#/FOX NEWS/POLITICS/REGULATION/Environment

[tomorrowusa]

It's the media, stupid!

No, I'm not talking about specifics of various news media outlets or nitpicking about particular stories or attitudes. The problem is the vast overall state of the media environment in the United States.

Kate Riga is on target with her blog entry at TMP. (emphasis added)

Democrats Just Can’t Compete In This Media Environment

[T]here’s one leading factor that Democrats absolutely need to respond to as quickly as possible to avert this kind of electoral disaster in the future: the media environment unequivocally favors Republicans. We don’t have a ton of data yet, and much of it is partial. But we can already tell that Harris performed best — that is, underperformed least — in the battleground states. In the places where her campaign flooded the airwaves with her messaging, put her on TV shows and radio stations and in local newspapers, scattered driveways with information flyers, positioned her beside local celebrities, she improved on the repudiation of Democrats that infected nearly every other state. In other words: In the states where she set up a temporary but pervasive media apparatus, she negated some of the nationwide drag. That speaks to the reality that most of the country is awash in right-wing propaganda all the time. For the olds, it’s Fox News and conservative radio; for the youths, it’s the right-wing manosphere podcasts and streams that Trump so assiduously courted all campaign long (plus soothing TikToks promoting retrograde gender roles, evangelical values and distrust of government regulation — think the trad wives and crunchy so-far-left-they’ve-looped-around-to-the-right content — aimed specifically at women). It helps explain Biden’s prodigious unpopularity, despite passing a ton of legislation that not only polls well, but has meaningfully improved people’s lives. It helps elucidate the consistent claims that people don’t know what Harris stood for, before and after she released her policy proposals. It’s a playing field that Republicans not only dominate; Democrats don’t even compete. They still depend heavily on traditional media sources that simply don’t operate the same way these right-wing PR arms do. And we know that these forms of media are powerful; they reach tons of people, and are seen as useful enough pawns that Russia has invested in some of them. This isn’t a novel observation. The Obama alums who started Pod Save America and the greater Crooked Media family did so after Trump won in 2016 specifically to try to build up a Fox News of the left. There are structural problems with mimicking this right-wing content beat-for-beat. The Pod Save guys, while open about their political allegiances, often criticize the party and its politicians. It would be much more difficult to recreate the fawning adoration of Donald Trump Fox News and those podcasts produce for, say, Joe Biden on the left. It requires creativity and investment, but I think Democrats and those aligned with them could do it. Voters say over and over that they prefer Democratic policies — even Republicans often vote for them when they’re standalone ballot initiatives. It’ll require a cultivation of talent, a saturation of these spaces, finagling how to wrest back the counter-cultural bad boy persona from those who are espousing a way of life most people consider retrograde, confining, divisive and exhausting, not to mention solely in service of the plutocratic elites that run the party. Obama was such a revelation because he hijacked technology in a way that was new and exciting for people, and it helped him micro-target low propensity voters. Trump has since taken that mantle. In the two and then four years ahead, Democrats have to find a way to get in people’s eyes and ears, to figure out how to make an affirmative case in these spaces that people would likely respond to if they were exposed to it.

It's not just Fox News – which is bad enough by itself. There are the rightwing talk radio stations dating back to the 1980s. They joined Christian fundamentalist stations which had been pushing social conservative positions since the 1930s. And now there are countless bro types who talk rightwing shit for hours at a time on their podcasts.

Apart from Obama's skillful use of social media when it was still new, Democrats have fallen behind with digital media. Most recently, Elon Musk bought Twitter simply to use it as a propaganda machine. Facebook and its sister sites like Instagram use algorithms which promote rightwing talking points.

There had been attempts to set up liberal talk radio. But they have been sporadic and met with mixed success. Al Franken set up a liberal radio network called Air America Radio in 2004. But it had only modest reach on mostly medium powered stations and ultimately filed for bankruptcy during the Great Recession.

We need to increase our news and information footprint in a major way and on multiple media platforms – and fast. Obviously that takes money and business talent. So if you find yourself next to Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, or Michael Bloomberg on a flight or in an elevator, have your pitch ready. If that doesn't happen, we need to start raising money on our own. Nobody said that freedom is free.

[mariacallous]

After president-elect Donald Trump announced Lee Zeldin as his nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, the former Republican representative from Long Island, New York, phoned into Fox News from Mar-a-Lago.

“You know, the EPA has been in some ways an enemy to a lot of these businesses across America, because they’ve had a long arm,” the Fox News presenter said after congratulating Zeldin on his nomination. “What do you plan to do at the EPA?”

Zeldin proceeded to talk vaguely about reversing a slate of regulations that “are forcing businesses to struggle” and sending American jobs overseas. “We have the ability to pursue energy dominance, to be able to make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world,” he said. “President Trump cares about conserving the environment,” Zeldin added. “It’s a top priority.”

And then he returned to what seemed to be his main point: “So I’m excited to get to work to implement President Trump’s economic agenda.”

The second half of the six-minute interview was spent discussing other matters—New York governor Kathy Hochul’s recent phone call with Trump and the indictment against the former president still making its way through New York’s Supreme Court.

The whole conversation offered an indication of what to reasonably expect from the EPA over the next four years: regulatory rollbacks for fossil fuel industries justified as boosts for the economy and platitudes about the importance of clean air and water, without any mention of how those things will be achieved simultaneously. In a similar rhetorical tact, Trump said that Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”

Without saying it directly, Zeldin signaled a tough road ahead for the thousands of community advocates who have spent years pushing for stronger regulations in the nation’s “sacrifice zones”—towns like Port Arthur, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, where a concentration of fossil fuel infrastructure and petrochemical plants dump cancer-causing pollutants into the air and water.

Zeldin, a 44-year-old attorney and former Army lieutenant, does not have a background in environmental policy. He made his foray into politics through the New York State Senate in 2011, serving until 2014. That year, he was elected to be the US representative for the state’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses much of Long Island.

As a congressman, Zeldin did not serve on any subcommittees overseeing environmental policy. He regularly voted against progressive climate and environment policies, earning him a lifetime score of just 14 percent from the League of Conservation Voters, an advocacy group that tracks congressmembers’ positions on environmental legislation. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, he voted against an amendment to block the EPA from finalizing a Trump-era soot standard that would expose communities of color to additional air pollution that studies have linked to increased Covid mortality. The amendment ultimately passed.

In 2021, Zeldin voted against a bill that would require public companies to disclose information about the climate risks of their business models. That bill passed as well. The following year, he supported a failed bill that would have rescinded US participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a process that encourages international coordination on climate policy and includes participation in the annual UN climate conference.

Notably, Zeldin voted in favor of a bill that would require the EPA to set a drinking water standard for PFAS and PFOA, the so-called “forever chemicals” that accumulate in the environment and have been linked to a range of cancers and other serious health issues. Last year, a local news station found that 33 of Long Island’s 48 water districts have traces of these chemicals in their drinking water.

In 2022, Zeldin ran for governor of New York and lost to Hochul.

Zeldin’s appointment marks a departure from current EPA administrator Michael Regan, whose term will expire when Trump assumes office in January. Unlike Zeldin, Regan has a background in environmental science, and before being nominated as administrator served as secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality and worked as an air quality specialist in the EPA. As EPA administrator, he has overseen the Biden administration’s historic push toward environmental justice, which has included community engagement sessions, the strengthening of national standards for particulate matter, and the overhaul of regulations for many chemical plants.

It remains to be seen whether and to what extent Regan’s initiatives and regulations will persist over the years of a second Trump administration. Zeldin’s nomination will have to be confirmed with a vote from the Senate, which gained a Republican majority in the elections earlier this month.

If confirmed, Zeldin will have considerable power to shape the national direction of climate and environment policy. In addition to overseeing the enforcement of current environmental laws and regulations, he will be tasked with preparing the EPA’s annual budget, which determines how much funding will be allocated toward efforts like state oversight and air monitoring. A more fossil fuel-inclined administrator might choose to gut these parts of the agency, enabling industry-friendly state agencies like the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to regulate in the dark.

Trump ran on a platform that prioritized minimizing regulatory oversight and maximizing fossil fuel production. Zeldin’s appointment would be key for seeing that through.

[libraford]

I remember early on in the trump administration- I was sitting at the mechanic's lobby and he was on the news with a giant stack of papers wrapped in a big red ribbon. And he talked about how the regulations imposed by previous administrations got in the way of business and prevented every day americans from reaching the american dream. And he took a pair of shears and cut the ribbon, symbolically cutting the red tape, as a promise to undo all regulations that hot in the way of moving forward.

And I looked to the woman waiting in the lobby with me, in her 60s, who shook her head along with me at the gesture, because we both lived on a low income side of town and people in our tax bracket know what happens when regulations are slack- people get sick, they get hurt, they die.

Disaster happens when people are careless and each regulation is written in blood.

Fuck that guy.

Picture id/transcript: (a screenshot of a news report by Heather Cox Richardson from february 15 2023)

But the derailment of fifty Norfolk Southern train cars, eleven of which carried hazardous chemicals, near East Palestine, Ohio, near the northeastern border of the state on February 3 has powerfully illustrated the downsides of deregulation. The accident released highly toxic chemicals into the air, water, and ground, causing a massive fire and forcing about 5,000 nearby residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania to evacuate. On February 6, when it appeared some of the rail cars would explode, officials allowed the company to release and burn the toxic vinyl chloride stored in it. The controlled burn sent highly toxic phosgene, used as a weapon in World War I, into the air.

Republican Ohio governor Mike DeWine has refused federal assistance from President Biden, who, he said, called to offer “anything you need.” DeWine said he had not called back to take him up on the offer. “We will not hesitate to do that if we’re seeing a problem or anything, but I’m not seeing it,” he said.

Just over the border, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said that Norfolk Southern had botched its response to the accident. “Norfolk Southern has repeatedly assured us of the safety of their rail cars—in fact, leading Norfolk Southern personnel described them to me as ‘the Cadillac of rail cars’—yet despite these assertions, these were the same cars that Norfolk Southern personnel rushed to vent and burn without gathering input from state and local leaders. Norfolk Southern’s well known opposition to modern regulations [requires] further scrutiny and investigation to limit the devastating effects of future accidents on people’s lives, property, businesses, and the environment.”

Shapiro was likely referring to the fact that in 2017, after donors from the railroad industry poured more than $6 million into Republican political campaigns, the Trump administration got rid of a rule imposed by the Obama administration that required better braking systems on rail cars that carried hazardous flammable materials.

According to David Sirota, Julia Rock, Rebecca Burns, and Matthew Cunningham-Cook, writing in the investigative journal The Lever, Norfolk Southern supported the repeal, telling regulators new electronically controlled pneumatic brakes on high-hazard flammable trains (HHFT) would “impose tremendous costs without providing offsetting safety benefits.” Railroads also lobbied to limit the definition of HFFT to cover primarily trains that carry oil, not industrial chemicals. The train that derailed in Ohio was not classified as an HHFT.

Nonetheless, Ohio’s new far-right Republican senator J. D. Vance went on the Fox News Channel show of personality Tucker Carlson to blame the Biden administration for the accident. He said there was no excuse for failing infrastructure after the passage last year of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, and said that the administration is too focused on “environmental racism and other ridiculous things.” We are, he said, “ruled by unserious people.”

:end id/transcript

[yourglobalexpansionpartner]

Understanding the Investment Climate in India: Opportunities and Risks

India's dynamic economy, vast market potential, and strategic geopolitical position have established it as a prime destination for global investors. As you explore the prospects to invest in India, it’s essential to understand both the lucrative opportunities and inherent risks that define the country's investment climate. At Fox&Angel, we specialize in guiding investors through this complex landscape, ensuring a strategic and informed approach to capitalizing on India’s growth story.

The Opportunities

1. Rapid Economic Growth

India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. With a projected GDP growth rate that consistently outpaces other large economies, the potential for returns on investment is substantial. Key sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy are driving this growth, offering myriad opportunities for investors.

2. Demographic Dividend

India’s youthful population is a significant asset. With over 65% of its population under the age of 35, the country boasts a large, young, and increasingly skilled workforce. This demographic dividend translates into a robust consumer market and an attractive labor market, making it a hotspot for industries like e-commerce, retail, and manufacturing.

3. Government Initiatives

The Indian government has introduced numerous initiatives to attract foreign investment. Programs such as Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India aim to simplify doing business in the country and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. These initiatives create a conducive environment for foreign direct investment (FDI), enhancing the ease of doing business and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

4. Infrastructure Development

Massive infrastructure projects, including the development of smart cities, expansion of transportation networks, and advancements in digital infrastructure, are creating new investment avenues. These projects not only improve the overall business environment but also open up opportunities in sectors like construction, real estate, and logistics.

The Risks

1. Regulatory Challenges

While the Indian government is working towards easing regulations, investors still face bureaucratic challenges. Navigating the regulatory landscape can be complex, requiring a deep understanding of local laws and compliance requirements.

2. Market Volatility

Like any emerging market, India is subject to market volatility. Factors such as political changes, economic policies, and global economic conditions can impact market stability. Investors need to stay informed and agile to mitigate these risks effectively.

3. Cultural and Operational Differences

Investing in India often involves understanding and adapting to cultural and operational differences. Business practices, consumer behavior, and workforce management can vary significantly from Western norms. Partnering with local experts, like Fox&Angel, can help bridge these gaps and ensure smooth operations.

4. Infrastructure Bottlenecks

Despite significant progress, infrastructure bottlenecks remain a challenge. Issues such as inadequate logistics, power shortages, and underdeveloped rural areas can impact business operations. However, these challenges also present opportunities for investment in infrastructure development.

Conclusion

India’s investment climate is a blend of vast opportunities and inherent risks. Understanding this dynamic landscape is crucial for making informed investment decisions. At Fox&Angel, we provide expert guidance and strategic insights to help you navigate the complexities of investing in India. Our deep local knowledge and global perspective ensure that your investments are well-placed to reap the benefits of India’s growth while mitigating potential risks.

Ready to Invest in India? Contact us today to explore how we can help you unlock the full potential of your investment in India’s vibrant economy. Reach out to Fox&Angel and let’s embark on a journey of growth and success together.

[gaast]

To say that Democrats' politics over the last few decades was completely divorced from the country's harsh rightward turn is to be ignorant at best and lying at worst.

When Obama was elected with a popular mandate to right the economy and bring justice to everyone who was harmed by the 2008 financial crisis, he used it instead to pass legislation that authorized Reagan-era trickle-down economics by giving huge payouts of public dollars to the very C-suite criminals who had just put so many people out of work, out of their homes, and out of their futures. He allowed Wall Street lobbyists to guide the direction of the legislation that was written in the wake of the financial crisis, and everybody watched it happen in real time. America limped towards recovery thanks to the billions of dollars used to help it recover--money taken, again, from taxpayers--went into the pockets of the obscenely wealthy.

Following that, charged with a completely dogshit health care system, Obama's signature legislation, dubbed Obamacare, forced people onto expensive marketplace plans that often offered minimum (read: inadequate) coverage. Rather than use their mandate to reshape the health care system based on models provided by Canada, Finland, or the UK, Democrats decided the better option would be to leave the system fundamentally undisturbed, except now if you don't get on your employer's plan, you can lose all the money you don't have on absurd premiums for health care you still can't afford.

Meanwhile, the Ferguson protests made all the more salient the fact that structural racism is alive and well in America. As countless people filled the streets to face an overmilitarized police force, the Democrats went to bat for the police, as they always do, wagging their fingers at the people who just want to not get murdered--or to at least see their murderers punished when they do get murdered. By failing to meaningfully address people's grievances over this issue, the Democrats ensured that more protests would erupt, guaranteeing condescending news coverage from a media environment that always kisses the rings of both the government and its police. Allowing these for-profit enterprises to cast the Black Lives Matter movement as a struggle between Black and white people, instead of as another theater of the class war raging in the country since Eisenhower, meant that further divides were made between people who should have been standing together in solidarity.

But even still, Democrats' fingers are in the many pies of the Bush administration's myriad failures. Check how many of them voted to authorize pretty much everything about the War on Terror. Hell, just check the votes on a handful of legislation. The Patriot Act? Passed the House 357-66 and the Senate 98-1. I don't think I need to tell you that there weren't 357 Republicans in the House, nor 98 in the Senate. No Child Left Behind? 381-41 in the House, 87-10 in the Senate.

The rise of the American Right was enabled by the Democrats' failures, at every turn, to work meaningfully for the working class, for immigrants, for women, for queers, for EVERYONE against the fucking CEOs, the oil executives, Wall Street, all the assholes prosecuting the class war on the side of property. To say that Donald Trump was made by Newt Gingrich and Fox News alone is to ignore the many, MANY ways that Democrats' legislative and political failures and missteps further stoked the very divisions among the working class that Fox and Gingrich and Trump prey upon. Biden's administration as President has done plenty to fight the working class. It has served as a weapon of the rich. Biden forced railroad unions to accept a contract they wanted to strike to improve. His Transportation Secretary actively refused to do anything to regulate the railroad industries' safety protocols following numerous high-profile rail disasters. Biden ran on a promise to give everyone $2000 in stimulus money, only to give us $600, less than Trump did, and tried to gaslight us into believing that we all knew that that's what he meant. He's sending weapons to Israel to kill Palestinians. He continued pretty much every single Trump-era immigration policy, including caging up kids at the border. Rather than fight for legislation to improve the lives of queer people, he just issued executive orders and pardons, the former of which can be easily and immediately overturned and the latter of which, while a good move, doesn't really help the fact that those people were treated as criminals for how fucking long, partially because of DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell, policies, lest we forget, that came into being in the Bill Clinton presidency (the former of which passed by veto-proof majorities). We make jokes about being unable to afford groceries largely because Biden refused to replace the Fed Chairman who said that he was managing inflation in such a way as to curb labor's power. He said that! He saw all the inroads that unions were making and said that he was going to use inflation to weaken them! And Biden let him stay! Biden agreed with him! Biden did! And he didn't fucking have to!

To sit here and wag your own goddam finger at anyone who doesn't want to participate in a system that has never, at any point, done any good for any of us is just fucking disgusting. It ignores the broader context of who and what Trump is, and who and what Biden is. It further enforces the goddam fucking class infighting that we all seem to love so fucking much, where it has to be Us against the Boomers and Trump country Voters and whatever the fuck else, like we aren't all fighting the same struggle, like we don't need to stand in solidarity with fucking racists and transphobes because we are ALL the ones who will suffer at the hands of fuckwits like Musk and whatever Exxon executive they want to take the fall for shaping climate-denial policy for decades to come. To say that I SHOULD, that I MUST do my part to legitimate the very system of my own fucking execution is fucking revolting.

The government is a fascist system no matter who's at the fucking levers and a fascist system will always seek to annihilate the working class. To even pretend that because one hand is "better" than the other is like saying that it's better to swallow arsenic than cyanide because at least arsenic doesn't kill you as fast. Newsflash: you're dead either way.

"The revolution is not the answer" "the revolution will leave behind the very people you say you want to protect" you are a bootlicker. You are a bootlicker.

You are a bootlicker.

You refuse, you REFUSE to imagine a better society. You have been defeated. You let your fatalism, your nihilism, overcome your idealism. You don't believe in solidarity. You don't believe in mutual aid. You don't believe in anything except making your own wretched little life as easy for you as you possibly can. You are content to fucking die.

Leave me out of it.

[foxnangelseo]

Analysing India's FDI Flows: Citi Predicts Modest Pickup in FY24

As a rapidly growing economy, India has been a favored destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in recent years. Foreign investors are drawn to the country's vast consumer base, growing middle class, and favourable investment policies. In a recent report, global financial services giant Citi has provided insights into India's FDI flows, projecting a modest pickup in FY24.

According to Citi's analysis, India's FDI inflows are expected to witness modest growth in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24). After facing challenges in FY22 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, the country is expected to rebound in the coming fiscal year. Citi predicts that FDI in India will receive a boost from various factors, including policy reforms, improving business sentiment, and favorable macroeconomic indicators.

One of the key drivers of FDI in India is the government's push for policy reforms to attract foreign investment. The Indian government has undertaken several initiatives to ease foreign investment regulations and promote the ease of doing business in the country. These efforts include measures such as the liberalisation of foreign ownership limits in various sectors, simplification of procedures for setting up businesses, and relaxation of FDI norms in critical sectors like defense, insurance, and aviation. Such policy reforms are expected to continue to attract foreign investors, fostering a conducive environment for FDI inflows.

Another factor contributing to the projected pickup in FDI flows is the improving business sentiment in India. With the gradual recovery of the Indian economy from the pandemic-induced slowdown, businesses are regaining confidence. Corporate earnings are expected to rebound, and investment opportunities are emerging across various sectors. Additionally, the government's focus on infrastructure development, urbanisation, and digitization initiatives is creating new investment avenues for foreign investors. These positive developments are expected to boost investor confidence and attract FDI inflows into the country.

Furthermore, favourable macroeconomic indicators are also expected to support India's FDI prospects. The country's strong economic fundamentals, including a large and growing consumer base, a young and dynamic workforce, and robust domestic demand, make it an attractive investment destination. Additionally, India's stable political environment and improving regulatory framework further enhance its attractiveness as an investment destination.

However, despite the optimistic outlook, challenges remain for India's FDI inflows. Some of the key challenges include bureaucratic hurdles, inadequate infrastructure, regulatory complexities, and taxation issues. These challenges may hinder the pace of FDI inflows and pose risks to the projected pickup in FY24. Therefore, addressing these challenges and further streamlining the investment ecosystem will be crucial for sustaining the momentum of FDI flows in India.

In conclusion, India's FDI flows are expected to witness a modest pickup in FY24, as per Citi's analysis. Policy reforms, improving business sentiment, and favourable macroeconomic indicators are likely to be the key drivers of this growth. However, challenges in the form of bureaucratic hurdles, inadequate infrastructure, and regulatory complexities need to be addressed to sustain the momentum of FDI inflows. With the right policy measures and a conducive investment environment, India can continue to attract foreign investment and bolster its economic growth trajectory in the coming years.

Fox&Angel is a dynamic strategy consulting network that brings together a top-tier team of industry experts with a track record of notable achievements, insights, and growth. Our commitment is to tailor personalized business and strategy solutions that address your unique challenges. To achieve this, we carefully select consultants from various industries and geographies who possess the most relevant expertise to help you achieve your goals and succeed.

This post was originally published on: Foxnangel

[bitcoincables]

Former President Donald Trump Warms Up to Bitcoin: Embracing Change.

Donald Trump, the former president and potential Republican nominee in 2024, has shifted his stance on Bitcoin during a recent Fox News town hall in South Carolina. He now acknowledges Bitcoin's growing popularity, describing it as having taken on "a life of its own." Trump mentioned the need for regulation but expressed openness to the idea of embracing Bitcoin as a payment method, alongside his preference for the US dollar.

Trump's previous skepticism towards cryptocurrencies, including a directive to investigate Bitcoin for fraud in 2018, contrasts with his current more accepting attitude. In a sign of evolving views, he launched NFTs on OpenSea in 2022 and disclosed owning a cryptocurrency wallet with holdings valued between $250,001 and $500,000. This changing stance suggests a broader acceptance of digital assets within mainstream political circles.

The shift in Trump's perspective on Bitcoin reflects a changing landscape where cryptocurrencies are increasingly seen as a legitimate form of investment and payment. As public figures like Trump begin to warm up to digital assets, it could lead to further integration and adoption, shaping the future of the crypto market and regulatory environment. It remains to be seen how Trump's evolving views will impact the broader crypto space moving forward.

Read the original article #donaldtrump #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #regulation

[cmibloggers]

Global Network Diode Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Focus on Data Security

The global Network Diode market is estimated to be valued at US$ 493.9 million in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 13% over the forecast period 2023-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. A) Market Overview: Network Diodes are unidirectional network devices used for data transfer between two networks with different security levels. They ensure the one-way flow of information from a high-security network to a low-security network while preventing any data leakage or infiltration. These diodes are highly efficient in protecting critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and classified information from cybersecurity threats. The need for network diodes has increased significantly due to the rising number of cyber attacks, data breaches, and the growing demand for secure data transmission. B) Market Key Trends: One key trend driving the growth of the Network Diode Market is the increasing focus on data security. With the rapid digitization of businesses and government processes, the volume of sensitive data being transmitted across networks has increased exponentially. This has made organizations vulnerable to cyber attacks and data breaches. Network diodes offer a secure solution by allowing one-way communication, ensuring that critical information cannot be accessed or manipulated from the receiving end. For example, government agencies use network diodes to transfer classified information securely between different security domains. C) PEST Analysis: - Political: Governments worldwide are implementing stringent regulations and policies to ensure data security and prevent cyber threats. This creates a favorable environment for the adoption of network diodes. - Economic: The increasing awareness of cybersecurity risks and the need for protecting critical infrastructure drive the demand for network diodes. - Social: The growing concern among individuals and organizations regarding data breaches and cyber attacks has led to a greater emphasis on secure data transmission. - Technological: Rapid advancements in technology have given rise to complex cyber threats. Network diodes with advanced features such as deep packet inspection and content filtering help in mitigating these threats. D) Key Takeaways: 1. Market Size: The global Network Diode market is expected to witness high growth, exhibiting a CAGR of 13% over the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing focus on data security and the need for secure data transmission. 2. Regional Analysis: North America is expected to dominate the Network Diode market due to the presence of major cybersecurity solution providers and a high adoption rate of advanced security technologies. Europe is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region, driven by stringent data protection regulations. 3. Key Players: Key players operating in the global Network Diode market include Fox-IT (Part of NCC Group), Advenica, Owl Cyber Defense, AEP Networks, Waterfall Security Solutions, Nexor, Unisys Corporation, Siemens AG, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Airbus Defence and Space, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Fortinet Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc. In conclusion, the global Network Diode market is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years due to the increasing need for data security and secure data transmission. The adoption of network diodes by government agencies, critical infrastructure industries, and organizations dealing with sensitive information is expected to drive market growth. North America is anticipated to lead the market, while Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region. The key players mentioned above play a crucial role in providing innovative network diode solutions to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity.

[msclaritea]

Biden Officials Think Manchin Has Misinterpreted Inflation Reduction Act: WaPo

"It weren't for Sen. Joe Manchin, the Inflation Reduction Act wouldn't exist.

Last year, the moderate West Virginia Democrat, having previously scuttled President Joe Biden's expansive Build Back Better agenda, sat down with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to hash out legislation that came together after intraparty Democratic wrangling.

The tax and climate law — which Biden signed into law last August — permits a three-year extension of subsidies for individuals to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, while also allocating nearly $370 billion for climate and energy programs, and $300 billion to reduce the federal budget deficit.

Manchin was front and center at the White House signing ceremony, where Biden handed Manchin the pen that he used to sign the bill into law.

But Manchin has increasingly become critical of the Biden administration over their application of the law.

And Biden administration officials feel that Manchin misinterpreted stipulations of the legislation that he crafted, with officials also viewing the West Virginia lawmaker's demands as opening them up to violating the law, three individuals with ties to the administration told The Washington Post.

In February, the senator said he was "raising hell" to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over battery sourcing rules for electric vehicle tax credits.

And during an April interview on the Fox News program "Hannity," Manchin threatened to repeal the consequential law.

"This was about energy security and we have not heard a word about energy security out of their mouths since it was passed. It's all about the environment," Manchin said at the time.

Manchin has been infuriated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over its pursuit of longstanding climate goals. And the lawmaker, who has been a key ally of the coal industry throughout his entire career, was especially frustrated by its push to craft regulations that would study climate impact as natural gas projects are developed, according to The Post.

So for the time-being, Manchin has basically kept the five-member commission from running with a Democratic majority, as it now has two members from each party and a vacancy. The senator refused to hold a hearing for former chair Richard Glick, whose term on the commission ended in early January.

Complicating matters is Manchin's precarious political position, as he is the only statewide Democratic officeholder left in West Virginia and has not yet announced his plans for reelection next year. His criticism of the White House can only serve to boost his standing in deep red West Virginia, as Biden remains unpopular in the state. The senator's attacks also hurt the standing and implementation of the law.

Manchin has also flirted with a third-party presidential candidacy and recently said that he had thought about leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent.

The White House has so far remained silent on the matter.

But Manchin isn't pumping the brakes on his frustrations with Biden over the implementation of the law.

"This bill that I wrote was done about energy security — truly producing more gas, more oil, more coal, than we have in the past consistently," he recently said during a West Virginia radio interview. "I think the business of politics ... has gotten so absolutely toxic that he's playing to the base."

Mercedes Joe Manchin is a Clown and a stain on our politics. The man is so crooked, I'm surprised his glasses don't regularly fall off his smug face.

[horsesarecreatures]

I remember feeling the same way when I found out my dad was a Trump supporter. For most of my life, he didn't comment much about politics because he was here on a permanent green card and couldn't vote. But then, when he got sick, he decided to become a citizen because the inheritance laws would be more favorable. And he suddenly became super into politics and Trump. And it was so, so weird to me because he was an immigrant... he was engaged to a liberal Jewish woman... he was very supportive of me, treated me the same as my brother, and never said or did the mildly misogynistic things some of my friends parents and my mom did ... he loved the environment and hated excessive displays of wealth... he had a diverse friend group... he was always kind to my gay friends and friends of other races ... he hated imperialism ... the list goes on. I'd like to think that as a specialist in infectious diseases if he lived through COVID he would have changed his mind over how many failures there were in regards to it, but honestly I don't know. We would debate about politics a lot but I never got a real answer from him as to why Trump appealed to him other than "he's mixing things up." If I had to guess, I would say that perhaps he had a fear of communists and communism, because growing up there were communist riots in his high school where one of his friends got stabbed, and when his mother was working as a latin teacher at some point before he was born, communists took control of the city and decided to release many prisoners, and my grandmother got stalked by a man almost everyday at the train station and was later assaulted by him because the police couldn't lock him up. Were these memories/knowledge enough to make him fear the left even if they didn't go to the extreme of communism? I guess? I really can't think of any other reason why he would vote for people so contrary to his personal morals. He did also like to collect guns, but they were historic 100+ year old rifles he restored, not anything the democrats are particularly focused on when it comes to firearm regulations. He didn't watch Fox news and was always a very independent thinker. But yeah, for whatever reason it makes me more sad than mad that he went that way, and I wish I understood his reasoning better.

There's a very specific blend of horror and sorrow that comes with having parents on the opposite end of the political spectrum from you

The horror that my creators have the stomach to give the putrid agenda of Fox News the time of day, let alone buy into their bullshit. I came from them. They raised me (and they're pretty great parents, even), and like so many others in my situation, I didn't even realize they were conservatives until Trump came down that god forsaken golden escalator. To this day I can't quite parse out how much of their ~conservative values~ are from the zeitgeist, and how much was already there

The sorrow that I can't help them out of it, not entirely. Sorrow over the experiences I know hardened them and made them susceptible to such a blatant stream of propaganda; sorrow that they grew up in a time and in places that carved them into such. Would I be different if I grew up like they did? It'd be nice to think not, but that's a bit naive, isn't it?

[politiciandirect]

Coal miners' struggle continues amid Trump promises, Democratic plans

Coal miners’ struggle continues amid Trump promises, Democratic plans

As he stands atop a crosstie, effectively blocking a rail shipment of coal, Chris Rowe and many other coal miners in Harlan, Ky. fret about the future.

“Every time I look at my seven-year-old it gets worse,” he says. “Because me as an adult, I can survive. But when it comes to my little boy, he needs more than what I do.”

The laid-off miners have been blocking coal trains for five days now while…

[kzk101ntwrk]

Mexican cartels poisoning US national parks through hidden pot growing operations: report Mexican cartel members – who for years have carried out large scale, hidden pot-growing operations in U.S.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 16, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

This morning, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told reporters that the seven-day average of Covid-19 cases has jumped almost 70 percent in the last week. Yesterday the U.S. had more than 33,000 new cases. Hospital admissions have jumped about 36% over the same period, to about 2,790 a day. And, after dropping for weeks, the seven-day average of deaths per day has also increased, rising 26% to 211 deaths per day.  

Walensky called it “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” Fully vaccinated individuals can still get Covid-19, but they are protected against the worst of it. They should not need hospitalization and will almost certainly not die. They are protected against the new Delta variant now sweeping the world, as well as against the older variants.

Jeffrey Zients, the coordinator of the Covid-19 response, told reporters that the United States has fully vaccinated more than 160 million Americans but low-vaccination pockets are driving a new spike. In the past week, just four states produced more than 40% of cases. Florida alone accounted for one in five cases.

Virtually all recent hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated.

Zients explained that the administration is working to bring vaccines directly to individuals. As well, it is working with trusted messengers to urge people to get vaccinated. This week, the administration amped up its efforts to encourage vaccination by joining with Olivia Rodrigo, the wildly popular 18-year-old actress and singer, to urge young people to get vaccinated. In a video she recorded with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the chief medical adviser to the president, Fauci told Rodrigo, who was born in 2003, about the greatest concert he ever attended: he saw the Temptations and the Four Tops at the Paramount Theatre in New York City in the late 1950s.

Rodrigo’s debut single, “Drivers License,” was released on January 8 in the midst of the pandemic; it debuted at number one on Billboard Hot 100, the nation’s standard record chart. Three months later, on April 1, 2021, her second single, “Deja Vu,” debuted at number eight, and on May 14, 2021, her third single, “Good 4 U,”  debuted at number one, making her the first artist in the history of the charts to debut their first three singles in the top ten (which has nothing to do with vaccines, but it’s cool).

The White House is also trying now to combat disinformation and misinformation head on. Yesterday the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the dangers of health misinformation. A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement calling attention to a public health issue and making recommendations for addressing that issue.

The advisory calls out social media for spreading false, inaccurate, or misleading information about both coronavirus and the vaccine, bad information that has led people to reject basic health measures like masks and to attack frontline workers trying to enforce those measures.

The advisory blames social media in explicit terms, noting that misinformation is framed to hit emotions so that people get outraged and spread it quickly, that technology platforms incentivize people to share such highly charged content, and that social media platforms use algorithms to steer users toward content similar to things they have previously liked, building disinformation bubbles.

“Health misinformation has cost us lives,” Murthy told reporters at the White House today. “Technology companies have enabled misinformation to poison our information environment with little accountability to their users.  It allowed people who intentionally spread misinformation—what we call ‘disinformation’—to have extraordinary reach.”

“In this advisory, we’re telling technology companies that we expect more,” he said. “We’re asking them to operate with greater transparency, to modify their algorithms to avoid amplifying misinformation, and to swiftly and consistently take action against misinformation super-spreaders on their platforms.”

Researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate have discovered that 65% of the shares of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media have come from just 12 people, nicknamed the “Disinformation Dozen.” Social media have been slow to remove their access to social media sites, or even their false content. According to Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Cecilia Kang of the New York Times, the White House has tried for weeks to get Facebook to explain how it is combating disinformation about the vaccine but has not received answers.

Republicans, already mad at social media giants for kicking off the former president, promptly claimed that Democrats were trying to censor free speech. Notably, Fox News Channel personalities and Republican leaders have been casting doubt on the vaccines since Biden took office and vowed to make combating the pandemic his signature success.

That the White House called out social media algorithms that skew information is clearly a concern for Facebook, for such algorithms could be regulated by the government while speech cannot. Facebook spokesperson Dani Lever rejected the idea that Facebook has contributed to disinformation, saying that the site has provided more good information about the coronavirus and vaccines than any other place on the internet.

As he boarded Marine One on his way to Camp David in Maryland for the weekend, reporters asked the president what he would say to social media executives about the disinformation on their platforms. “They’re killing people,” he said. “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and that��and they’re killing people.”

—-

Notes:

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/14/olivia-rodrigo-biden-499631

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-misinformation-advisory.pdf

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/07/16/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-45/

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996570855/disinformation-dozen-test-facebooks-twitters-ability-to-curb-vaccine-hoaxes

https://252f2edd-1c8b-49f5-9bb2-cb57bb47e4ba.filesusr.com/ugd/f4d9b9_b7cedc0553604720b7137f8663366ee5.pdf

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/16/psaki-vaccine-misinformation-499850

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/us/politics/biden-facebook-social-media-covid.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/14/under-trump-republicans-touted-coronavirus-vaccines-now-under-biden-theyre-questioning-them/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/16/fox-newss-dismissive-vaccine-coverage-is-particularly-dangerous-its-relatively-old-audience/

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[go-redgirl]

FNC’s Carlson: What Was It About Joe Biden’s Shaky Monotone That Inspired CNN’s Talking Heads?

Friday, FNC’s Tucker Carlson reacted to President Joe Biden’s address to the nation a night earlier, which according to Carlson left much to be desired.

After comparing Biden’s address to former Soviet Union dictator Leonid Brezhnev, the Fox News host questioned the fawning approval from CNN hosts and talking heads.

Transcript as follows:

CARLSON: Tons going on, as always. So, there are a lot of stories we could have opened with tonight and we talked about it. But in the end, we couldn’t get our minds off of Joe Biden’s COVID speech.

Did you see that last night? The one where he seems so sad about the lockdowns that have crushed businesses and kept kids out of school, an entire generation, he said, had driven so many to suicide, yet never once mentioned or even hinted that he and his party were the very forces behind those lockdowns.

I’m really sorry about your black eye, he says, as he punches you in the face.

It was bizarre. The whole speech was like that. It had a hallucinogenic quality like it wasn’t quite real.

But then Joe Biden himself isn’t quite real. Maybe that’s the reason he talks that way. Biden has been living in utter seclusion for more than a year. He hasn’t spoken to anyone but his own lackeys.

He hasn’t driven a car or sat on the grass and looked up at the sky or been anywhere or done anything except in the most controlled possible environment. What an incredibly weird life that is.

Joe Biden must imagine that everyone in America is as terrified of corona as he is and is living in the same kind of bunker. Joe Biden is totally cut off.

Alex Berenson described last night speech as late Soviet. The more we thought about it, the more perfect that seemed.

Here’s a clip of Russia’s own Joe Biden, the late Leonid Brezhnev. Like Biden, Brezhnev was very clearly fading in his later years after a series of health problems. Also, like Biden despite his frailty and confusion, Brezhnev never lost his enthusiasm for pointless wars.

He is the one who ordered the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In late December of that year, Brezhnev addressed the Soviet youth in a televised speech. As you watch this, see if you can spot the similarities to what you saw last night, and keep in mind when this was shot, Brezhnev was a full five years younger than Joe Biden is today.

[VIDEO CLIP PLAYS]

CARLSON: Now, they are trying to tell him how the teleprompter works. He harrumphs a bit and looks vacant, he doesn’t quite get it.

Brezhnev didn’t actually lead Russia by this point, and you can see why. He remained the country’s figurehead, but it was the ideologues behind the scenes who ran the show.

Brezhnev had his own Susan Rice and Barack Obama to make the real decisions. The similarities, as we said, are pretty amazing.

Over at CNN, however, they didn’t see it, or maybe they did see it and they didn’t care. CNN always did love Brezhnev.

In any case, the usual chorus of toadies strained for a high note last night. Watch them tell you how wonderful the speech was, as if you didn’t have a TV and didn’t see it for yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: How refreshing. How human. How compassionate. How American.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Biden tried to lift our spirits with a medicinal message about recovering our sense of collective cause. Certainly, it was healing.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: He didn’t say, you need me. He said, I need you. I need you. I mean, my God that is — isn’t that it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People always talk about the feeling of the relief hey have hearing Biden, but what he’s doing now soars above that.

LEMON: What the President is saying his help is on the way. We’re all in this together. I need your help. We’re all Americans. Whoo. Hallelujah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Hallelujah, says Don Lemon. Can I get an amen? Clear the aisles. It’s time for an altar call. Brother Biden is preaching the word. Preach, Brother Biden, preach. Speak. What are these people talking about?

What was it about Joe Biden’s shaky monotone last night that inspired them exactly? Most people found it depressing. Maybe we’re being too literal here.

It probably doesn’t matter what Joe Biden actually said. He could have called for the bombing of Toronto and CNN’s panel of trained seals would still enthusiastically applaud it. It’s their job to enthusiastically applaud what Joe Biden says.

Our job is to try and figure out what Biden’s speech meant for the country. So let’s look at it for a minute.

The lockdowns have been tough, Biden conceded at the outset, God knows how we got them, but we did. Those restrictions will be lifted as soon as we can lift them, and we will return to some version of the country now only dimly remember, we’d really love to do that. We mean it, we’d love it.

But in order to go forward and take the boot off your neck, we’re going to need every American to listen very carefully and to obey our orders. Do what we tell you to do.

Now, that won’t be easy. But if you do it, there is a payoff for good behavior. If you’re obedient, there’s a chance not a guarantee, of course, but a distinct possibility, God-willing, that you may be able to see some of the people you love around July 4th, that could actually happen, ladies and gentlemen. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: If we do our part, if we do this together, by July the Fourth, there’s a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.

That doesn’t mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be able to get together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Did you hear that America, there is a good chance, again, not a sure thing. But what is a sure thing these days? But a good chance that you might be allowed to have a modest cookout four months from now. That is as long as you obey regulations weather permitting, and assuming that current Federal projections unfold according to plan. That’s your prize.

This offer by the way does not apply to full-time employees, the radio station or their families.

But with luck, this could be your reward after a year and a half of lockdowns, a Fourth of July cookout in your very own backyard assuming you have one.

Don’t ever tell us that Joe Biden isn’t a compassionate generous man. Here he is offering you with some medically necessary caveats outlined by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the right to cook your own hotdogs. With the provision, obviously, that you do it in a small masked group seated far apart at a prescribed distance from one another.

Don’t get crazy and hug or celebrate or talk too loud or anything like that. Moderation is the key here. But still a socially distanced barbecue. What other wonders does President Biden have in store for us?

Well, you’re going to have to get vaccinated to find out. Sorry, that’s the other requirement. I should have mentioned it. Everybody needs the shot. Period. That’s what Biden said. And that’s a lot of shots.

The good news: now that we’re on what Joe Biden describes as a, quote, “war footing” with this virus, vaccinating people against it is a counterterrorism operation.

What we did to ISIS, we’re going to do to COVID. Biden didn’t mention drones, but we will need soldiers and that’s why Joe Biden is building a Vaccination Corps that will include active-duty members of the military, an army of vaccinators. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Two months ago, the country — this country didn’t have nearly enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all or ever near all of the American public. But soon we will.

Now because of all the work we’ve done, we’ll have enough vaccine supply for all adults in America by the end of May. That’s months ahead of schedule. And we’re mobilizing thousands of vaccinators to put the vaccine in one’s arm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Thousands of vaccinators to vaccinate everyone. That sounds amazing, but it does raise at least one vexing question: what if you don’t want to get vaccinated? Not everyone does. Some people have religious objections, other have concerns about this specific medicines. Others simply don’t want it.

Do you need a reason to turn down the vaccine? And what happens if you do turn it down? Will we be allowed to fly on airplanes? Or go to work? Or enter the front doors of Madison Square Garden?

Joe Biden didn’t specify, but it’s pretty hard to believe he would support any kind of vaccine coercion as he has told you so often over so many years, if it’s your body, it’s your choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I support a woman’s right to choose under that constitutional guarantee provision. And quite frankly, I always will.

Folks, you know, and I am going to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own personal decisions when it gets to your healthcare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Quite frankly, you’ve got the absolute right to make your own personal decisions about your own personal healthcare. Period. That’s in the Constitution. Joe Biden would never violate that, right. He’s been defending that right since before you were born.

It’s your body. It’s your choice. Period.

Of course, as with everything, there are caveats. If you don’t take the shot that Joe Biden wants you to take, if you persist in making your own personal healthcare, then Joe Biden is going to have to shut the country down again, no socially distanced barbecues for you, buddy. You’re going to have to eat your hotdogs alone inside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: If we don’t stay vigilant, and the conditions change, and we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: To which CNN might say, “Hallelujah,” but we’re not CNN. Instead, we’re left wondering, could there be any civil liberties implications to any of this? We don’t know the answer.

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT:

Clips Media Politics CNN Fox News Channel Joe  Biden Tucker Carlson Tucker Carlson

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

Welcome to Pollapalooza, our weekly polling roundup.

Poll(s) of the week

In recent days, we’ve seen a number of surveys of high-profile Senate contests. On the whole, the polls indicate Democrats have a real chance of picking up some seats in battleground states. Some of this is thanks to former Vice President Joe Biden’s sizable lead over President Trump (9.5 points), as the current national environment is very favorable to Democrats.

But remember many races could still go either way. And the good news for Republicans is that they’re favored to pick up a Democratic-held seat in Alabama and probably don’t have to worry too much about losing Kentucky. With the GOP holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate,1 Democrats still have to pick up three seats and the vice presidency, or at least four seats without the vice presidency, to take control of the chamber.

Let’s start with the Republican-held seats. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona has long been endangered, and three new surveys confirm she’s in real trouble. Last week, Democratic pollster Civiqs released a poll that found Democrat Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut, leading McSally 51 percent to 42 percent. Two additional polls dropped on Thursday: The New York Times/Siena College gave Kelly a 9-point edge, 47 percent to 38 percent, and Redfield & Wilton Strategies found him ahead by 15 points, 49 percent to 34 percent. Kelly has tended to attract slightly more support than Biden in Arizona — though they were about the same in the Times/Siena poll — and that’s an especially good sign for Kelly as Biden has led by a small margin there.

In North Carolina, five new polls show Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in a tight race with former Democratic state Sen. Cal Cunningham. The New York Times/Siena College survey of the race gave Cunningham a slim edge, 42 percent to 39 percent, which echoed another poll released this week — Democratic pollster Public Policy Polling had Cunningham up 44 percent to 40 percent. (Both leads were inside the polls’ margin of error.) And a Fox News poll released Thursday evening put Cunningham ahead by 2 points, 39 percent to 37 percent. However, an OAN/Gravis Marketing poll released last Friday found Tillis with 46 percent support, ahead by 1 point. And a Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll released Thursday morning gave Cunningham a 9-point advantage, 45 percent to 36 percent. Still, considering Biden is only leading Trump by 3 points in our North Carolina polling average, this race is likely to be very close in November.

Meanwhile, two recent polls in Georgia suggest that Democrats have a chance of capturing a Peach State seat. A Fox News survey found Republican Sen. David Perdue ahead by just 3 points over Democratic nominee Jon Ossoff, 45 percent to 42 percent, while a Public Policy Polling survey gave Ossoff a 1-point lead, 45 percent to 44 percent. Remember, though, that in Georgia a Senate candidate must win an outright majority or the race will go to a runoff, so there’s definitely a possibility that neither Perdue nor Ossoff win a majority (there’s also a Libertarian candidate running). No news on the state’s other Senate seat, which is a special election with a jungle primary that will also take place this November, though that contest will likely go to a January runoff.

In Kentucky, though, GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be heavily favored against whomever the Democrats choose (the results of Kentucky’s Democratic primary won’t be known until next week.) A Civiqs survey from the week of June 13 found McConnell led Democratic state Rep. Charles Booker by 14 points, 52 percent to 38 percent, and former fighter pilot and 2018 congressional candidate Amy McGrath by 20 points, 53 percent to 33 percent. The poll also found Trump ahead of Biden by 20 points, so the president’s big advantage should help McConnell down-ballot.

But Republicans aren’t the only ones playing defense. Democrats also have to defend a couple of seats in states that Trump carried in 2016 — most notably Alabama. Democratic Sen. Doug Jones has long been seen as the most vulnerable Senate incumbent up in 2020, but on Monday, his campaign released an internal poll from May that had him down just 3 points, 44 percent to 47 percent, against former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, who is seen as the favorite over former Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the July GOP primary runoff.

Of course, this was an internal poll, so take it with a grain of salt, and a mid-June poll from GOP pollster Cygnal painted a much different picture. It put Tuberville ahead of Jones by 14 points, 50 percent to 36 percent, and Sessions ahead by 10 points, 45 percent to 35 percent. The Jones campaign is arguing that Jones’s lead could have grown since their poll, especially since Biden’s standing has improved in Alabama, but in all likelihood, Jones is still a serious underdog. After all, Trump still leads Biden by 15 points in our polling average and is likely to win Alabama by the double-digits in November.

Finally, we also have five fresh surveys from Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters faces Republican John James, an Army veteran. James lost the state’s 2018 Senate race, but still performed fairly well in a Democratic-leaning environment. Yet the numbers now mostly augur well for Peters. Thursday’s New York Times/Siena College poll put Peters ahead by 10 points, 41 percent to 31 percent while Redfield & Wilton Strategies had him up by 18 points, 50 percent to 32 percent. And Peters also had double-digit leads in two polls conducted on behalf of right-leaning sponsors: The conservative Restoration PAC and GOP pollster Hodas & Associates put a poll out on Thursday that had Peters ahead by 13 points, 51 percent to 38 percent, while a survey released last week by TIPP on behalf of conservative outlet American Greatness found Peters up by 12 points, 47 percent to 35 percent. Plus, Marketing Resource Group also released a poll last week that found Peters ahead by 6 points, albeit only 36 percent to 30 percent, with 14 percent preferring “someone else” and 18 percent undecided. Bottom line: Peters seems to be cruising toward reelection, buoyed by the fact that Biden leads Trump by about 11 points in our Michigan polling average.

It’s too early to say that Democrats can take back the Senate, but if the national environment remains this favorable for Democrats, they’ll certainly stand a pretty good chance of regaining control in November.

Other polling bites

A new survey from Morning Consult found that 80 percent of Americans believe it’s “very” or “somewhat” likely that a second wave of coronavirus cases will hit in the next year. Respondents were split as to whether the country could handle the public health impact of a second wave — 42 percent said yes, 45 percent no. But only 33 percent agreed that the country was ready to handle the economic impacts of a second wave, while 53 percent disagreed.

A new poll from Axios/Ipsos suggests that comfort with getting a haircut might signal how safe the public feels about coronavirus cases in their state. In states where the number of new cases decreased from June 9 to 16, the share of respondents getting their hair cut increased from 10 percent to 19 percent, but in states where there was at least a 50 percent increase in new cases, the share of respondents who visited a hair salon fell from 19 percent to 13 percent. States with small increases in cases saw the share visiting a hair salon stay at 18 percent.

A record-high share of Americans — 40 percent — view the death penalty as “morally wrong,” according to a new poll from Gallup. Fifty-four percent still said it was morally acceptable, but that’s the lowest share since the pollster first asked this question in 2001. The drop in support was driven largely by liberals and moderates, who expressed new lows in approval — 37 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racism was once pretty unpopular, but as support for the Black Lives Matter movement has increased in recent weeks, fewer Americans think these protests are unacceptable. A new survey from YouGov found that 51 percent now support sports leagues substituting the phrase “Black Lives Matter” in place of athletes’ names on the back of jerseys. Only 35 percent opposed the idea, but there was a sizable partisan gap: 73 percent of Democrats approved of this compared to just 22 percent of Republicans.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that about 9 in 10 Americans think it should be illegal for employers to fire or refuse to hire individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally, the poll found that most respondents think people who are transgender or are lesbian, gay or bisexual face widespread discrimination — 79 percent and 74 percent, respectively.

The Senate has been unable to pass a police reform bill, but majorities of Democratic and Republican voters back reforms like banning chokeholds, training police on de-escalation, creating a national database of police disciplinary records and banning or increasing regulations on no-knock warrants, according to a new survey from Morning Consult. Asked about specific reform plans from House Democrats and Senate Republicans, 48 percent of respondents felt the Democratic plan — which bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants — appropriately addressed police reform, while only 33 percent said the same for the GOP proposal (which discourages the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants, but doesn’t ban them outright).

Trump approval

According to FiveThirtyEight’s presidential approval tracker, 40.6 percent of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while 55.2 percent disapprove (a net approval rating of -14.6 points). At this time last week, 41.2 percent approved and 55.2 percent disapproved (a net approval rating of -14.0 points). One month ago, Trump had an approval rating of 42.7 percent and a disapproval rating of 53.5 percent, for a net approval rating of -10.7 points.

Generic ballot

In our average of polls of the generic congressional ballot, Democrats currently lead by 8.1 percentage points (48.7 percent to 40.6 percent). A week ago, Democrats led Republicans by 7.9 points (48.6 percent to 40.7 percent). At this time last month, voters also preferred Democrats by 8.0 points (48.2 percent to 40.2 percent).

[yeltsinsstar]

With elections on the horizon, we, the voters, must take stock of what is at stake. There are TWO important thing to remember and a multitude of things to consider.

The FIRST important thing to remember is that POLITICS IS NOT A SPORT!

Do NOT get fixated on “your” team. Just because you, your parents or your grandparents voted for a particular political party does not mean that it is fit to govern.

The SECOND import thing to remember is to DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!

Do not blindly accept what is told to you by your friends & family, by the media (including Fox News) or, especially, by the politicians & their campaign committees. They may be mistaken, they be lying or they have no idea & are just going by rumour. It is not easy to do your own research, but it is better than believing the bullshit that is thrown out at election time.

What you must consider is what is most important to you & your family.

Do you want better & cheaper healthcare?

If so, the party & politicians advocating for universal healthcare are the better option.

Do you want higher wages?

If so, the party & politicians advocating for a living wage are the better option.

Do you want better & cheaper education for your children?

If so, the party & politicians advocating for free education at all levels are the better option.

Do you want better infrastructure/roads/etc.?

If so, the party & politicians advocating for these are the better option.

Do you want clean water, clean air, and an environment that will support your children & grandchildren?

If so, the party & politicians advocating better regulations, protection and enforcement for these are the better option.

Do you want to know how all of these are going to be paid for?

If so, the party & politicians advocating for taxing the wealthy and big corporations to gain access to the vast sums of money that have been taken out of circulation are the better option.

Does a politician or political party advocate tax cuts as being beneficial to the working & middle class by putting more money in your pocket & creating jobs?

They are almost certainly lying to you. Do not trust them

And, for those voters in the USA:

Do you think this all sounds like socialism?

It is.

But DO NOT listen to those who scream “but Venezuela, but Cuba, but the Soviet Union”. They are trying to confuse and scare you by conflating authoritarian and/or communist regimes with socialism when those regimes are NOT socialist. 

DO LISTEN to those who point to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, France, Germany, New Zealand and even Australia as examples of democratic socialism or social democracy that work. Because it does when it isn’t hijacked by authoritarian arseholes or undermined by the wealthy.