A compendium of solid reporting, commentary, and direct-from-the-source information surrounding the pivotal 2024 elections in the United States. You won't find horse race coverage here, or the standard "both sides" (even when one is lying) BS that passes so often for political journalism. What you will find are links – with brief quotes from the coverage and short commentary from me – to work that I believe advances the conversation we should be having about America's, and the world's, future. Remember: Everything is at stake this year. (Unfortunately, some of the work I point to is behind paywalls.)
[I]n Nixon’s time, there weren’t widely popular media networks that were happy to advance Big Lies (though denying their Goebbels-esque lineage) in the cause of far-right creeds, most particularly xenophobia and white nationalism. By the time Donald Trump rolled around, a sizable share of the public was primed for a leader who would make those causes his own and inflict them on the nation, even if that required diminishing democratic laws and norms. To attack the Democrats as the main obstacle to a better world, as at least some and perhaps most of this week’s protesters seem inclined to do, makes as much sense as the German Communists’ strategy of attacking their rival left party, the Social Democrats, as the main obstacle to a better world even as the Nazis were on the verge of coming to power. In the broadest sense, this week’s protesters won’t recapitulate the errors of 1968 Chicago, but bid fair to resurrect those of 1933 Berlin.
Happily, there’s a far greater level of left and center unity now than there was in either 1968 or 1933, as the convention itself and the shifts in public polling should make clear. Let’s hope it lasts.
Let's hope, indeed. Republicans and right-wing media are visibly aching for this week's Democratic National Convention to be a replay of 1968, when the Chicago police went berserk against Vietnam War protesters. You can see it in this headline at the Murdoch family's Fox "News":
It's possible that they'll get their wish, especially if right-wing extremists infiltrate the crowds and create the problems, or if the Gaza protesters let their anger with the Biden administration overcome common sense. May civility and common sense prevail.
“She would be very careful to make sure she was making a constructive contribution,” Mr. Klain said in an interview. “Most often when you’re vice president, that’s behind closed doors, so she did that. But I don’t think it’s a question of caution. I think it’s a question of loyalty and dedication and focus on the mission.”
This lengthy New York Times report on how Harris has conducted herself as vice president – and how Biden and his staff have treated her – is a solid piece of context. In effect, Harris has gone to President School, learning how to be a president, and has gotten top grades. Her actions and demeanor since Biden passed the torch reflect a political maturity that is reassuring to those of us who were somewhat unimpressed with her during the 2020 campaign.
The Court’s Republican supermajority does not always follow the law, especially when the law cuts against the Republican Party’s preferred outcome. So, in a case where the GOP is asking these justices to make it easier for Republicans to win a presidential election, there is always some risk that the Court’s Republican majority will play ball. That said, they’ll really have to stretch if they want to hand the GOP a victory in this case.
This Vox explainer goes into the very complicated history of a case in Arizona, and explains why people who support the right to vote are nervous. Our increasingly corrupt Supreme Court majority has been hacking away at voting rights for more than a decade now. Decision after decision has given Republican ideologues permission to attack voting rights on a number of fronts. One of their goals is to put up roadblocks against eligible voters who tend to support Democrats. This is the kind of case where the Republican majority, partisan Republicans to a person, could swing a crucial state's electoral votes.
Taylor Swift has yet to endorse any presidential candidate this election cycle. But former President Donald Trump says he accepts the superstar’s non-existent endorsement. Trump posted “I accept!” on his Truth Social account, along with a carousel of (Swift) images – at least some of which appear to be AI-generated.
The idea that Swift would endorse Trump is up there with aliens taking over Earth and making him emperor of all humanity. It's mad-hatter material. But it's nutso with a purpose: to inject more BS into the media ecosystem, to make average people even more confused than they already are. Over time, this pollution does what the polluter wants.
Where I'm watching the convention
I've chosen C-Span for my convention viewing. No commercials, no annoying pundits – just what's going on inside the convention hall.
Voting is just part of democracy, but it's the essential place to start. Make sure you're registered. Doublecheck in the fall, well before Election Day, because in some states Republican officials are removing people, mostly those who tend to vote for Democrats, from voting rolls.
Please send your suggestions
I spend a lot of time looking for essential coverage, and hope you'll help me by letting me know about the good stuff you find. Let me know.
Harold Meyerson
Ian Millhiser
Elizabeth Wagmeister, Kate Sullivan
