Latest news with #political landscape
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sheryl Crow Slams ‘Immoral' President Trump in New Protest Song ‘The New Normal': Stream It Now
Sheryl Crow is refusing to accept the current political landscape as her new normal. On a fiery new song recorded with her touring band, The Real Lowdown, released Friday (July 18), the singer-songwriter slams President Donald Trump and his 'immoral' leadership style, referring to him as the 'leader of the free world' in place of his name. More from Billboard 2025 Stand Up To Cancer Fundraiser To Feature Dolly Parton, Host Sheryl Crow Mariah Carey 'MC16' Album Details Coming Tomorrow Fans Choose BTS' 'Permission to Dance On Stage' Live Album as This Week's Favorite New Music 'Is it science fiction or prediction wrapped in George Orwell?' she sings, pointedly referencing the author of dystopian novel 1984. 'If the news is fake and fear is hate and nothing's immoral/ To the leader of the free world, then welcome to the new normal.' Elsewhere on the track, Crow opens up about her widely shared fears that artificial intelligence will take over the job market, singing, 'You're gonna wake up someday to a robot that's in your place.' The song comes at a time where reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights and climate initiatives are increasingly under attack under the Trump administration. At the same time, artists and experts alike have been warning against the advancements of AI, pointing out its environmental and economic risks. In a statement, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer shared why she chose to release the protest anthem at this point in her career. 'What's happening all around us is so unbelievably bizarre, that my fear is we will truly begin to feel like this is normal,' she said, noting that the possibility 'terrifies' her. 'I am so blessed to have the band that I have,' she continued. 'For years, we have jammed up such cool stuff during sound checks that we decided we go in and start recording as a band. Can't wait for everyone to hear the new stuff we are doing.' Crow has previously been open in her opposition to the twice-impeached POTUS. In 2016, when Trump first ran for president, she joined several other artists in protesting his use of their songs in his campaign. In 2024, she revealed that she'd voted for Trump's opponent, Kamala Harris. 'I voted for the candidate who I feel I can align myself with and who represents the aspects that I try to live my life by, and that I try to model to my children… empathy, compassion, a heart for community and for those underserved,' she wrote on Instagram in November. 'Not hate and division, bigotry, or racism. Pretty straightforward. Harris/Walz lead with love and not hate. Simple.' Listen to 'The New Normal' below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Voters in Tokyo reflect shifting political views across Japan
As voters headed to the polls on Sunday for what could be one of the most turbulent elections in recent history, constituents across Tokyo reflected the nation's diverging political beliefs. Amid heightened debate over rising prices, some voters stuck to their usual choices, while others began to seek alternatives, underscoring the fragmentation of Japan's political landscape. Although the rise in popularity of smaller parties has been making headlines in recent weeks, especially given the success of parties like the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) in the Lower House election last year and the far-right Sanseito in the Tokyo Assembly election last month, many — especially among the older generation — continue to vote for the same parties as they always have. '(I voted for) the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan — I always vote for them,' said 84-year-old Goro Hashimoto in Toshima Ward on Sunday morning. 'They care about the people, which is especially important with rising prices.' Another voter in her 80s, Natsuko Hagi, shared that she cast her vote for the Japanese Communist Party, as she always has. 'I want them to make (the country) better for the elderly and children,' she said. Loyalty to the ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), remains intact among some of its supporters. 'I voted for Keizo Takemi,' said 57-year-old Satoshi Kaguragi, referring to the LDP candidate in the Tokyo district who is running for re-election for the sixth time at the age of 73. 'Why? Because he's from the LDP.' On the other hand, many constituents, frustrated with the current state of affairs, have turned away from the LDP and are seeking possibilities in newer and smaller parties. 'I used to vote for the LDP, mainly because when the opposition came into power, they couldn't cooperate in Kasumigaseki and all they did was complain without offering any solutions,' said 63-year-old Ono, who only gave his last name. He cast his vote for Sanseito for the first time after being impressed by their straightforward messaging. 'Right now, (the LDP is) not putting the country first.' 'I don't know how far they will go or what power is backing them at the moment, but I think the message they're sending is very respectable,' said Ono, saying that he wanted to cast his vote for the potential he believes Sanseito represents. Takashi Kudo, a 37-year-old father, was spending the three-day weekend with his family in Shibuya Ward but voted early for the DPP in his Miyagi Prefecture hometown. 'Up until now, I used to support the LDP, but after hearing about everything that's been happening, I started thinking that the LDP is no longer the right choice,' said Kudo. 'Child-rearing issues are a top priority for me, but nothing really changes under (the LDP).' Others say they have been committed to the DPP since last year's Lower House election. A 64-year-old man, who asked to go by his last name, Ishii, said he supports the party because of how straightforward and realistic their policies are. 'I feel that the DPP has the casting vote (within the Diet), and that makes me believe they have the ability to influence the government,' he said. 'I'm counting on them.' Messaging from the DPP is also resonating with some members of the younger generation. 'I like their promise to support the working generation,' said Inoue, a 21-year-old college student, who also declined to share his first name. 'I think that's a really good policy, especially when considering Japan's future in the long-term.' Other young people, including 26-year-old Mai Kajikawa, who admits that she isn't as up-to-date on politics as she should be and mostly gets her information from social media, also believes that the current government cannot stay in power — though she hadn't yet decided who to vote for. 'I think (the government) is just stiff and entrenched,' she said, adding that her main interest lies in policies aimed at improving the situation for working women. 'I'm aware it might be cherrypicking to some extent, but because I see so many posts trending on X questioning whether we should trust the people currently in power, I felt like I should cast my vote in this election to help change things.'
Japan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Japanese markets brace for triple whammy if opposition wins big
Japan faces the possibility of market instability should this weekend's election lead to a dramatic change in the political landscape, particularly if opposition parties gain influence and push for aggressive tax cuts. 'It's possible Japan might experience its own triple whammy of market turmoil, perhaps a Japanese version of the 'Trump crisis' that occurred in April,' said Hideo Kumano, an economist at Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute, referring to a simultaneous fall of stocks, currencies and bonds. Some analysts suggest the possibility of market disruption similar to the crisis triggered by economic measures proposed by then-U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss in 2022. The Upper House election will take place on July 20, and polls indicate that the LDP-Komeito coalition could lose its majority as parties both to the left and right of it gain ground. The coalition lost its majority in the Lower House late last year. Should the coalition lose big this weekend, Japan could enter a period of uncertainty in which the political fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is unresolved and small parties are wooed to join the coalition, or at least work with it, to make governing possible. Campaigning has been unusually dramatic going into the election. Issues related to the role of foreigners in Japan have entered the political conversation, especially with the rise of Sanseito and its "Japanese First" agenda. Relatively controversial platforms have added to the sense of instability and suggest that the mood post-election could remain unsettled. In the event of a power vacuum or power-sharing arrangements with smaller parties, tariff negotiations with the United States could be affected right away. A 25% "reciprocal" tariff is set to kick in on Aug. 1 on most Japanese goods bound for the United States if the two countries are unable to come up with a compromise agreement before then. The loss of the majority and unclear leadership could make last-minute talks difficult and a breakthrough less likely. If no progress is achieved, most Japanese goods will be subject to the full reciprocal tariff —up from the current 10% — while an existing 25% tariff on autos and 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum will remain. Analysts said that these high duties could have significant implications for the economy and for the Bank of Japan and interest rates, which could in turn affect the currency. 'The timing to reach a tariff agreement between Japan and the U.S. and details of the deal will be unclear, so the BOJ will be forced to consider delaying its next rate hike,' Kohei Okazaki, chief market economist at Nomura Securities, wrote recently. If opposition parties gain seats, the government will likely be under intense pressure to introduce expensive policies to help households make ends meet. One possible option being pushed by opposition parties is cutting the consumption tax — currently set at 10% for most products and 8% for food items. 'There is no doubt' Japan will be under additional fiscal strain after the election, Kumano said. Even if the LDP and Komeito manage to maintain the majority, it's likely that they will come up with new economic measures to counter the economic costs of U.S. tariffs, Kumano said. An election poster board in Shinjuku. The LDP-Komeito coalition may lose its Upper House majority following this weekend's election. | Nico Phillips Japanese markets were rattled in recent weeks as tariff negotiations dragged on and as it became clear that the election could lead to a minority government. The yen weakened against the dollar, while stocks are off from recent highs. The yield on 30-year Japanese government bonds surged to a record 3.2% on Tuesday, and the yield on 20-year Japanese government bonds hit their highest level since November 1999. Bond prices move inversely to yields. 'It seems the market has already priced in the possibility of the LDP-Komeito losing its majority,' said Noriatsu Tanji, chief bond strategist at Mizuho Securities. But it's possible that the market has yet to fully price in the worst-case scenario, so volatility could be high after the election, he added. Tanji said he believes cutting the consumption tax rate alone would not pose a serious risk to Japan's fiscal sustainability, but added that the market's perception of Japan's fiscal health is driven by the prevailing mood rather than detailed discussions. It's similar to how a healthy bank might face a run if a rumor about it spreads, Tanji said, adding that markets could be volatile due to the prevailing mood. He added that the exchange rate is more strongly influenced by U.S. factors, so Japan's fiscal expansion alone would not lead to a plunge in the yen. 'I believe the U.S. Federal Reserve will start cutting rates from September, so the yen will be persistently under a certain level of upward pressure,' he said.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top 3 races to watch in Arizona
Ahead of next year's elections, Arizona is gearing up for a special election this year and several key races in 2026. This head start is much needed in the Southwestern swing state, where the political landscape is extremely nuanced and every seat counts. On the one hand, six of the nine members of the U.S. House delegation from the Grand Canyon State are Republican. Meanwhile, Democrats control both the Senate seats as well as the offices of governor, attorney general and secretary of state. The state legislature is red by a razor-thin margin. Despite their political differences, both parties are running into similar problems, including a lack of support from the fractious state parties. High-level Republicans appear to be relying on Turning Point USA, an independent political organization that is loyal to President Donald Trump. Turning Point USA, headquartered in Phoenix, gained a reputation for driving voter turnout toward MAGA-aligned candidates. In 2024, this political advocacy organization reported turning out over 315,000 voters in Arizona alone. That's a big accomplishment in a state that has only about 324,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats. When the Arizona Republican Party drew the line at election denialism in 2020 and 2022, Turning Point USA continued to support the likes of Kari Lake, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate and the governor's office and claimed the election was stolen both times. State Democrats, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, are also making changes. In May, state Democratic Party Chair Robert Branscomb II, elected to office earlier this year, criticized top Democrats and accused Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of intimidation over staffing decisions. In response to the internal dysfunction, Branscomb was censured and an upcoming vote could see him removed from leadership. In the meantime, the top Democratic candidates are coordinating their fundraising and voter turnout efforts through the more organized Navajo County Democratic Party. The perpetually close margins in federal, statewide and local races and the never-ending talk of election security amps up the pressure on Arizona's wide range of candidates. As both parties prepare for an uphill battle, here are three races to watch. Democrats: The 7th District in Arizona is up for grabs at the special election this year after Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva died in March. He was 77. His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, is the Democratic frontrunner in the race. Daniel Hernandez, a Democrat, who helped save the life of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a shooting in Tucson in 2011, is also in the running. GOP: Three Latino American businessmen — Off-road vehicle entrepreneur Jimmy Rodriguez, painting company owner Daniel Butierez and restaurateur Jorge Rivas — are the Republicans vying for this deeply blue district. The trio overall supports Trump's crackdown on undocumented migration. What's at stake?: It will be a tough battle for the GOP candidates; this seat has never been held by a Republican since it was created in 2000. GOP: Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., kicked off his campaign for governor last month through an energized rally, hosted by Turning Point USA, which has as much influence in Arizona as the state party. He shares an endorsement from Trump with attorney Karrin Robson, who enjoys support from the Arizona Republican Party and has a much bigger war chest than Biggs'. Democrats: They are so far backing incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs, who's earned the nickname the 'Veto Queen' for setting and breaking her own veto records over the course of her term. Although she won against Kari Lake, who is now part of the Trump administration, Hobbs faces a tougher battle in 2026. Odds: So far, Hobbs hasn't said whether she will run for reelection. If Hobbs jumps into the race, her chances of winning are low. According to Sabato's Crystal Ball, from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, the race, which has at least 13 other candidates, is a toss-up, despite Hobbs' incumbent status. Democrat: Attorney General Kris Mayes, the incumbent Democrat, is running for a second term. She is the first LGBTQ person and first mother to serve in this role. Those aren't the only notable headlines about her win — in 2022, she won by a narrow margin of 280 votes. If that race is any indication, the upcoming election, too, will be a tough battle, especially since Mayes isn't universally popular in the state. Republicans accuse her of using her position to target the right, like suing the federal government for the Department of Government Efficiency's cuts, a legal battle she lost. GOP: She faces opposition from Rodney Glassman, who previously ran as a Democrat in 2010, and Warren Petersen, the president of the Arizona Senate. Petersen doesn't have Trump's endorsement but he was invited to the White House when Trump signed the executive order to disallow trans athletes from participating in competitive girls and women's sports. He had fought for the passage of a similar bill — the Save Women's Sports Act — in the Arizona legislature. What's at stake?: In addition to standing up against 'woke' policies, Petersen promises to prioritize fighting against rising crime, fentanyl overdoses and human trafficking in lockstep with the Trump administration's border security agenda. He is the front-runner in the GOP primary. Meanwhile, wealthy ex-Democrat Glassman's track record has lost several races, including the bids for chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, Arizona Corporation Commission, Maricopa County assessor, and the Republican nomination for attorney general, as Phoenix New Times reported.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Obama to Democrats: ‘Just toughen up'
Former President Obama's message to Democrats is to 'just toughen up' amid frustration with the political landscape under President Trump. 'I think it's going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it's going to require Democrats to just toughen up,' Obama said in remarks at a private fundraiser Friday in New Jersey, according to excerpts obtained by The Hill. 'Don't tell me you're a Democrat, but you're kind of disappointed right now, so you're not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,' he said. Obama's comments, which were first reported by CNN, marked his first fundraising appearance since Democrats' 2024 losses, as the party searches for a new way forward as it grapples with a GOP-controlled Washington in Trump's second term. He called out 'progressives, liberals … who seem like they're kind of cowed and intimidated and shrinking away from just asserting what they believe,' and said he's 'not impressed' by law firms that set aside the law, or universities that compromise 'academic independence' for the sake of saving money or comfort. 'What's being asked of us is make some effort to stand up for the things that you think are right. And be willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in defense of your values, and in defense of the country, and in defense of the world that you want to leave to your children and your grandchildren,' the former president said. 'And if we all do that — if we do our jobs over the next year and a half — then I think we will rebuild momentum, and we will position ourselves to get this country moving in the direction it should.' The appearance in New Jersey, alongside Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), comes ahead of New Jersey's gubernatorial and state legislative races this year. 'Stop looking for the quick fix. Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates,' Obama said, saying the off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia could be 'a big jump start for where we need to go.' Sherrill, who represents New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, won the Democratic nomination for governor of the Garden State in early June. She is aiming to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited, by beating Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the fall. Updated at 11:50 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
