All articles tagged with #us democracy
Barack Obama addressed the rise in political violence in the US, condemning recent attacks including the killing of Charlie Kirk, and criticized the increasing tendency to identify enemies and divide the nation, emphasizing the importance of respectful debate and unity in democracy.
A former Harvard president urges Americans to speak out against threats to democracy, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles fought for in the Civil War, amid concerns over current political challenges and attacks on institutions like Harvard by Donald Trump.
Activists are urging President Biden to take decisive actions in his final months to safeguard US democracy against potential policies from a future Trump administration. Key areas of focus include halting the expansion of ICE detention facilities, commuting federal death row sentences, and expediting federal spending on climate and healthcare. The ACLU and other groups emphasize the urgency of these measures to prevent aggressive immigration and criminal justice policies under Trump. Biden is also encouraged to collaborate with Democratic-led states to establish protections against Trump's agenda.
CNN presidential historian Timothy Naftali and Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer discuss with Fareed Zakaria the global admiration for America's economy and technology, juxtaposed with growing concerns about the state of US democracy.
New data reveals that voting in the U.S. has become more convenient over the past two decades, with the majority of states now offering early in-person and mail voting to all voters. Despite some efforts to restrict access, nearly 97% of voting-age American citizens live in states that allow voting before Election Day. While partisan debates have focused on specific voting policies, the overall trend has been toward making it easier to vote. However, voter turnout remains a challenge, with experts emphasizing the importance of empowering and motivating people to participate in the electoral process.
Charles Littlejohn, who stole and leaked former President Donald Trump's tax records and those of thousands of others, has been sentenced to five years in prison. The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, likening it to an attack on the US and its legal foundation, and criticized the Justice Department's decision to bring only one count against Littlejohn. Prosecutors argued that stealing and leaking private tax information undermines individuals' legal protection and recommended the maximum sentence. Littlejohn expressed a misguided belief in serving the country and the public's right to tax information but acknowledged undermining faith in US government institutions.
Former President Donald Trump's commanding win in the Iowa Caucuses has sparked varied reactions among US voters, with some Republicans viewing him as the only savior for the nation, while others express concerns about his divisiveness and electability against President Joe Biden. Some voters believe that Trump's appeal is broad and fear the direction the country is heading, while others have soured on him, citing the Capitol riot and its aftermath. Additionally, there are mixed sentiments about potential alternative Republican candidates like Nikki Haley, with some expressing preference for independent candidates. Overall, there is a sense of uncertainty and division among voters, with concerns about the impact of Trump's views on US democracy and the country's future.
Kamala Harris urged Black voters to support Democrats in the 2024 election to protect US democracy from threats posed by Republicans, citing issues such as the overturning of Roe v Wade, voting lines, book bans, and gun violence. Economic anxiety and policy disappointments are straining Black support for the Biden administration, with only 67% of Black US adults having a favorable view of Biden. Harris also addressed staff morale issues from her 2020 nomination campaign and her time as vice-president, while Biden marked the holiday by volunteering for a hunger relief group and expressed his motivation for seeking re-election as a response to Trump's statements.
A recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that almost two-thirds of Canadians believe another Donald Trump presidency would destroy US democracy, with 64 percent strongly agreeing or agreeing with this sentiment. The survey also found that nearly half of Canadians think the US is on the path to becoming an authoritarian state. Meanwhile, as election season ramps up, Trump's Republican rivals are preparing for the Iowa caucuses, where he currently holds a significant lead in polls.
Donald Trump's extreme rhetoric, reminiscent of Nazi propaganda, and his alignment with America's adversaries and autocrats present a unique challenge to his Republican opponents and US voters. His comments on immigration and his attempts to discredit American democracy are contrary to America's founding values and political traditions. Trump's inflammatory language seeks to unleash hostility and fear against immigrants and exploit anxiety about the changing demographics of the country. While his critics must understand his aims and evaluate the threat he poses to democratic values, there is also a danger of falling into his trap and strengthening his support. The question remains: What does it say about America and its political culture that millions of voters are ready to embrace his extremism?
Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted for a second time, this time on federal charges related to his handling of classified information while out of office. He is set to be arraigned in federal court in Miami on Tuesday. The federal probe has been led by special counsel Jack Smith, who was tapped by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to oversee the Department of Justice's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents when his presidency ended. The unprecedented federal indictment of a former president further underlines what are potentially the most consequential prosecutions in US history, with implications both global and domestic.
Closing arguments in the trial of five members of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, have begun. Prosecutors argue that the group saw themselves as "Donald Trump's army" and were "thirsting for violence and organizing for action" to keep Trump in power. The Proud Boys are charged with entering a seditious conspiracy against the US government, allegedly meant to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election votes that ultimately culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. A guilty verdict could bolster the Justice Department's account that the Capitol attack served as a dire threat to American democracy.