly four years on, we’re still learning the details of what actually transpired on January 6th, 2021. With another election imminent and the same election-denying candidate (somehow) on the ballot once more, these are crucial details that illuminate a dark corner of the American political process.
This week, new unsealed court filings revealed what US federal prosecutors think actually happened on January 6th. We got new details about the timeline, the actors involved, and the extent to which Trump was involved in, essentially, planning a coup d’etat.
Here’s some highlights of allegations in the filings:
Trump allegedly acted “privately” in attempting to overturn the election, meaning that his actions leading up to and on January 6th were not official Presidential business (and therefore were not covered by any “presidential immunity”). The filings detail how he largely used private actors and private campaign infrastructureas opposed to government officials and powers in conducting the scheme.
Trump was allegedly told by VP Mike Pence that he’d lost the election and that he needed to concede before he told the Jan 6th crowd that Pence could fix it by refusing to certify the election. Prosecutors claim he was informed that Pence was under security threat (as a result of Trump’s speech). He responded: “So what?”
Trump allegedly knew that his election fraud claims were false, and planned to declare victory far before the ballots were counted and any winner was projected. Trump agents were reportedly told to “find a reason” to reject ballots in Chicago, “even if” they were legitimate. The prosecutors allege that “private operatives sought to create chaos at polling stations.”
Trump agents were quoted as saying to “make them riot” over claims of election fraud, referring to the Jan 6th protestors.
This isn’t an official ruling, and it remains to be seen whether these allegations will bear out under further legal scrutiny. But the evidence is mounting that Trump, outside of his protected remit as President, privately deployed a number of different tactics to subvert the result of the election. When all else failed, he directed a violent and angry crowd into the centre of government. If these prosecutors make this case successfully, even the sympathetic Supreme Court may not be able to protect him.
Many forget, but this wasn’t America’s first run-in with election denial. The chaotic 2000 US election – which was a much closer contest than in 2020 – was also beset by violent riots and an (actually successful) scheme to sway the result. Here’s a good video explaining what happened back then.
The US is, increasingly, a deeply divided nation with a radical minority willing to violently subvert democratic institutions. The UK, while perhaps not as far along that path, has its own breed of violent far-right thuggery. Neither country has the democratic safeguards required to fend off threats of this scale.
For now, all we can do is watch with bated breath and hope that, should Trump lose the election next month, that Capitol security and America’s flimsy institutional safeguards hold out for one more cycle.
In other US election news…
Walz and JD Vance went head-to-head on Tuesday, in a bizarrely civil debate that increased both participants’ approval ratings. In one iconic moment, Vance whined about being fact-checked on his claim that illegal Haitian migrants were causing havoc in Ohio.
Analysts argue that escalating military tensions between Israel and Iran could be a boon to Trump in the last few weeks of the campaign – is this the famed “October surprise”?
According to some polling analysis, It’s not inconceivable that this election could result in a tie. It makes the concerns outlined above about election denial even more significant.
Happy Friday. With the first early votes being cast and just thirty-eight days to go until polling day, here’s a look at what’s been going in the US Presidential race.
How North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson Symbolises Democratic Decline
Some very questionable politicians have made it into office in recent years, both here and in the US. Donald Trump in particular seemed to usher in a wave of strange internet populists, bringing a new crop of zealous oddballs who seemingly spend far too much time online.
Running to be governor of North Carolina, Republican Mark Robinson is a prime example. The man who Donald Trump once praised as “Martin Luther King on steroids,” had his internet persona uncovered by CNN last week, revealing a series of strange habits and ideological quirks.
For one thing, he had referred to the civil rights leader MLK JR. as a “commie b*stard.” Robinson identified himself online as a “Black Nazi,” quoted Hitler repeatedly, defended the slave trade, revealed a predilection for pornography, and fondly recalled creepily predating on women. Much of what he allegedly said is not repeatable in this email.
He has denied the accusations despite strong evidence against him, claiming his Democratic rival is responsible. Regardless, these allegations could significantly affect the election. North Carolina’s race is among the most competitive in the nation, with the governor’s contest on the same ballot. At minimum, this controversy might discourage some Republican voters from participating.
But the bigger story here is the utter destruction of standards in public life. After all of this, he’s still a candidate! A scandal that should be career-ending is merely an obstacle, a challenge to be met with bluster and obfuscation.
There have always been dodgy politicians. But the level of public scrutiny has never been this low. Looking at other elected officials in the States – Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert – and our own here in the UK – Lee Anderson, Suella Braverman, and until recently Liz Truss –the calibre seems to have starkly dropped.
These are not serious people, and the fact that they’ve ascended the political ranks suggests something is deeply wrong with politics in both countries
In other US election news…
This week, Keir Starmer and David Lammy met with Trump to “establish a relationship,” claiming that maintaining the “special relationship” is more important than any one office-holder.
Walz and JD Vance will go head-to-head in a debate next Tuesday, in the first major debate event since Harris faced off against Trump earlier this month.
Concerns are mounting about potential election denial should Harris win, with many known 2020 election deniers holding offices that could disrupt vote counts later this year.
Happy Friday! Here’s another quick round-up of what’s going on in the United States Presidential election.
Harris and Walz Show They’ve Got “Substance”
In an interview that Donald Trump eloquently described as “BORING!!!”, Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz sat down for their first deep-dive interview last night on CNN. Unlike Trump’s “X” interview with Elon Musk, the Presidential candidate was actually asked some not-so-easy questions.
Concerns had previously arisen within the Democratic party that Harris couldn’t handle a one on one interview. She did receive a lot of pushback on her administration’s policy U-turns, having recently decided to overturn her planned fracking ban and back off on plans to decriminalise certain border crossings. But she seemed to handle it well.
Kamala Harris used this interview to cement herself as the “radically normal” candidate, acknowledging that concessions would have to be made to win over swing-state voters, and that some of the more left-wing parts of her agenda were simply not palatable in this race.
Some might say that these policy shifts mean she’s caved to Trump’s attacks (he’s been routinely calling her a communist) but others see it as par for the course in First-Past-The-Post politics, where swing-states are the all important holy grail of winning elections.
Despite accusations – particularly from the British press, interestingly – that Kamala Harris is running purely a “vibes-based” campaign with no policy substance, this interview seemed to demonstrate a real vision for the country. Harris is continuing Biden’s pivot towards trade unions and a national industrial strategy. She’s cemented the campaign as middle-class focused – and much more working-class friendly than the Democrats have historically been.
She also, notably, did not take the bait on Trump’s racist antics. Asked about the former President’s accusation that she was merely pretending to be African-American, she responded “same old tired playbook.” “Next question, please.”
Their strategy seems to be resonating, given that Harris is only growing stronger in the polls. We’ll have to check in next week to see what impact the interview had.
In other US election news…
The first Presidential debate will take place in under two weeks time, on September 10th. It could be a make-or-break moment for Kamala Harris. (I’m more excited, actually, for the Walz-Vance debate on October 1st)
Third party candidate RFK Jr and former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard have both endorsed Donald Trump this week.
Trump has announced a new policy, to support state funded IVF treatments – something his evangelical base might not love.
As is standard Friday procedure, I’ve got another quick round-up of US election updates – always with a focus on the democracy issues at the core of Open Britain’s mission.
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The Dems Showed Unity in Chicago – Mostly.
Before Joe Biden’s withdrawal – just a month ago – the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was expected to look more like a wake than a party. Trump led in the polls, and the party was mired in leadership disputes and anti-war protests. It was set to be a repeat of the 1968 DNC, also in Chicago – a disjointed and frustrated party marching towards defeat.
Instead, though, we saw the Dems successfully collaborate and assuage many of their long-standing factional disputes. With speeches from Senator Bernie Sanders on the party’s progressive wing to old establishment figures like Hillary Clinton, the first few days of the convention especially suggested that the party was operating as a coalition of interests, and the (historically excluded) left-wing faction was being invited to at least have a say.
The message that unified Dems across ideological lines was centred around democracy and freedom. As Michelle Obama put it: “This is our time to stand up for what we know in our hearts is right. To stand up, not just for our basic freedoms but for decency and humanity; for basic respect, dignity, and empathy; for the values at the very foundation of this democracy.”
But certain events on the last day unfortunately undercut that message. The Uncommitted Movement, which encouraged hundreds of thousands of Americans to vote “uncommitted” in party primaries (a purely symbolic statement, broadcasting their view that Biden must do more to secure peace in the Middle East), sent thirty delegates to the Convention. They represented about 700,000 real Democratic voters.
These delegates were not random, outside protestors but Democratic party insiders, people who support Kamala Harris but also want to speak up on behalf of America’s Middle Eastern community in favour of a ceasefire and release of all hostages. The spokesperson the Uncommitted delegates put forward, Georgia state congresswoman Ruwa Romman, was not permitted to take the main stage – despite her speech being pre-vetted by DNC staff.
It shows that, while Democrats increasingly seem to understand the power of party unity and intra-party democracy in some ways, they still have a lot to work on. Many have made a compelling case since the incident that listening to voters on the issues they care about – even if others in the party may disagree or find it hard to hear – is a crucial way of building the party unity everyone is so impressed by. Some debates are certainly hard to have – but that’s democracy, and it’s no excuse to ignore them entirely.
In Chicago, the Dems managed to settle a lot of tough debates on myriad other issues that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. The more unified they are on real voters’ concerns, the better chance they have of beating Donald Trump in November.
In other US election news…
Debate season is imminent, with Harris-Trump facing off on September 10th and Walz-Vance going head to head on October 1st.
As Kamala Harris gave her speech formally accepting the nomination, Trump reportedly posted on Truth Social every 45 seconds on average in what some are calling a “meltdown”.
Third party candidate RFK Jr. is expected to drop out of the race this afternoon and (according to rumours) endorse Donald Trump.
Per our new Friday tradition, I’m once again going to dive into the political news from the States. For better or for worse, US politics has a massive impact on what happens here in the UK and around the world. The decision American voters take on November 4th – and the potential political violence that could come after – will shape our own fight for democracy here at home in myriad ways. So let’s get into it.
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Is MAGA Melting Down?
It’s only August 16th, and this election cycle has already been full of surprises. Just a month ago, Donald Trump was ascendant in the polls and emboldened by an attempted assassination. MAGA seemed to be a cold and calculating political machine, delivering blow after blow to a beleaguered Joe Biden and jumping up in key swing state polls.
But the Democrats’ abrupt decision to shift their ticket seems to have caught the Republicans almost entirely off guard. They had put all their eggs in the “anti-Biden” basket, leaving them devoid of talking points and opposition research. Worse still, the Democrats’ rising momentum seems to be opening up internal feuds within MAGA, revealing the cracks in their facade.
Republican party campaigners have expressed concerns that Trump is self-sabotaging, accusing him of entering a “self-destructive spiral” since Biden dropped out. His usual name-calling strategies (questioning Kamala Harris’ racial background, and calling her stupid) are not working in the eyes of his own strategists, and his repeated feuds with Republican swing-state governors like Georgia’s Brian Kemp are making the party look chaotic and amateurish.
Let’s also not forget that Trump was found guilty in May of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal a hush-money payment to a porn star. His new gambit has been to try and delay sentencing until after the election, arguing that it would amount to “election interference.”
Then there’s the small matter of JD Vance. While conventional wisdom holds that Vice-Presidential picks don’t matter all that much, Trump has had a very light campaign event schedule, often leaving his VP pick to do his talking for him. Vance, a charisma blackhole with views that are polarising even to ardent right-wingers, is only further alienating the campaign from regular people.
A series of incredibly cringey “X” features with Elon Musk, including a weird sycophantic (and technologically disastrous) digital interview and a dumb AI deep-fake video of the two billionaires dancing to “Stayin Alive”, showcase a campaign that has all but lost its populist allure.
As I said at the beginning though, it’s only August 16th. Anything could happen in the next few months. But we do seem to be witnessing a turning point in Trump’s strategy, and the same old 2016 campaign tricks just don’t seem like they’re going to work again.
In other US election news…
The Democratic National Convention kicks off next week, set to be a huge make-or-break moment for the Harris/Walz ticket and their momentum.
Trump’s campaign have accused Harris of “stealing” a proposal for ending taxes on tips – many service industry workers in America are paid around $2/hour and rely mostly on tips.
Debate season is nearly upon us, with Harris-Trump facing off on September 10th and Walz-Vance going head to head on October 1st.
Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ pick to be her Vice-President, and the pair have obviously got the Repugs worried. Matt Goodwin or whatever his name is has put up a video about the censorship Starmer has imposed on social media to suppress the rioting. He’s yelling that if Harris and Walz get in, that’ll come to America, the Land of the Free. In fact, from what Open Britain are saying below, K & W will likely bring real free speech to America by getting out the dark money and the corporatists, so that politics starts to respond to the needs and wishes of real, severely normal Americans.
’09/08/24
87 Days to go until the US election.
Dear David,
We’re back for another US elections newsletter. I’m convinced that what happens in the States in November will have profound consequences here at home and around the world, and that we should all be paying close attention. I’ve been covering recent US developments for Byline Times, and wanted to share my thoughts with OB’s supporters as well – with a particular eye on democracy.
If this kind of thing is not for you, don’t worry. You can opt out here.
Who is Tim Walz?
This week, Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota governor Tim Walz will complete the Democratic ticket and head off with her against Trump and JD Vance this November. Walz has an “everyman” appeal and a strong record on democracy issues, making him a formidable opponent for the embattled Vance.
In 2023, Walz oversaw the “Democracy for the People Act” in Minnesota, which is, to date, one of the most comprehensive democracy bills put forward in the US at the state level in modern times. It included:
Automatic voter registration;
Pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds;
Measures prohibiting voter intimidation, harassment, and deceptive practices intended to interfere with the vote;
Measures closing dark money loopholes, increasing campaign finance transparency, and prohibiting foreign-influence corporations from spending money in Minnesota elections.
The Minnesota Democratic party, more broadly, has been extremely successful in efficiently pushing through a popular agenda over the past few years. It puts Walz in stark contrast to his opponent for the VP spot, a venture-capitalist funded faux populist with strings attached to Silicon Valley billionaires.
One interesting sign is that Trump and Vance seem to be struggling to find a salient attack line on the VP candidate. They’ve worked hard to spread lies about Walz’ time in the military, accusing him of falsifying his service record, but the attack lines haven’t really resonated with the public – and the Democrats are now up in the polls.
There is still a lot of time to go, but the Harris campaign, now untethered to Joe Biden, seems to have gained significant momentum – and Walz is certainly playing a role in it.
In other US election news…On September 10th, Trump and Harris will face off in their first Presidential debate. As we saw with Biden earlier in June, these debates can be pivotal make-or-break moments; The bookies now favour Harris to win the 2024 US election, over-taking Trump in the betting odds for the first time; According to the internet watchdog Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Elon Musk has made at least fifty posts on “X” containing false or misleading information about the 2024 US election, viewed over a billion times.
Have you noticed it? From Walthamstow to Wisconsin, there has been a palpable shift in political momentum. Just a few weeks ago, the far-right seemed emboldened and in control. These last few days, ordinary people have stood up to remind them of the truth – that they’re vastly outnumbered.
Last night, police here in the UK issued warnings about another wave of far-right riots around the country. Communities responded in force, mobilising across Britain in much larger numbers. In the end, last night was a powerful display of tolerance, solidarity, and anti-fascism, rather than another terrible tour of senseless destruction and hate.
Placards last night read “refugees welcome”, “stop the far-right,” “no to fascism”, and “this is what community looks like.”
In the States, too, the far-right seems to be losing momentum. Two rallies in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin both drew a massive turnout for Kamala Harris and her new VP pick Tim Walz. The crowds could be heard chanting the campaign’s new unofficial slogan, “We’re not going back!”
Trump, slipping in the polls and seemingly taking an oddly-timed break from in-person campaigning this week, has resorted to his standard online name-calling tactics. But he just doesn’t have the novelty or the cut-through he did in 2016. It all looks like little more than the rantings of an old and increasingly desperate man.
We’ve been reminded this week that, despite what the likes of Farage often claim, the bigots, racists, and fascists do not speak for us. Most people in this world are genuinely decent, and when they’re given a voice, they’ll drown out the noxious noise of the far-right every single time.
That cuts to the core of our campaign for democracy. It’s about giving ordinary people back that voice, and exposing the far-right for what they really are: divisive and hate-filled extremists representative of a dwindling minority.
A properly functioning democracy would let the truth shine through: those who despise democracy and take pleasure in violence and destruction are vastly outnumbered by ordinary, decent people striving to make the world a brighter, fairer place. Let’s not forget that.
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