Competing visions of America
September 5, 2024
On a consequential day, multiple stories gave us insights into different visions of America: The Republican vision and the Democratic vision. Those competing visions highlight what is at stake in 2024.
Georgia’s “guns for all” policy leads to the inevitable result: the deaths of school children and teachers
My condolences to the families of the school children and teachers killed and wounded at Apalachee High School in Georgia, and to all Georgians who have experienced the largest mass shooting in a school in their state.
Details are here, although some are difficult to read: CNN, At least 4 killed in Georgia high school shooting.
The killer was a 14-year-old student at the school who used an AR-15 style weapon to inflict mass casualties. The killer and his father were interviewed by the FBI last year over online threats of a school shooting. At the time, the father claimed that he had “hunting rifles” in the home—which apparently included a weapon of war designed to kill people quickly. And authorities received a telephone tip on Wednesday that five school shootings would take place—starting with Apalachee High School.
Governor Brian Kemp and the Republicans in Georgia’s legislature have created a gun culture in Georgia that encourages violence. Georgia has some of the least restrictive gun ownership laws in the nation. Governor Kemp signed a “constitutional carry” law in 2022 that allowed “permitless carry” of concealed weapons—a law that eliminated background checks. See Georgia Public Broadcasting (4/13/2022), Kemp signs bill allowing permitless carry of a concealed handgun in public.
At the same time that Kemp and the GOP legislature were allowing guns to be passed out like candy, they banned transgender athletes from participating in school sports programs and “critical race theory” from grades K 1-12, a theory never taught in Georgia public schools.
The ongoing slaughter of schoolchildren, teachers, and school staff is a direct result of the gun lobby’s control of politicians who can be bought for pennies on the dollar. The GPR article above notes that Kemp signed the permitless carry bill over the objection of 70% of Georgians.
America has a gun problem. It is the only industrialized nation in the world that regularly suffers mass shootings. It isn’t video games or drugs or critical race theory. Trump brags about doing nothing to regulate guns. Kamala Harris promises to ban assault weapons and expand background checks.
In November, you can choose which America you want to live in: One that protects our children or exalting gun ownership above all other rights. Our children are anxiously awaiting our choice.
DOJ indicts Russians for subsidizing right-wing influencers in the US
Russia interfered in the 2016 and the 2020 elections to help Donald Trump. On Wednesday, the DOJ indicted two Russian nationals for interfering the 2024 election by subsidizing right-wing influencers who support Donald Trump. Notice a pattern? Let me help: 2016, 2020, and 2024. Russia. Donald Trump.
In a rational world, Republicans should wonder why a dictator in Russia wants Trump to be the US president. The most reasonable explanation is that Putin believes Trump will make America a weak actor on the world stage. Other reasonable explanations include the possibility that Putin is blackmailing Trump.
The DOJ press release is here: Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing U.S. Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests.
The indictment is here: US v Kalishnikov and Afanasyeva
Per the DOJ press release,
[T]he Russian state broadcaster RT orchestrated a massive scheme to influence the American public by secretly planting and financing a content creation company on U.S. soil.
RT, formerly known as Russia Today, is a state-controlled media outlet funded and directed by the Government of Russia. Over at least the past year, RT and its employees, including Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, deployed nearly $10 million to covertly finance and direct a Tennessee-based online content creation company (U.S. Company-1). In turn, U.S. Company-1 published English-language videos on multiple social media channels, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Since publicly launching in or about November 2023, U.S. Company-1 has posted nearly 2,000 videos that have garnered more than 16 million views on YouTube alone. U.S. Company-1 never disclosed to its viewers that it was funded and directed by RT. Nor did U.S. Company-1 or its two founders register with the Attorney General as an agent of a foreign principal.
Per the Associated Press,
An indictment filed Wednesday alleges a media company linked to six conservative influencers — including well-known personalities Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson — was secretly funded by Russian state media employees to churn out English-language videos that were “often consistent” with the Kremlin’s “interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition” to Russian interests, like its war in Ukraine. [¶¶]
Tenet Media’s shows in recent months have featured high-profile conservative guests, including Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake. The nearly 2,000 videos posted by the company have gotten more than 16 million views on YouTube alone, prosecutors said.
In short, leading right-wing influencers were on Russia’s payroll to promote Trump's elections prospects. For the moment, those influencers are claiming that they were hapless victims of Russia’s plot—and have said they will sue anyone who suggests otherwise. The DOJ press release suggests that additional indictments may be forthcoming. See HuffPo,
However, a DOJ press release states that the media company [Tenet] and its founders “never disclosed to its viewers that it was funded and directed by RT,” nor did they “register with the Attorney General as an agent of a foreign principal.”
Separately, the US Treasury Department announced it had
seized 32 internet domains used in an online influence campaign known as Doppelganger. These [sites] spread Russian government propaganda by impersonating legitimate U.S. news outlets here in the U.S. and in Europe.
And in an incredible coincidence, Elon Musk has been promoting the content from Tenet Media, which was paid for by Russian operatives working for Putin. See Michael Weiss on X: "Elon Musk naturally promoted nonsense peddled by Tenet Media, which was financed by now-indicted Russian operatives."
Taken together, the announcements describe a widespread effort by Russia to interfere in the 2024 elections in the US by promoting Donald Trump. In November, you can choose which version of America we will live in: One in which Americans elect their leaders or Putin does so for us. Our democracy is anxiously awaiting our choice.
Goldman Sachs says Trump economic plan will depress GDP while Kamala Harris’s plan will increase GDP
A Goldman Sachs economist issued a note on Thursday saying that Trump's tariffs and immigration policies would decrease GDP while Kamala Harris’s policies would result in a slight increase in GDP (assuming a sweep by each candidate, respectively).
The Bloomberg article is behind a paywall, but is entitled Goldman Economists Assess Impact of Presidential Election Outcome on GDP. Per Goldman, GDP would decrease by 0.5% in year two of a Trump presidency, while GDP would slightly increase during the same period under a Kamala Harris presidency.
The increase in GDP under Kamala Harris would be accompanied by expanded middle-class tax cuts. So, for most Americans, the economy and tax rates would be more favorable under Kamala Harris, while Trump would impose a national sales tax (through tariffs) that would hurt the middle class while gifting millionaires and billionaires an extended tax cut. And on Wednesday, Kamala Harris proposed a $50,000 deduction for owners starting a new business. See CBS News, Kamala Harris proposes $50,000 tax break for small businesses
Which America would you rather live in?
Trump does “Town Hall” in Pennsylvania with Sean Hannity—but takes no questions
Since Trump can’t bothered—or just doesn’t have the stamina—to hit the campaign trail, his campaigning has devolved into calling into conservative “news” programs and softball interviews with MAGA true believers. As Judd Legum noted, “Biden has dropped out of the presidential race but has a much busier campaign schedule than Trump.”
On Wednesday, Trump sat down with Sean Hannity for a bizarre “Town Hall” that featured a friendly audience, but without a single question from the audience. [Update: per the Times, Trump answered five “prescreened questions” from the audience, which will air on Thursday evening. Those questions included one from the GOP candidate for US Senator from Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick.]
Trump continued to whine that Joe Biden is no longer his opponent and complained about the unfairness of the debate that has yet to occur (on September 10). He repeated his lies about immigration and the economy during his presidency. In short, he was speaking only to the audience that watches Sean Hannity each night on Fox. Trump is doing nothing to reach undecided voters or to motivate Republicans who are unhappy with Trump. Speaking of voters who are unhappy with Trump, read on!
Liz Cheney says she will vote for Kamala Harris
Former GOP Representative Liz Cheney has said previously that she will not support Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Cheney took the next logical step and said she will be voting for Kamala Harris. See The Guardian, Liz Cheney, ex-Republican Wyoming representative, endorses Kamala Harris.
Liz Cheney still holds influence among the Republican old-guard who controlled the party before Trump and are hoping to rejoin the party after Trump. As much as those Republicans dislike Trump, voting for a Democrat is a bitter pill to swallow. Liz Cheney’s leadership may give them permission to follow her lead. Good! Every vote counts!
Opportunities for Reader engagement
Grand Connection event (with fixed links)
Thursday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom
You are all invited to hear from 20-year-old activist Sam Schwartz
on The Grand Connection!
We will also have a special guest from the Harris Campaign, Heather Booth, who holds two official positions: National Progressive and Grassroots Engagement Director and National Seniors Engagement Director. Her 60 years of remarkable grassroots organizing and political activism, has justly earned her these titles.
Come one, come all! And invite any young people you know to join this 30-minute Zoom with 20-year-old Sam Schwartz. Here is a letter to grandparents that explains why one concerned Today’s Edition reader who is a grandparent came up with the idea for The Grand Connection!!
Sam and some fellow travelers from this summer's Tour To Save Democracy will briefly talk about why they feel voting is so important that they went all over the country in a bus this summer talking to young people— and they will follow that with Q&A.Read more about Sam, the Tour, and view an 86-second video at the RSVP Link.
Movement Voter Project post-debate briefing
Please join Movement Voter PAC (MVP) on Wednesday, September 11 at Noon Pacific / 3:00 p.me for a special briefing the day after the Harris-Trump debate, entitled: "From Debate to Doorstep: Innovative Strategies for Winning the Swing States.”
In this briefing, you will hear from Michigan United Action, One Pennsylvania, and other locally-based swing-state organizations about the innovative strategies they are using to turn out overlooked Democratic voters.
MVP is "a one-stop shop for strategically investing in local organizations that win elections and transform policy." They have set forth the ambitious goal to raise at least $100 million for the local, grassroots electoral organizations that comprise "the grassroots ground game" — a complementary and absolutely critical counterpart to the GOTV work being spearheaded by the Harris-Walz campaign and the Democratic Party. Learn more and contribute here.
RSVP for MVP's briefing here. Note that the briefing will be recorded and sent to all who register.
Concluding Thoughts
The story about Russia attempting to influence the 2024 presidential election illustrates why we cannot believe everything we read—even from seemingly reputable sources. As noted above, Elon Musk promoted the Russian-sponsored content to his 200 million followers, even though neither Musk nor the US influencers’ parent company disclosed that Russia was paying for the social media content.
And it is a certainty that many of Musk’s followers amplified his promotion of the Russian-sponsored content. In other words, much of the social media echo-sphere was tainted by Russian propaganda—a situation that also likely influenced coverage by mainstream media
That is why it is incumbent on us to be advocates for the truth. We must be critical thinkers who can hear damnable lies and ignore them. Better yet, we must be able to defang them.
A reader sent a note today with a conservative commentator’s essay comparing Trump and Kamala Harris’s policies. The commentator concluded that on balance, Trump's proposed policies were better than Harris’s and, therefore, Trump deserved to be president again.
Of course, the commentator said nothing about the attempted coup, the violent insurrection, the effort to bribe Ukraine, the conviction on 34 counts of fraud, the civil finding of sexual abuse, the indictment for unlawfully retaining national defense documents, the two impeachments, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and more.
Any article about battleground states or polls or policies that fails to mention the above facts about Trump's term in office is a waste of your time. Serious journalists should acknowledge in their stories that this election is different because of Trump's criminality, corruption, and narcissism.
And serious journalists should also recognize that the outpouring of enthusiasm and support for Kamala Harris is unique in American political history—and not merely a convention bounce or “meme-surfing.” It is real and it should power her to victory in November. It remains a close race, but the momentum advantage is with Kamala Harris. For that reason (and many more), we have every reason to be hopeful but no reason to be complacent.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Your Daily Dose of Perspective.
For kicks, I decided to point my telescope at an unremarkable patch of sky that did not feature nebulae, galaxies, or globular clusters. I did, however, point my scope toward a “dust cloud” that typifies much of the Milky Way. I wasn’t sure what to expect!
The image below shows that almost any random patch of night sky is beautiful! It is a good reminder that we should look up at the night sky in wonder on a regular basis!
Here in Germany is the right wing gaining force, especially in the east. Much rancour must in my opinion be blamed on big differences in income between east and west Germany. Much is done but somehow the more powerful with the most money know how to twinge the outcome in their favour. That is what I like in Kamala Harris plans focusing on the middle class. It is from utmost importance that we tell this how it is. That the trickle down mantra doesn't work without appropriate regulation and stimulation. That the warming of the earth is real and that we must do something about it. On 20 September we will stand in Frankfurt in a worldwide demo from organizations like the WWF and others but also against the far right. We are Opa's and Oma's for the future of our grandchildren. Thanks, Robert, as always.
Maybe our mainstream news media is also on Putin’s payroll given how much they legitimize Trump’s massively unfit candidacy.