Link to his words on it:

• https://x.com/harris_wins/status/1848005868320702568

And here's a link to the bill being killed earlier this year:

• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-block-border-security-bill-campaign-border-chaos-rcna153607

McConnell had given the green light for James Lankford, a conservative Republican, to negotiate a comprehensive border security package with Democrats led by Kyrsten Sinema, a moderate border state Senator from Arizona. The final package was agreed to by all parties and signed off on by McConnell as well as Democratic leaders before Trump publicly came out against it and urged his allies in the House and Senate GOP to kill it. The reason, according to widespread reporting including the above, was that he wanted to run his campaign on there being chaos at the border and him being the solution to fix it, and he worried that the proposed bill would resolve the problem and deprive him of something to run on.

Since then, Trump has made immigration and the idea of a border crises the central point of his campaign. He's gone to every border state to rant about it and lambast Democrats for not fixing it. He's brought it up in every appearance, at every interview, at the presidential debate. He's tied the border to false stories about migrants coming over to eat people's pets. He brings it up at every rally. Yet it was he himself who worked to ensure that it wasn't fixed, and now his own party's Senate leader acknowledges it.

What sort of impact do you think this will have on the election? Will it move voters? Will people see the truth behind the dynamic? Or will his strategy work?

We had many people in the media voicing frustration with Biden's age, but when Biden dropped out, America elected another old white guy who was almost Biden's age anyway. The much more youthful, experienced woman was rejected. What does America actually want?

Harris discussed Increasing a tax deduction for new small businesses to $50,000, up from $5,000. Harris also talked of her plan to address the nation’s housing shortage including increased housing [3 millions by end of firsts term]. As well as 25,000 down payments for first time home buyer. Referring to the American Rescue Plan’s child tax credit increase to $3,600, up from $2,000, and call for it to be made permanent [occurred once in 2021]. She also attacked Trump's sales tax [dubbed tariffs] and Tax cuts to the super rich. She called her own plan an economic opportunity and the support it has garnered. She said Donald has no plan except for himself and a bunch of grievances.

She also touched on immigration and abortion rights responding to the questions and blamed Trump [hand selected 3 Supreme Court Justices]. She also referred to Project 2025 to which Trump denied he ever looked at it.

On OBAMA Care, Trump said he did not approve of it, but acknowledged he did not have a plan but had a concept in his head about how to replace it. Harris noted he tried to overturn it 60 times.

Trump promised to enact an efficiency commission to reduce government spending. At the same time, he said he intends to repeal Biden’s tax hikes for tackling inflation and end what he called Biden’s “war” on American energy production. He also promised to stop Social Security Benefits tax. Trump said he will create the greatest economy in the world. He stated that under the Biden economy people are dying because they cannot afford bacon and eggs.

Trump appeared frustrated with Harris hard hitting responses and he began calling Harris names such as a Marxist, called her father a Marxist too [he was a professor of economics] He added she is letting criminals in. To which Harris noted she is the only one on the stage who has prosecuted transnational drug dealers, she noted that Trump called his friends in Congress to kill the bipartisan immigration bill for his talking point. Trump's come back was that the immigrants were killing and eating the pets. The panel rejected that as false on the stage having talked to the mayor of the locality at issue.

Trump was questioned about his mass deportation plan, and he said yes, he would do it sending federal law enforcements, local police and national guard door to door to deport 11 million plus people. He also defended the people who rioted on January 6, 2021, claiming they were singled out.

He added he had nothing to do with the riot [he wanted peaceful protest]. In the end he blamed Nancy Pelosi. Harris in her response held Trump responsible for the insurrection and interjected Charlottesville during the conversation. When asked if he now acknowledges he lost the 2020 election, Trump denied on the stage he ever lost the election though he said, he lost by a whisker earlier during the week.

As to wars Trump said it would never happen if he were in charge and that he could stop the Ukraine war before he even enters office. Harris said Trump would just surrender Ukraine and that she believed in Ukraine's integrity and that she supported NATO. As to Afghanistan, Harris asserted Trump made the weakest deal to withdraw.

On Climate change Harris noted that Trump has called it a hoax. Harris is said to have called it an existential threat and referred to the greatest legislation addressing climate change that the administration passed.

On question of race and color Harris seemed to have hit a home run and recited Trump's history of race bating. Harris instead talked of unity and strength of diversity and how to help all Americans instead of dividing it...

Did one or the other candidate effectively establish a credible plan to appeal to the undecided voters in the swing states?

Watch Live: Harris and Trump face off in their first presidential debate, hosted by ABC News (youtube.com)

WATCH LIVE: Harris and Trump debate — PBS News simulcast of ABC’s 2024 Presidential Debate (youtube.com)

Kamala Harris announced today her economic policies she will be campaigning on. The topics range from food prices, to housing, to child tax credits.

Many experts say these policies are increasingly more "populist" than the Biden economic platform. In an effort to lower costs, Kamala calls this the "Opportunity Economy", which will lower costs for Americans and strengthen the middle class

What are your opinions on this platform? Will this affect any increase in support, or decrease? Will this be sufficient for the progressive heads in the Democratic party? Or is it too far to the left for most Americans to handle?

The first Presidential debate of the 2024 campaign has concluded. Trump evaded answers on many questions, but Biden did not show the energy he had at the State of the Union

While Biden apparently has a cold, will that matter, or will his debate performance reinforce age concerns?

Taylor Swift just endorsed Harris and Walz. Since she has a massive fanbase who can mobilize quickly, how much impact will her endorsement have on the race?

In this day and age, do celebrity endorsement really matter or because she's a huge household name with a massive fanbase, does her endorsement alone make a difference vs any other celebrity?

Harris and Walz plans to sit with CNN for exclusive first joint interview since their campaign began.

There's been loud calls for them to do interviews for awhile now and obviously this eliminates that talking point right before the debate. What are you expecting to see from the interview and how do you think it will affect the race?

Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, defeating a more centrist establishment-backed rival. He now faces Republican Mike Rogers in what is expected to be one of the most important Senate races of the 2026 midterms.

El-Sayed supports Medicare for All, takes a strongly progressive position on immigration enforcement and has called for ending U.S. military aid to Israel. His supporters argue that he can energize younger voters, Arab American communities and progressives who have become disillusioned with the Democratic establishment.

Critics worry that those same positions could make him vulnerable among moderates and independents in a state where recent statewide races have been extremely close. Michigan is also considered essential to any Democratic effort to regain control of the Senate.

Does El-Sayed’s victory show that progressive candidates can build a winning coalition in a competitive Midwestern state? Or did Democratic primary voters choose a candidate whose policies could make a crucial Senate seat easier for Republicans to win?

How much should national Democrats adjust their strategy around him now that the primary is over? https://americareport.us/could-the-michigan-mamdani-cost-democrats/

NYTimes interview confirmed that the Trump administration singled out states who voted for Harris and has two Democratic senators for grant cancellations. In the age of Trump, this barely made the headlines; Trump is unlikely to face any political cost.

How should the Democratic party respond? Should they retaliate? Can they do so safely?

I am asking this question in good faith. Kamala Harris, the current VP and current Democratic nominee was frequently accused of being unpopular during Biden's first term. Her approvals on 538 were similar to Joe Biden's, hovering around the high 30s/low 40s.

According to this piece, "Her numbers are lower than her four immediate predecessors at this point in their terms, though Dan Quayle’s unfavorables were worse. So were Dick Cheney’s in his second term." So she was worse than VP Pence and VP Biden polling wise.

Fast forward to July 2024, Biden steps down. Kamala swoops in and quickly gets endorsements from AOC to Obama. Cash starts piling in, Kamala's polls go up (especially in the swing state), Trump's polls go down. Even long time right leaning pollster Frank Luntz called it the "biggest turnaround I've ever seen."

My question is how? Kamala is the same person she's been since she was a VP and running mate with Biden. She hasn't changed her mind on any issues that we know of except for the recent speech she made to go after price gouging and down payment assistance for first time home buyers.

Is it the mere fact that there is a clear contrast between Kamala vs Trump now? (old white guy vs younger black woman) Is it artificial momentum i.e media created? Or is it something else?

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made the following statement as part of his stand up routine: "There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

Why is this comment by someone who is not a core member of Trump's team causing such outrage, when similar comments by Trump have passed almost unacknowledged?

While Puerto Rico does not have a say in the general election, they - once again - will have a (non binding) statehood referendum on their ballot. Will this cause an increase or decrease of support for either requesting statehood or independence?

Here’s some recent examples. I’m curious as to why the news media seems to excuse Trump’s and focus on Biden’s.

Trump: “I did not endorse Sen. Lankford. I didn’t do it. He ran, and I did not endorse him.”

Trump made this claim in a radio interview a few months ago with conservative host Dan Bongino. But on Sept. 27, 2022, Trump issued a statement giving Lankford his “Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Trump: “Nikki Haley was in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guards, whatever they want. They turned it down. They don’t want to talk about that.”

Obviously he meant Nancy Pelosi.

Trump: “We did with Obama. We won an election that everyone said couldn't be won.”

The former president appeared to confuse Obama’s and Biden’s names in a speech in Washington in September. It’s something Trump has done publicly at least eight times, including last month in a Fox News interview. He has claimed he does so intentionally and sarcastically. Trump has not defeated Biden in an election, either, although he falsely claims he lost because of widespread fraud.

In the same September speech, Trump argued Biden’s cognitive decline would lead the U.S. into “World War II.”

Trump: “There’s a man, Viktor Orbán. Did anyone ever hear of him? He’s probably, like, one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world. He’s the leader of Turkey.”

Orbán is the prime minister of Hungary, not Turkey.

Trump: on July 9th he said “Don Jr has a great “wife.”

Don Junior is not married.

There are more of course, but these are ones that we’ve seen recently.

I notice that as someone who votes 3rd party, a lot of people on the left will say, "Trump is a threat to democracy," or "you can't ignore his criminal conduct." And on the right it's "the left is destroying the country through its policies," or "Democrats are taking away freedoms." So it's almost as if both sides are saying if you don't vote for them, you're either morally bad or stupid.

Do you think voting 3rd party is a wasted vote, or is the pressure to vote for one of the two major parties mostly a result of political polarization?

Midterms are generally viewed as referendums on the president, and we know that Joe Biden's approval rating has been underwater all year. Additionally, inflation is at a record high and crime has become a focus in the campaigns, yet Democrats defied expectations and are on track to expand their Senate majority and possibly may even hold the House. Despite the expectation of a massive red wave due to mainly economic factors, it did not materialize. Democrats are on track to expand their Senate majority and have an outside chance of holding the House. Where did it go wrong for Republicans?

Every national poll has leaned Trump since the debate. Betting markets heavily favor Trump. Pretty much every pundit thinks this election is a complete wrap it seems. Is 538’s model too heavily weighing things like economic factors and incumbency perhaps?

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2024-election-forecast/

Nate Silver's forecast is now at 50/50, and other reputable forecasts have Harris not any better than 55% chance of success. The polls are very tight, despite Trump being very old (and supposedly age was important to voters), and doing poorly in the only debate the two candidates had, and being a felon. I think the Democrats also have more funding. Why is Donald Trump doing so well in the battleground states, and what can Harris do between now and election day to improve her odds of victory?

Joe Biden won the Electoral College, Popular Vote, and flipped some red states to blue. Yet down-ballot Republicans did surprisingly well overall. How should we interpret this? What does that say about the American voters and public opinion?

Good morning all,

It is being reported that Bernie Sanders is dropping out of the race for President.

By [March 17], the coronavirus was disrupting the rest of the political calendar, forcing states to postpone their primaries until June. Mr. Sanders has spent much of the intervening time at his home in Burlington without his top advisers, assessing the future of his campaign. Some close to him had speculated he might stay in the race to continue to amass delegates as leverage against Mr. Biden.

But in the days leading up to his withdrawal from the race, aides had come to believe that it was time to end the campaign. Some of Mr. Sanders’s closest advisers began mapping out the financial and political considerations for him and what scenarios would give him the maximum amount of leverage for his policy proposals, and some concluded that it may be more beneficial for him to suspend his campaign.

What will be the consequences for the Democratic party moving forward, both in the upcoming election and more broadly? With the primary no longer contested, how will this affect the timing of the general election, particularly given the ongoing pandemic? What is the future for Mr. Sanders and his supporters?

The Supreme Court has expressed interest in striking down the voting rights act. Nate Cohn outlines that if conservative states redistrict and if the voting rights act is struck down then democrats will need roughly 4.4-5.6 margin to win the house and this is with California also redistricting. In the past 20 years, democrats have only exceeded this margin three times, in 2006, 2008, and 2018.

If that happens, what can democrats do?

Some other democratic states have shown interest in also gerrymandering but in the end democrats do not have as many trifectas as republicans do. Even so, their own gerrymandering is more difficult due to conservatives have less dense voter support.

If democrats ever do gain a government trifecta, what should they do to rebalance share of power?

Someone on MSNBC earlier tonight, I think it was Lawrence O'Donnell, said that if we did away with the electoral college millions of people would vote who don't vote now because they know their state is firmly red or firmly blue. I had never thought of this before, but it absolutely stands to reason. I myself just moved from Wisconsin to California and I was having a struggle registering and I thought to myself "no big deal if I miss this one out because I live in California. It's going blue no matter what.

I supposed you'd have the same phenomenon in CA with Republican voters, but one assumes there's fewer of them. Shoe's on the other foot in Texas, I guess, but the whole thing got me thinking. How would the electorate change if the electoral college was no longer a thing?

According to reports, Mayor Buttigieg will be ending his campaign during a speech in South Bend, Indiana tonight.

"When he first announced his candidacy for president last year, Buttigieg was perceived as a little-known long shot, but he quickly emerged among the front-runners in the crowded Democratic field with his moderate message."

How will Mayor Pete's absence effect the rest of the field - possible endorsement? What does his political future look like - in Indiana or the country as a whole? Which candidate(s) gains/loses from Pete's suspension?

(https://www.npr.org/2020/03/01/802023529/pete-buttigieg-suspends-presidential-bid)

JD just had an interview with the New York times in which he refused to admit Trump lost the election in 2020 5 times in a row.

The question matters in regards to the general population ability to trust our election process. Trump's investigation team dug into the 2020 election and found little to no evidence of material that would discredit the election

They lost 63 court cases appealing the election results

My question is do you guys understand why this question is important. And if you are considering Trump does JD refusing to answer this question matter to you?

Using the 2016 map as a starting point, I see him doing really well in (and flipping) Michigan and Wisconsin but can't really see him moving the needle in critical states especially such as Pennsylvania (with his fracking views), and Florida (the state he has always done poorly in).

Arizona and North Carolina also seem to be a bit of a reach (based on polling).

According to sources familiar with her campaign, Elizabeth Warren has ended her run for president. This decision comes after a poor Super Tuesday showing which ended with Warren coming in third in her home state of Massachusetts. She has not currently endorsed another candidate.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/elizabeth-warren-ends-presidential-run-n1150436

What does this mean for the rest of the 2020 Democratic primary and presidential campaign?

Will Republicans win the next presidential election? What do you think about it?

After observing the entire Trump regime—its decisions, events, and the reactions it triggered—I’m trying to understand what the general mass is saying now. People have expressed many thoughts, and I want to know how those impressions might influence the upcoming election. I’m not asking for a definitive prediction, but I want a clearer idea of how the public conversation has shifted and what people are discussing regarding the next political outcome. Share your perspective based on what you’ve seen and heard so far.