2024 Elections – Latest News and Analysis – Page 86 | Straight Arrow News

Straight Arrow News

Unbiased. Straight Facts.^TM

DeSantis, Youngkin visit Asia amid rumored White House bids

April 25, 2023
Two Republican governors, both rumored to be considering presidential runs, made trips to the Asia region to meet with foreign leaders during the week of April 23. The visits coincide with heightened U.S. efforts to counter Chinese influence, TIME reports.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of a four-country tour billed as an “international trade mission.”

During their meeting, Kishida expressed his hope that DeSantis’ visit will contribute to further strengthening of Japan’s relationship with the United States as well as Florida.

DeSantis also applauded Japan’s recent military expansion efforts.

“We understand it’s a tough neighborhood out here and we really believe that a strong Japan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Japan,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also announced that he will be traveling to South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom on this trip.

When asked about trailing behind former President Donald Trump in hypothetical 2024 Republican primary polls, DeSantis replied, “I’m not a candidate so we’ll see if and when that changes.”

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was also in the Asia region on a separate trade mission and met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

During the meeting, Youngkin announced that his state would open a Taiwan trade office, according to a statement from the Presidential Office in Taipei, as reported by TIME.

Youngkin is also believed to be eyeing a presidential run and is expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues.

According to an April poll from the Wall Street Journal, former President Donald Trump currently leads the Republican field with 48% among Republican primary voters, in a potential field of 12 Republican contenders. DeSantis trails behind with 24%, while Youngkin polled at 1% or less.
Related Stories
- DeSantis, not Trump, leads Biden in key states, sets fundraising record
Biden launches 2024 campaign as age concerns swirl: April 25 rundown

April 25, 2023

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have officially launched their re-election campaign for 2024. And ESPN begins to layoff employees this week. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Tuesday morning, April 25, 2023.

Biden announces run for re-election

President Biden launched his re-election campaign Tuesday, April 25, in a pre-recorded video release. The video release comes four years to the day that Biden announced his candidacy for the 2020 presidential election.

In the campaign video, the president says the country is in a battle for the soul of America and that there is a need to defend democracy. He calls out “MAGA extremists,” who, he says, are threatening the country’s freedom.

The last slide of the video states “let’s finish the job.”

His announcement for re-election comes on the heels of a new NBC poll that suggests 70% of Americans did not want the 80-year-old Biden to run again, citing his age as a main factor. The president’s approval ratings are in the low 40s in most polls.

His top challenger on the other side of the aisle, as of today, is former President Donald Trump.

Sexual assault trial against Trump begins

Jury selection begins today in a sexual assault lawsuit against Donald Trump. Former Elle magazine writer E. Jean Carroll has claimed Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store more than 25 years ago.

She brought the case last year under a New York state law opening a one-year window for victims of sexual assault to file civil cases after the statute of limitations has expired. Trump has denied the accusations.

The trial is expected to take one to two weeks and Trump is not required to attend.

In another legal battle for the former president, the Fulton County Georgia District Attorney has now said that any potential charges against the former President in the county’s 2020 election probe will be announced this summer.

North Dakota passes six-week abortion ban

North Dakota is the latest state to pass an abortion ban after six-weeks of pregnancy. Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed the legislation this week. The law is designed to take effect immediately. But in March, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled a state abortion ban must wait until legal battles play out.

State lawmakers said this latest bill is to send a message to the state’s high court that the people of North Dakota want to restrict abortion.

The governor said the bill will clarify existing state law and reaffirm North Dakota as a pro-life state.

Montana Legislature chaos following censure

The Montana Legislature is at odds over one of its state representatives. Last week, lawmakers issued a gag order forbidding their transgender colleague, state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, from participating in debate after the lawmaker made controversial remarks toward supporters of a bill that bans gender-affirming care.

Now, as lawmakers continue to prohibit Zephyr from speaking, the lawmaker’s supporters on the floor are speaking up. Proceedings were disrupted yesterday as supporters chanted “let her speak.” Legislative leaders paused the session and cleared the room.

Republican lawmakers in the state have shown no signs of backing down, saying Zephyr will be allowed to speak on the House floor only after issuing an apology.

ESPN lays off employees, part of Disney job cuts

ESPN has begun informing workers whether or not their jobs have been eliminated in a series of layoffs. The layoffs come as parent company Disney plans to slash 7,000 jobs. The cuts were announced earlier this year.

For now, the move is not expected to affect on-air talent at ESPN. The worldwide leader in sports is expected to cut some on-air talent positions over the summer.

iPhone emergency SOS feature saves students

The iPhone 14’s emergency SOS feature has another success story. It’s credited for saving three students who went canyoneering in Utah and got stuck inside a canyon with no cell phone signal.

When the three students got inside the canyon, they unexpectedly found deep water potentially caused by a wet winter in Utah. At one point, the water was chest deep and the students got stuck. Two of the students were experiencing hypothermia.

With no cell service, the third student had initiated the emergency SOS via satellite feature, saying every 20 minutes he would receive bars on his phone from a satellite above. The group was eventually able to text 911 for help and were all rescued.

Emergency SOS via satellite has already been used in several other life-threatening situations, including when an Alaskan man was stranded in the wilderness.

The feature is exclusive to iPhone 14’s and was unveiled last September.
Biden to announce reelection bid despite concerns over his age

April 24, 2023

President Joe Biden is expected to launch his bid for reelection as early as the week of April 23, according to sources familiar with the matter. The launch is expected to come despite concerns over his age. At 80 years old, Biden is already the oldest president in American history.

The New York Times opinion editorial board highlighted the age factor as a “legitimate concern.” It wrote that many Democrats, particularly younger ones, are worried Biden will “simply be too old to be effective in a second term.”

By the end of a potential renewed term, President Biden would be 86 years old.

Only about half of Democrats think President Joe Biden should run again in 2024, according to a recent AP-NORC poll. Despite this, a large majority say they would still likely to support Biden if he becomes the nominee.

Meanwhile, 70% of Americans overall say they don’t want Biden to run again, according to an NBC News survey. 48% cited age as a major factor.

Biden has long said he intends on running for a second term but has held off on making a formal announcement. His current approval rating sits at about 42%. This rating is comparable to past presidents Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump, both of whom lost their reelection bids, according to Politico.

However, approval ratings cannot solely predict a reelection outcome, Politico reports. Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama both at this juncture had approval ratings dip in the 40 percentage range but went on to win their second terms for the presidency.

Importantly, approval ratings can change drastically between now and Election Day as the U.S. responds to the economy, the war in Ukraine and various other issues.

When President Biden confirms his bid for reelection, he will share the Democratic field with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, both of whom announced their bids for the White House this year.
Sen. Josh Hawley a ‘no’ on 2024 run for president or vice president

April 18, 2023

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said “no” when asked if he’s interested in being a 2024 vice presidential candidate. He also previously told reporters that he won’t run for president either, and will focus on winning reelection to the Senate.

Straight Arrow News asked Sen. Hawley about a Daily Caller report that quoted a Trump campaign consultant who said Hawley is not being talked about enough.

“I think Hawley is very, very interested in policy. I think he’s not interested in overshadowing Trump. He looks the part, he’s presentable, he’s pretty good on TV, and unlike Mike Pence, he’s actually aligned ideologically to Donald Trump,” the anonymous Trump consultant said.

Hawley didn’t just say no, he said it over and over.

“No. That was easy, wasn’t it? No, no, but no,” Hawley said.

“So you’re saying there’s a chance,” a reporter asked.

Hawley laughed and responded, “No.”

The article cited other officials close to Trump who said running mate options include Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. One consultant said it seems likely that Trump will pick a woman to join him.
DeSantis, not Trump, leads Biden in key states, sets fundraising record

April 17, 2023

For the Republican Party, there are two candidates at the top of mind for the presidential nominee in 2024. The candidates are former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

While DeSantis has yet to announce a bid for the White House, a new poll has the Florida governor leading President Biden in battleground states. Public Opinion Strategies found that DeSantis would beat Biden in Arizona and Pennsylvania in a presidential election.

The same poll had Trump losing the bid to Biden. DeSantis has yet to announce a run for president, but his recent itinerary matches that of someone on the campaign trail as he visited New Hampshire during the weekend of April 15.

The Florida governor sold out a gala event, and for someone not running for president, he was very successful in fundraising for the state party. He broke the gala’s record by pulling in more than $250,000.

While there was much support, DeSantis briefly shared the stage with two women who took to the stage in protest.

Also happening during the weekend of April 15 was the NRA’s national convention in Indianapolis. Trump addressed the NRA leaders in person while DeSantis delivered a virtual message.

Political ads produced by super PACs aired ahead of the NRA event, and they set the tone for a competitive GOP primary season to come.
New details, video from Nashville school shooting released: March 28 rundown

March 28, 2023

Newly released surveillance video inside a Nashville Christian school shows the moments before a shooting rampage began; a migration fire kills dozens; and a Senate staffer is stabbed in broad daylight. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

New details in Nashville shooting

New details have emerged out of Nashville, a city in mourning after three 9-year-old students, a custodian, a substitute teacher, and the head of the school were shot and killed at a private Christian school. Authorities have given the public a first look inside the scene of the school shooting.

Nashville police released surveillance video from inside the school showing side doors shattering from bullets as the shooter crawls through the glass and into the school. Flashing lights in the hallway show the school is on lockdown, and video shows the suspect wandering the halls with a semi-automatic rifle in hand.

The suspect, according to the police chief, is a 28-year-old transgender woman, Audrey Elizabeth Hale. She is a former student of the school.

Police say two officers arrived on scene and shot and killed the suspect on the second floor of the school, where she had fired at arriving police through a window.

Now, the community is in a search for answers, and Tennessee lawmakers are demanding the release of the shooter’s supposed manifesto where police say she detailed the planned attack on the Christian academy.

The shooter also had maps of the school drawn out in detail, two “assault style” weapons, and a rifle, police said.

Police said they do have a theory about a motive, but they haven’t released details yet as they continue to investigate and Nashville continues to grieve.

Migration center fire kills dozens

At least 39 people died after a fire at a migration center broke out early Tuesday, March 28, in Mexico’s northern border city of Ciudad Juarez.

Authorities said the fire at the office of the National Migration Institute happened after they picked up about 71 migrants from the streets of the city.

There was a large presence of law enforcement and fire officials on scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation and details about the victims have not been released.

According to Reuters, the majority of migrants at the center were from Venezuela.

Staffer of Sen. Rand Paul stabbed

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said one of his staffers was attacked and stabbed in broad daylight over the weekend of March 25, in Washington, D.C.. The office said did not identify the staffer.

According to police, the victim is being treated for multiple stab wounds. Witnesses saw the staffer bleeding from the head. One witness tackled the suspect, and after a struggle, the suspect ran away. Police later arrested and charged 42 year old Glynn Neal.

The staffer has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Deadly storms in South clear out

The storms have cleared in the southern region of the U.S.. Cleanup efforts will continue March 28 after the deadly tornadoes.

One left a 59-mile-long path of destruction through multiple Mississippi counties and was on the ground for over an hour.

In West Point, Georgia, a twister damaged nearly 100 homes. At least 26 people have died, including a 34-year-old man and his one-year-old daughter.

Biden’s ‘Investing in America’ tour begins

President Joe Biden will head to North Carolina on Tuesday, March 28, to kick off what the White House is calling the “Investing in America” tour.

While there, he’ll visit Wolf-Speed, a semiconductor manufacturing facility. It’s one of more than a dozen stops the Biden administration intends to make at the end of March and the beginning of April to highlight the president’s economic agenda.
Florida Gov. DeSantis rejects blogger bill after State of the State address

March 8, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla, distanced himself from a bill introduced last week that would require a blogger to register with the state of Florida if they write about state officials. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Gov. DeSantis said he was surprised he had become associated with the bill.

“I see these people filing bills and then there’s articles with my face on the article, saying that ‘bloggers are going to have to register with the state,’ attributing it to me,” DeSantis said. “That’s not anything I’ve ever supported, I don’t support. I’ve been very clear about what we’re doing, and so people have the right to file legislation they have the right to do different types of amendments and all that other stuff.”

In addition to DeSantis, the Florida blogger bill has also been criticized by free speech advocates and journalists on both sides of the aisle. They argue it constitutes a gross violation of the First Amendment.

The news conference came following DeSantis’ annual State of the State address Tuesday. Potentially looking to build momentum for a presidential run, DeSantis positioned himself as the architect of a new conservative vision for the nation.

“So we find ourselves in Florida on the front lines in the battle for freedom. Together, we have made Florida the nation’s most desired destination, and we have produced historic results,” DeSantis said. “Don’t worry about the chattering class. Ignore all the background noise. Keep the compass set to true north. We will stand strong. We will hold the line. We won’t back down. And I can promise you this. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Morning rundown: Military emails leaked; Ramaswamy running for president

February 22, 2023

The U.S. military is investigating a leak of emails from a Pentagon server; a new candidate enters the 2024 presidential contest; a fourth train derailment within a month; and a massive winter storm is coming. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

U.S. military email server exposed

The U.S. Military’s Special Operations Command is investigating a report from a cyber security researcher that suggests a U.S. military email server was left exposed for two weeks, allowing internal emails to leak.

According to TechCrunch, anyone who knew the IP address of the server could access the data without a password until the server was secured on Monday.

A military spokesman told TechCrunch that there are no signs anyone hacked their system. TechCrunch said the server housed data that contained sensitive information but not classified material.

Ramaswamy announces presidential bid

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced he is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He joins Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump.

Ramaswamy is a biotech and health care entrepreneur. The multi-millionaire describes himself as an “anti-woke” activist.

“That is why today, I’m announcing my run for president of the United States. This isn’t just a political campaign, this is a cultural movement to create a new American dream for the next generation,” Ramaswamy said during his announcement.

In a Twitter post hours after his announcement, Ramaswamy said he would repeal federal affirmative action mandates on day one.

Ramaswamy’s early campaign has included talks of addressing a national identity crisis. He says faith, patriotism, and hard work have been replaced by gender ideology, a focus on climate change, and “COVID-ism.”

Our business correspondent Simone Del Rosario has an in-depth report on Ramaswamy’s place in corporate America. You can find that story here.

Train cars derail in Nebraska

The Union Pacific Railroad has confirmed that one of their trains carrying coal derailed Tuesday in Nebraska. More than 30 train cars were involved in the derailment. Union Pacific said there was no hazmat situation at the wreckage site. And we’re learning train derailments in this area have happened before, with four derailments occurring within the last nine months.

This is just the latest in a string of derailments that prompted Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to announce a list of rail safety reforms yesterday.

The Nebraska incident marks the fourth high profile derailment in the U.S. in less than a month. A train derailed Monday in Sacramento. Another derailed last week outside of Detroit. These follow the derailment in Ohio earlier this month that led to a hazmat situation, toxic chemical release, and evacuation. And before that, in Louisiana, a train derailment led to a chemical spill and evacuation.

Texas bill aims to ban polls at schools

Last week, Texas state Rep. Carrie Isaac, R, introduced a bill to bar polling places at any institution of higher education. Now she’s working on a bill to bar polling places at K-12 public and charter schools in the state too. The state legislator introduced the bill in the name of school safety and security.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats have advocated for legislation to mandate polling sites on larger college campuses to allow more voter accessibility.

Number of strikes double in 2022

The number of strikes across the country more than doubled in 2022. And the number of workers involved jumped 60% year-over-year. That’s according to a new labor action tracker.

About 224,000 total people walked off the job in 424 strikes. That is up from 279 strikes in 2021.

Fast food workers with the “Fight for $15” campaign, and Starbucks baristas organized over 100 strikes, making up about a quarter of all strikes in the U.S. But the majority of strikes came from the education sector. About 60% of the workers striking in 2022 were educators.

More strikes occurred last year than ever before as workers exert leverage in tight labor market conditions.

Winter storm threatens parts of the U.S.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm, blizzard and high-wind advisories throughout the western and north-central U.S., with up to two feet of snow expected through Thursday.

Wind gusts could also reach 50 mph, with wind chills expected to reach -50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota, according to the Weather Service.

Schools across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin are closed today in preparation for a storm, which is expected to bring white out conditions.
Morning rundown: Haley running for president; mass shooting at MSU

February 14, 2023

Nikki Haley has officially announced her presidential bid for 2024; three people are dead after a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University; and Ford announces restructuring ahead of their push to go electric. These stories and more highlight your daily rundown for Tuesday morning, February 14, 2023.

Nikki Haley announces run for president

Former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has announced that she is running for president, seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 election. She made the announcement in a video posted to her Twitter account. The move was expected after she made hints at a run for the White House in recent weeks.

Haley is expected to deliver remarks Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina, at a campaign launch event.

Michigan State deadly shooting

A deadly shooting Monday night at Michigan State University has left three people dead and five others injured. The shooter, 43-year-old Anthony Wayne McRae, had no affiliation to the campus.

An investigation is underway to determine why the man was on Michigan State’s campus on Monday.

The suspect shot and killed himself when confronted by police off university grounds. The shooter was carrying multiple magazines and two guns. The active shooter reports terrified students on campus. Video captured some of them frantically running away from the scene.

All campus activities are canceled for the next two days and even local elementary, middle and high schools will have no school as investigators try to find a motive.

U-Haul driver strikes pedestrians

A U-Haul driver went on what police call a “violent rampage” in Brooklyn. He crashed into pedestrians, cyclists, and a responding police officer. One person died from their injuries while another eight people were injured.

The U-Haul was first rented out in Florida in January and police say the suspect could have been living in the vehicle. Police were able to take the suspect into custody. He is identified as 62-year-old Weng Sor with a Nevada driver license.

According to the suspect’s family, who talked to the Associated Press, the driver has a history of mental illness and was off his medications. He also has a history of violence. His record indicating he spent 17 months behind bars for stabbing his brother in 2015. He served time again in 2020 for another stabbing.

Ford cuts jobs amid electric push

Ford has announced its cutting 3,800 jobs in Europe as part of a push to reduce costs as the company shifts its focus to building up its electric models. Ford is spending $50 billion on electrifying its vehicles. This includes a $3.5 billion business venture that opens a battery plant in Michigan that will take advantage of federal tax credits.

Higher costs for the company to revamp its EV’s will come at a cost to other Ford sectors. One in nine jobs in product development and administration across Europe will be cut. Ford’s goal is to offer an all-electric passenger car lineup by 2030.

United plane dips near ocean off Hawaii

A United airlines plane dropped within 800 feet of the ocean surface after taking off from Hawaii in mid December. The plane was heading to San Francisco.

The incident only recently came to the public’s attention. The Boeing airplane had dropped more than 1,400 feet before climbing again. The pilots on board are reportedly undergoing additional training. Federal investigators are involved in the case, looking into what went wrong. The FAA said the agency has taken appropriate action without providing further detail.

The airline industry is facing renewed scrutiny after close-calls and mishaps were reported at airports across the country.

BBC News raid follows documentary ban

Indian tax authorities raided the BBC’s offices Tuesday. This is weeks after the country banned the British Broadcast Company’s documentary that was critical of their prime minister’s alleged role in deadly riots from more than 20 years ago. BBC News said people are not allowed to enter or leave the offices.

The raids come after the Indian government used emergency powers to censor the documentary.

Barney is back, new look revealed

Barney is back! The friendly purple dinosaur, nostalgic to the millennial generation, is getting a reboot. This time the modern take on Barney will be in animation.

Toy giant Mattel announced the show “Barney and Friends” is set to return sometime next year.
Koch-funded group plans to oppose Trump in 2024 primaries

February 6, 2023

The CEO of the Koch funded organization, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), announced it will support a candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary that represents a new chapter. Multiple outlets are reporting that announcement signals a plan to oppose Donald Trump.

“The Republican Party is nominating bad candidates who are advocating for things that go against core American principles. And the American people are rejecting them,” AFP CEO Emily Seidel wrote in a memo to staff and activists.

“The American people have shown that they’re ready to move on, and so AFP will help them do that,” the memo stated.

The memo did not explicitly endorse or oppose any candidates or policies, but it said Republicans are nominating bad candidates. Democrats are responding to that by proposing more extreme policies and both parties are reinforcing each other’s bad behavior and putting the entire country on a downward spiral.

“But AFP Action is prepared to support a candidate in the Republican presidential primary who can lead our country forward, and who can win,” the memo said.

AFP and its super PAC spent a combined $91 million in the 2022 election cycle. The group has millions of activists in all 50 states, and brick and mortar offices in 36 states.

Another conservative organization, Club for Growth, is also looking for alternatives to Trump.

So far, only former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has jumped in the race to challenge Trump. Haley served in the Trump administration as U.N. ambassador. Other potential candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, S.C., and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.