Latest news with #elections
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
CNN host warns Dems must actually 'get rid of some sacred cows' of far-left ideology, not just talk about it
CNN host Abby Phillip warned that if Democrats want to win back voters, they will need to risk offending their consultant class base with concrete policy changes. Since their historic defeat in November, the Democratic Party remains divided about how to move forward. While some Democrats are doubling down on the far-left politics many argue alienated voters, others are calling to abandon so-called "woke" politics. But as the party remains in flux, a rising tide of commentators are challenging such Democrats to actually articulate which far-left policies they will kick to the curb in order to regain the working-class voters they lost. On Tuesday evening, a panel on CNN discussed The New York Times' report claiming that Democrats are spending $20 million on a study called "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan." The study is purportedly a project to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces" of male voters. The panel spoke about how Democrats lack their own equivalent of podcaster Joe Rogan, and how he gradually went from a nonpolitical figure to becoming prominent in the "MAGA universe." CNN media correspondent Hadas Gold said one idea she has seen pitched is a "sleeper" podcast, "where they just they help fund the podcasters, let them do whatever they want, really build up that base, it has nothing to do with politics, and then in a few years, sort of seep into politics," she said, "just like Joe Rogan." However, she argued, such an idea probably wouldn't work. "The only way that that works is through authenticity, and you're not going to make it work by building up these funds and, in any way, being connected to a political party, because the political parties, especially Democrats right now, don't exactly have a good brand people want to be attached to," she said. When Gold praised Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego for appealing to authenticity in his rhetorical style, Phillip responded that Democrats need actual substance to their reform. "Okay, but here's the thing. They're going to have to — you alluded to this," Phillip said as she pointed to former Biden White House official Dan Koh, who called to take positions that may offend parts of the party. "They're going to have to get rid of some sacred cows. This is going to be the hard part. Everybody talks about authenticity until the rubber meets the road, and they have to actually take positions that the activist, you know, consultant class base does not want them to take." "I don't think they will," CNN commentator Shermichael Singleton said. "I mean, for Democrats to effectively target men of every color, they are going to have to drastically change some of their positions, especially some of the cultural stuff. I don't think that's going to happen, Dan. I think you guys have moved so far to the left, many — I know you're from the South, Dan, you seem to be more reasonable than most, but for the most part, a lot of you guys don't make room for guys to express their views in an open way about a lot of issues." When Koh was asked what he would do to change the party, he proposed doing a better job of enforcing the border and supporting upward mobility, saying, "These positions aren't popular with a lot of the party, but it's what people are — to the point of putting people where they are, it's where people are, and it's where we need to be as well."
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Orange ballot boxes to be placed around Canterbury district to make postal voting easier
Voting papers from any neighbouring district would be accepted in Waimakariri ballot boxes. Photo: NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSION Orange ballot boxes are expected to pop up around North Canterbury later this year. Waimakariri District Council deputy electoral officer Sarah Nichols said orange ballot boxes would be deployed around the district in September and October to make it easier for people to vote in this year's local government elections . ''We are still finalising the locations, but we are intending to have more than we did last time. ''With less post boxes around, we want to make sure people are able to have their say.'' She said voting papers from any neighbouring district would be accepted in Waimakariri ballot boxes ''as they all end up in the same place''. Christchurch-based runs the elections for several councils around the country, including the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura districts. Nominations open on Friday July 4, with 35 positions up for grabs in Waimakariri - including mayor, 10 councillors and 24 community board members. In Hurunui, nominations will be accepted for mayor, 10 councillors and community board members in Hanmer Springs, south ward (including Amberley) and the Cheviot Licensing Trust. Nominations will also be accepted for two councillors in Environment Canterbury's North Canterbury constituency. Nichols said there were more than 80 candidates in the Waimakariri district in 2022, with contests required for all positions. ''It will be interesting how many come forward. We are certainly encouraging people from all walks of life and ages to stand for their community.'' She said she hoped recent publicity about online abuse of female politicians would not deter too many people from standing. ''It is certainly a factor for people to consider. Abuse can range from texts or emails, it can be keyboard warriors and in-person and none of it is acceptable behaviour. ''We hope it is a clean campaign with issues being debated, rather than personal traits.'' Nichols said there had not been too many issues with candidate nominations not complying with the rules in the past. Candidates need to submit a passport sized photo with their 150 word profile. The photo need to be of your head and shoulders, with no sunglasses, no hat and not accompanied by whānau, pets, friends or kissing a baby. Candidates must be a New Zealand citizen. You do not need to reside in the district(s) you choose to stand in - but your two nominees do. If you or your partner hold a contract of more than $25,000 for your local council you cannot stand, unless you have prior approval from the Auditor-General. Nominations close at 12pm on Friday August 1, and no late nominations are accepted. Once nominations close, you were on the ballot paper, Nichols said. Voting papers are posted out from September 9, with voting closing at 12pm on Saturday October 11. A telephone dictation service is available from the Electoral Commission to assist those who are unable to read the voting papers. In the event a candidate passes away after nominations close, as in the Port Waikato electorate in the 2023 general election, a by-election will need to be held. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Wall Street Journal
6 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Making New York Less Affordable
One lament among sensible Democrats since their 2024 election defeat is that American voters have noticed that the cities and states the party runs don't work. Americans are getting more evidence by the day in the New York mayoral primary, as front-runner Andrew Cuomo keeps moving left to keep up with the crazy-town pack. The former Governor's latest brainstorm is to raise the city's minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2027. The city's current minimum is $16.50 an hour, which already prices many young and unskilled people out of the workforce. California Democrats passed a $20 minimum for fast-food workers in 2023, and the result has been lost jobs in the industry and higher costs for consumers. Businesses would have to raise prices to compensate in a Big Apple that is already frightfully expensive.
Bloomberg
6 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Portugal's Far-Right Chega Shatters 50-Year Two Party Dominance
During Portugal's recent election campaign, far-right Chega leader Andre Ventura argued that the two centrist parties that have ruled the nation for half a century have failed to increase living standards, control immigration and end systemic corruption. Ventura didn't win the May 18 election but he can no longer be ignored either. His party surged to second place, upending the decades-long dominance of the two groups that have governed Portugal since the end of its dictatorship.
Fox News
16 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
DOJ sues North Carolina over voter rolls
The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the State of North Carolina and the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday for allegedly failing to maintain an accurate voter list. The Trump administration claims the Tar Heel State is in violation of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) after board officials provided a statewide voter registration form that did not make clear whether an applicant must provide a driver's license number, or if the applicant does not have a driver's license, the last four digits of the applicant's social security number. If an applicant has neither, the law says the state must assign a special identifying number. The lawsuit says, "a significant number of North Carolina voters who did not provide a driver's license number or the last four digits of a social security number using that voter registration form were nonetheless registered by their election officials, in violation of HAVA" and the defendants "only took limited actions to prevent further violations." "Upon information and belief there currently are a significant number of voters that do not have a driver's license number, last four digits of a social security number, or any other identifying number, as required by Section 303 of HAVA, listed in North Carolina's state voter registration file," according to the filing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. "Those violations will continue absent relief from this Court." "Accurate voter registration rolls are critical to ensure that elections in North Carolina are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that maintain inaccurate voter registration rolls in violation of federal voting laws." A previous edition of the state elections board, in which Democrats held a majority, acknowledged the problem in late 2023 after a voter complained. The board updated the voter registration form but declined to contact people who had registered to vote since 2004 in time for the 2024 elections so they could fill in the missing numbers. According to the lawsuit, the board indicated that such information would be accumulated on an ad hoc basis as voters appeared at polling places. It is unclear exactly how many voters' records still lack identifying numbers. Lawyers from the DOJ Civil Rights Division want a judge to give the state 30 days to develop a plan to contact voters with records that do not comply with federal law, obtain an identifying number for each and add that to the electronic list. The state and national GOP last year sued over the lack of identifying numbers, which they estimated could have affected 225,000 registrants. However, federal judges declined to make changes so close to the general election. The lawsuit also referred to President Donald Trump's executive order on elections in March to "guard against illegal voting, unlawful discrimination, and other forms of fraud, error, or suspicion." After Election Day, formal protests were filed by Jefferson Griffin, a Republican candidate for a seat on the state Supreme Court, who challenged about 65,500 ballots. He contended that about 60,000 were cast by registrants whose records failed to contain one of the two identifying numbers. The state election board said earlier this year at least roughly half of those voters actually did provide an identifying number. Griffin also challenged another 5,500 ballots belonging to overseas military personnel and their family members who were not required to attach a copy of their photo IDs, as well those in a category of "Never Residents," or U.S. citizens with family ties to North Carolina who have never lived in the United States. A state appeals court criticized the board's handling of the registration records but ultimately ruled the challenged ballots had to remain in the final election tally. Six months passed during what amounted to be the nation's last contested 2024 election. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs was ultimately certified as the winner over Griffin by 734 votes out of over 5.5 million ballots cast. Griffin conceded earlier this month but said he did not fully agree with the court's analysis. This month, the state election board's composition changed to reflect a 2024 law approved by the GOP-dominated General Assembly that shifted the board's appointment powers from the now-Democratic governor to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek. A previous 3-2 Democratic majority is now a 3-2 Republican majority. The new iteration of the board sounds open to embracing the Justice Department's wishes. Executive Director Sam Hayes said late Tuesday the lawsuit was being reviewed, "but the failure to collect the information required by HAVA has been well documented." "Rest assured that I am committed to bringing North Carolina into compliance with federal law," he said, according to The Associated Press. Local elections start in September.
