Jacob Francy, 26
This summer was quite literally one of the dramatic political timelines in American history. A former President was shot, the current President dropped out of the race just a bit more than three months before election day, and we have a whole new Presidential election.
Biden Loses Train of Thought, Trump Lies go unchecked in First Debate
The two Presidential candidates agreed to the first debate quite early, scheduling it for late June. This was the first time the two candidates had been face-to-face since the last time they debated in the 2020 election. Both campaigns also agreed to no fact-checking during the debate, which turned out to be a big factor.
On the economy, President Biden celebrated his recent change of capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors when it used to be an average of $400. He also took a shot at Trump, explaining the fact inflation is still an issue because of the “failed” economy he had inherited from President Trump. The former President claimed he had the “greatest economy in the history of our country” and quickly shot back at Biden for the increased prices, despite inflation having been lowered. When Biden’s historic job creation was brought up, Trump knocked it down again saying they were “only for immigrants” and they were “bounce-back” jobs, which isn’t fully true or false. About half of Biden’s jobs have been sustainable full-time jobs, while some have also been used as part-time. Trump then defended his plan of 10% tariffs on everything, which economic experts say will drive up prices and inflation, claiming, “It’s just going to cost countries that have been ripping us off for years like China and many others.”
Abortion was a divisive issue in this debate, as Trump bragged about getting the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had given every female in America the right to an abortion and reproductive healthcare. Now the issue is left up to the states. “Fifty-one years ago you had Roe v. Wade,” he stated, “and everybody wanted to get it back to the states.” In fact, almost 60% of Americans disapproved of the overturning of Roe (Pew Research Center). Biden responded that Trump’s claim was “ridiculous.”
Biden began stumbling and mixing up numbers as the debate transitioned into taxes and medicaid, "We have 1,000 trillionaires in America — I mean billionaires in America. And what's happening? They're in a situation where they, in fact, pay 8.2% taxes, if they just paid 24%, 25% — either one of those numbers — we'd raise $500 million dollars — billion dollars, I should say — in a 10-year period, making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, with, dealing with everything we have to do with, uh…” the President pausing, “Excuse me," he said, "dealing with everything we have to do with — Look, if we finally beat Medicare," he continued. "He did beat Medicaid, he beat it to death," Trump responded.
Trump began beating down on immigration as soon as it was brought up, “[Biden] decided to open up our border, open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylums, terrorists. We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now, all terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, they come from the Middle East, everywhere.” Although it is not true we have the largest number of terrorists in our country, the point was made that the potential of such is possible with millions of illegal border crossings. Trump then insisted he had, “the safest border in history.” Biden responded, “The only terrorist who has done anything crossing the border is one who came along and killed three — in [Trump’s] administration — an al Qaeda person, in his administration — killed three American soldiers," the President said. "Killed three American soldiers. That's the only terrorist that's — I'm not saying no terrorist ever got through, but the idea they're emptying their prisons, we're welcoming these people, that's simply not true, there is no data to support what he said. Once again, he's exaggerating, he's lying.”
Quickly, the two covered Trump’s convicted felony. Biden started off while looking at Trump, "the only person on this stage who's a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now." Trump turned the page onto Biden’s son, Hunter, "When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon," Trump said. "He could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office … Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things he's done." Biden had been investigated by the FBI for possessing classified documents from his time as VP in his residence. Biden pointed out all four of Trump’s criminal charges and more of his civil cases as well, telling him, “You have the morals of an alley cat.” Trump responded directly, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.” Conclusion?
As both candidates would be in their eighties at the end of their next term, they were asked on their age and competency. "Well, first of all, I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest person in politics," Mr. Biden said, alluding to the fact that he was just 30 years-old when sworn in as a senator in 1973. "I was the second-youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate, and now I'm the oldest. This guy's three years younger, and a lot less competent." Biden pointed to his record on jobs and creation of millions more. When Trump was asked, he took a different approach, "Well, I took two tests, cognitive tests, I aced them, both of them as you know, we made it public," Trump claimed. "[Biden] took none, I'd like to see him take one, just one, a real easy one. Like go through the first five questions, he couldn't do it, “ Trump kept on. “We knock on wood wherever we may have wood that I'm in very good health. I just won two club championships, not even senior, two regular club championships. To do that, you have to be quite smart, and you have to be able to hit the ball a very long way." So what?
The final major topic of the night was truth, and both candidates were asked about the results of both the 2020 and 2024 elections. When asked if he would accept the results of the election, Trump said he would "if it's a fair and legal and good election,.” He kept on, "I will, absolutely, there's nothing I'd rather do." He added he would have "much rather" accepted the result of the 2020 election, but claimed that the "fraud and everything else was ridiculous.” Biden responded to Trump, "I tell you what, I doubt you'll accept it because you're such a whiner," he said. "The idea that if you lose again, you accepting anything, you can't stand the loss, something snapped in you when you lost the last time."
After the debate, the Democratic Party was rattled by Biden’s shaky performanc. He was stuttering and losing his train of thought between multiple topics. Biden’s former White House Communications Director, Kate Bedingfeld, went on CBS News and stated, "I don't think there's any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina — and he didn't do that."
Finish the article. Why leave it with Bedingfeld?
The Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
On July 13, at a rally in Butler, PA, Donald Trump was in the middle of explaining a graph of the current flow of illegal immigrants in the United States when shots rang out, causing the former president to hit the floor. Trump’s right ear was grazed by a bullet, and if he hadn’t turned his head less than a second before, he would have been killed. This horrific event became a shocking realization of how divided our politics has made citizens.
President Biden and Congress called for an independent search into the matter, headed by the FBI. Both the FBI and Secret Service reported the shooter was identified as a 20 year-old registered Republican. Before the shooter was neutralized, he shot and hit three other rally attendees, one of whom tragically passed away immediately on impact. Trump was rushed to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was quickly released.
Online, people of both sides of the political spectrum have rung out dangerous conspiracy theories into the attempted assassination. Some leftists on social media claimed the shooting was “staged” as Trump posed for a pretty inspiring photo just seconds after he was shot, raising his arm in the air. Others on the right claim the Democratic Party planted the shooter purposefully, a straight white male Republican, to commit the assassination. None of these conspiracies should not be taken as fact. It is extremely dangerous to spread false information across the internet, no matter what side, and everyone should be careful what they say as Americans grieve a dark time in politics.
This is just another reminder that politics has cut too deep into our lives, and the fact a single person was willing and able to attempt to end someone’s, especially a former president’s, life is sad and a horrible look on our nation.
The 2024 Republican National Convention
Just days after Trump’s attempted assassination, he appeared at the RNC in Milwaukee, which he quoted to be a “horrible city.” It was miraculous that Trump appeared like his usual self, besides his new white ear patch.
The first big part of the week was Trump’s announcement of his running mate who turned out to be a rookie Senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance. Sen. Vance initially made a fairly good impression on the world until they dug into his background. Not only was he an awkward guy to watch, he was caught time and time again criticizing the former President prior to Trump nominating him as his running mate, even comparing Trump to Hitler. As a businessman, like Trump, Vance bankrupted a number of companies, all after making working conditions for factory workers significantly worse. It wasn’t until 2021 that Vance started working as a Senator, still calling himself a “never-Trump guy.” Now, Vance claims Trump is “the greatest President of all time.” One can’t help but wonder what changed.
The rest of the week included big conservative speakers like House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk, Gov. Bill Lee (TN), Kari Lake (AZ), Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Ted Cruz (TX), Nikki Haley (SC), Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL),Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL), Gov. Greg Abbott (TX), Tucker Carlson, Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, Dana White, Lee Greenwood, and of course J.D. Vance and Donald Trump. As the RNC concluded, Trump skyrocketed in the polls against Biden for the weekend, beating him by double-digits in swing states in some (Fox).
Biden Out, Kamala and Walz In
Trump and his team were certainly looking up after the convention until breaking news hit: President Biden decided to drop out of the 2024 election. Biden posted on his social media that he had personally chosen to step aside for the “party’s best interest.” It didn’t even take thirty minutes for President Biden to announce his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President, followed by the entirety of the Democratic Party. After countless weeks of the Democratic Party fighting each other on the inside about whether Biden was not only capable of being President but capable of winning the election, they were finally united behind one candidate, weeks ahead of the DNC. Initial polls showed Harris edging out Trump by 2-3% nationally. As Kamala kept campaigning with a notable social media presence, her lead increased to almost an average of a 5% lead over Trump (270towin).
Vice President Harris was the first woman of color to be the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties.
In early August, after a half month of campaigning, the Harris campaign announced the final four candidates for her Vice Presidential selection were down to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ), Gov. Tim Walz (MN), and Gov. Josh Shapiro (PA). The list originally included Gov. Roy Cooper (NC), but he rescinded himself from the list, telling reporters he was more focused on beating Lt. Gov. & far-right extremist Mark Robinson from winning the Governor’s race.
After much deliberation within the campaign and party, they announced Governor Tim Walz from Minnesota would join Kamala on the ticket.
Walz was immediately hailed as “the most relatable man in politics” by multiple news outlets. He served in the National Guard as a Command Sergeant Major before he became a high school teacher and football coach. During his time as governor, he was able to codify abortion rights into law, increase transgender rights protections, pass a marijuana legalization bill and install new gun safety laws.
Many are praising how a football-loving, straight, white, older veteran is in support of major social issues for diverse groups like the LGBTQ+ and black communities and even going so far to support full access to reproductive healthcare and investing in the middle class.
DNC
The Democratic National Convention was held later than usual in mid-August, presumably for the uncertainty of Biden’s candidacy at the time. Chicago hosted the convention at the United Center.
Jamie Harrison, the Chair of the DNC, told reporters the first night of the convention was “Joe’s night” as the President and First Lady had the keynote speeches in front of the audience holding ‘We 🩷Joe’ signs, paying tribute to the President and former 2024 candidate. President Biden celebrated his accomplishments in the White House like recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing down inflation to a pre-pandemic level (even though corporate pricing is still high), a record unemployment rate, and a record number of new jobs. Towards the end of his speech, he pulled all of his weight behind Kamala, saying, “Kamala and Tim understand that this nation must continue to be a place of possibilities, not just for the few of us, but for all of us.” Another former Presidential candidate and nominee, Sec. Hillary Clinton, spoke before the Bidens as well.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama gave keynote addresses on the second day to fire-up the crowd around the presumptive nominee, Kamala Harris. “We are ready for a President Kamala Harris,” the former President told the crowd. The Second Gentleman and Kamala’s husband, Doug Emhoff, also gave remarks before the Obama’s, telling his story of how he met Kamala and his belief in her.
The third day included a bunch of big names within the Democratic Party, celebrities, and family members and close friends of the ticket like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Former President Bill Clinton, Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA), Kamala Harris’ step-children, Stevie Wonder, Gov. Josh Shapiro (PA), Oprah Winfrey, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and John Legend. At the end of the program, the former state champion high school football team that Tim Walz helped coach introduced him before he accepted the nomination for Vice President.
The final day of the DNC included Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL), and Gov. Roy Cooper (NC) before Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for President of the United States from the Democratic Party. “It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done, guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth: the privilege and pride of being an American. So let’s get out there, let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there, let’s vote for it, and together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told,” she said before closing her acceptance speech.
Tony Goldwin, Steve Kerr, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Gov. Andy Beshear (KY), Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA), Former Trump Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (IL), Former Trump National Security Advisor Olivia Troye, Maren Morris, Kerry Washington, and P!nk also made appearances in the convention.
Kamala, Trump Debate for First Time
After much anticipation, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump met on September 10 on ABC to debate against each other for the first time.
During introductions, Harris immediately showed her contrasting features to Biden by walking across to the other side of the stage to greet Trump, who was visibly attempting to ignore her.
The economy was the first topic brought up and Harris touted her new “opportunity economy” she is marketing, which includes a $6,000 child tax credit, $25,000 to new homebuyers, and $50,000 to small businesses. Trump restated his plan to implement tariffs in place of taxes. He then brought up immigration, his greatest attack against Harris, claiming criminal immigrants are “taking over towns, they’re taking over buildings.” Harris started her own attacks, mostly on Trump’s lying character trait. "In this debate tonight, you're going to hear from the same old tired playbook — a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling," she said. Trump defended his idea of implementing tariffs, which many economists say increases the costs of goods for American families.
Harris said that Trump "invited trade wars" with other nations, and under him, the trade deficit was one of the highest the U.S. had ever seen. Harris also said the Trump administration sold American chip technology to China to help them "modernize" their military. Trump "basically sold us out," she said. Instead, Harris claimed, the next administration needs to focus on relationships with U.S. allies, and on enhancing the American workforce. Trump defended himself, saying the U.S. hardly made chip technology before and then criticized Harris for her policy pivots. "Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window," he said of her, even claiming Harris is adopting Trump’s own policies. He joked about sending Harris a MAGA hat.
After flip-flopping his stance on abortion, Trump clarified he does not support a national abortion ban and continued to celebrate his placing the issue to the states. He also said there, “must be exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.” He then claimed Democrats support abortion in the ninth month and even “after the baby is born,” which has been fact-checked as a false claim. Harris blamed Trump for the abortion and reproductive healthcare restrictions that now exist across almost half of the states, while refuting his claims about late-term abortions. "Nowhere in America is a woman carrying a pregnancy to term and asking for an abortion," she said. "That is not happening; it's insulting to the women of America."
On immigration, Harris defended her own record prosecuting transnational criminal organizations before pointing to the bipartisan border security bill that would have added more agents and resources to the border. "But you know what happened to that bill?" Harris asked rhetorically. "Donald Trump got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress and said kill the bill. And you know why? Because he'd prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem." She then brought up Trump’s rallies and attacked his hateful rhetoric and smaller crowd sizes. Instead of replying to her on immigration, a guaranteed win, he followed her down the rabbit hole as a defense.
“In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in. They're eating the cats,” Trump claimed about Haitian immigrants referring to a conspiracy theory on X (formerly Twitter). “They're eating the pets of the people that live there.” That was easily the most viral moment of the night, which did not help Trump’s case.
Harris also bragged about her endorsements from the Republican party like former Rep. Liz Cheney and former Vice President Dick Cheney. She also mentioned the numerous amount of former Trump aides and staff who have come out in support of her campaign, "If you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is, if he didn't make it clear already, just ask people who have worked with him.”
After Harris’ attacks on his character, Trump attacked back by claiming that Biden-Harris had “weaponized the justic system” against him, referencing the multiple criminal charges against him. "[Kamala] is the one that weaponized, not me," Trump said. "She weaponized. I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me. They talk about democracy, I'm a threat."
The moderators brought up Harris’ switching positions on multiple issues during her term as Vice President. Although pleading her “values have not changed,” Harris reiterated her new stance on fracking, defending that the economy still relies on it for jobs and domestic oil dominance. She then started bringing up the importance of values and character as a presidential candidate, "What is important is that there is a president who actually brings values and a perspective that is about lifting people up and not beating people down, and name calling. The true measure of the leader is the leader who actually understands that strength is not in beating people down, it's in lifting people up – I intend to be that president."
Trump had previously, before the debate, made novel comments admitting he “lost [the 2020 election] by a whisker” which is new rhetoric after, for three and a half years, claiming he won the election which every court has proven to be false. When the moderators asked him about these comments to confirm he realizes he lost, he answered immediately, "No, I don't acknowledge that at all.” Trump claimed the comments were sarcastic and then went on to say that America truly needed two things: "borders" and "good elections." Kamala went on the offense, "Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, so let's be clear about that. And clearly, he is having a very difficult time processing that. But we cannot afford to have a president of the United States who attempts, as he did in the past, to upend the will of the voters in a free and fair election,” she said. "And world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump," Harris said. "I have talked with military leaders, some of whom worked with you, and they say you're a disgrace." This portion really showed how much Trump is holding onto “The Big Lie” he won last election against Mr. Biden.
Former President Trump was asked a rather biased question from moderator David Muir on whether he regretted his actions or inactions during the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol he incited. He declined to answer the question and downplayed his role in the mob attack along with blaming former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Meanwhile Vice President Harris spoke to the country, "For everyone watching who remembers what Jan. 6 was, I say, we don't have to go back. It's time to turn the page."
She said if Jan. 6 "was a bridge too far for you," that there is a place in her campaign for those who "stand for country.”
Harris was first asked about the current war between Israel and terrorist organization Hamas located in Palastine. She played both sides, the pro-peace option. "Well, let's understand how we got here," Harris said. "On Oct. 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, many of them young people who were simply attending a concert. Women were horribly raped. And so absolutely, I said then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself, we would. And how it does so matters." She also mentioned that we should “chart a course for a two-state solution” which is the most popular solution to the conflict among polls. "I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself, particularly as it relates to Iran," Harris said. Trump attempted to rattle her with attacks but not without claiming he would’ve single-handedly stopped Russia from invading Ukraine. "But when she mentions about Israel, all of the sudden, she hates Israel," Trump claimed of Harris. He also claimed she "hates the Arab population" because the whole region is going to be "blown up." Harris denied her alleged hate of Israel, "He's trying again to divide and distract from the reality," she said, calling Trump "weak and wrong" on foreign policy. Plus, just moments after Trump touted authoritarian leader of Hungary, Viktor Orban's, praise of himself, Harris said, "it is absolutely well known that these dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again because it's so clear they can manipulate you with flattery and favors."
Trump was asked then about the Ukraine-Russo war which he refused to fully support Ukraine, a usual bi-partisan policy. "I want the war to stop, I want to save lives,” he said. It is no secret the former President has a close relationship with dictator, war criminal, and “President” of Russia, Vladimir Putin, which would explain his hesitancy to support Ukraine. Trump repeatedly claimed that he could bring the war to an end in a single day should he return to the White House, and even before he is even elected, but he hasn't expanded on how he would do so. "We're playing with World War III," Trump said. "Where is our president?” he mentioned, moving his criticism onto the current President. Kamala Harris immediately responded to Trump’s criticism of the current administration of which she is a part of, "Well, first of all, it's important to remind the former president, you're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me," she said. Harris then threw her full support behind Ukraine and announced the importance of defeating Vladimir Putin.
Trump was questioned over racially insensitive comments he made against Harris in July, when he speculated about her racial background, saying she "happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black." He answered, "You make a big deal about something, I couldn't care less. Whatever she wants to be is OK with me." Trump explained that he read that she was "not Black" and then he "read that she was Black — and that's OK." He ended his answer saying “either one was OK with me, that's up to her," Trump said, implying she can only be one race which is genetically incorrect.
After Trump made claims that Harris would “take your guns away” as President when gun violence was brought up, Harris made it clear her intentions, "This business about taking everyone's guns away — Tim Walz and I are both gun owners," she said. "We're not taking anyone's guns away. So stop with the continuous lying about this stuff."
Vice President Harris gave her closing statement first. "I think you've heard tonight two very different visions for our country — one that is focused on the future and the other that is focused on the past, and an attempt to take us backward," Harris said. "But we're not going back." She kept contrasting herself from Trump, "As a prosecutor, I never asked a victim or a witness, 'are you a Republican or a Democrat?'" Harris said. "The only thing I ever asked them? 'Are you OK?' … That's the kind of president we need right now — someone who cares about you and is not putting themselves first... I intend to be a president for all Americans," Harris said.
In Former President Trump’s closing remarks he attacked both Kamala Harris’ and Joe Biden’s record as President and Vice President the past 3.5 years. "So she just started by saying she's going to do this, she's going to do that, she's going to do all of these wonderful things," Trump said. "Why hasn't she done it?" He said Harris believes in "things that the American people don't believe in." Trump kept going, "Why didn't she do it? We're a failing nation. We're a nation in serious decline." He finished by calling Harris the "worst vice president in the history of our country."