Trump Announces Debates & New State Voting Laws | 8.9.24
In this episode of Morning Wire, the contrast between state approaches to voter laws ahead of the 2024 presidential election is explored. Republican-led states like Georgia and Virginia are implementing stricter rules aimed at safeguarding against fraud, while Democrat-led Minnesota is focused on expanding voter access.
The podcast also examines the differing media strategies of the Republican and Democratic nominees. While Trump actively engages the press and confirms debates, Harris avoids interviews, relying on her slim polling lead. Allegations of anti-conservative bias against an advertising initiative are addressed, as internal emails reveal selectivity based on political views.
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Contrasting Approaches to Voter Laws Ahead of 2024 Election
Election laws across U.S. states are diverging as the 2024 presidential contest nears. Republican-led states, such as Georgia and Virginia, are tightening rules to safeguard against fraud. Meanwhile, Democrat-led Minnesota is expanding voter access by measures like enfranchising felons and permanently allowing absentee ballots.
Sanger-Katz reports that Georgia's new "reasonable inquiry" rule for certifying results aims to prevent rubber-stamping results without scrutiny, yet could lead to court battles over what constitutes legitimate inquiry. Virginia has removed thousands of non-citizens and deceased voters from its rolls to uphold election integrity, as the state lacks a voter ID requirement.
The Trump vs. Harris Media Strategies
Trump is actively engaging media, holding press conferences and confirming three debates with Harris. Meanwhile, Harris has notably avoided all press conferences and interviews since becoming the Democratic nominee. Despite Harris's slim national polling lead, Trump's favorability has surged to its highest point in nearly two years, maintaining a solid advantage on the pivotal economic issue.
Fallout for Group Accused of Anti-Conservative Bias
The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), an advertising initiative, has disbanded following lawsuits alleging it violated antitrust laws to censor conservative outlets, as congressional hearings with testimony from Ben Shapiro at The Daily Wire exposed. Internal emails showed GARM members blacklisting sites like Breitbart, using "misinformation" as a pretext to withhold ad revenue based on political views.
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Counterarguments
- Tightening voter laws could disproportionately affect marginalized groups and potentially suppress voter turnout.
- Expanding voter access may raise concerns about the integrity of the election process if not implemented with proper safeguards.
- The "reasonable inquiry" rule could be subject to abuse and may lead to unnecessary delays in certifying election results.
- Removing non-citizens and deceased voters from rolls is a standard maintenance procedure, but it must be done with care to avoid disenfranchising eligible voters.
- Engaging with the media is traditionally seen as part of a candidate's duty to the public, and avoiding it could be viewed as a lack of transparency.
- Favorability surges in polls may not accurately reflect the broader electorate's views or predict election outcomes.
- The disbandment of GARM could be seen as a failure to balance the fight against misinformation with the protection of free speech.
- Blacklisting sites could be viewed as a form of censorship if not applied uniformly and transparently across the political spectrum.
Actionables
- You can enhance your understanding of voter laws by comparing your state's regulations with those mentioned, such as Georgia and Virginia. Look up your state's election laws online, note the differences and similarities, and consider how these laws might affect voter turnout and election outcomes in your area.
- Engage in local community discussions to explore the impact of political engagement strategies like press conferences and debates. Without taking sides, observe local politicians or public figures and their engagement methods, then discuss with friends or community members how these strategies might influence public opinion and voter behavior.
- Create a personal media consumption plan that includes diverse sources to better understand the landscape of political reporting and bias. Choose a mix of media outlets with varying political leanings, track the types of stories they cover over a month, and reflect on how the coverage shapes your perception of political events and figures.
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Changes to Voting Laws and Election Integrity
As the United States approaches the 2024 presidential election, states across the nation are modifying voter laws, exposing a stark contrast between Republican and Democrat approaches. Republican-led states generally focus on tightening rules to protect against fraud, while Democrat-led states are aiming to make voting more accessible.
Many states are modifying their voter laws leading up to the 2024 election, with Republican-led states tightening rules and Democrat-led states loosening restrictions.
Georgia has implemented a rule obliging election officials to undertake a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying results, a measure endorsed by Republicans as a safeguard against hasty certifying but which Democrats caution could lead to drawn-out court disputes over what constitutes a legitimate inquiry.
Virginia has taken steps to cleanse its voter rolls, removing over 6,000 non-citizens and nearly 80,000 deceased voters, an action prompted by the fact that the state does not require voter ID. This move is seen as a means to uphold election integrity.
Contrarily, Minnesota, under Democrat leadership, is making voting more accessible by enfranchising previously incarcerated individuals, enabling assisted living staff to vouch for residents, instituting a permanent absentee ballot list, and allowing voters to submit ballots for up to three other individuals.
Georgia has implemented a new rule requiring a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying election results, which aims to prevent quickly rubber-stamping results without scrutiny, but could lead to lengthy court disputes.
Georgia's move is partly a response to the controversies surrounding the 2020 election. The rule lets county election boards demand additional information before certifying election outcomes, which Republicans argue is essential. However, Democrats and voting activists worry about the ambiguity and potential litigation the rule might invite.
Virginia has removed over 6,000 non-citizens and 80,000 deceased voters from its voter rolls to protect election integrity, as the state does not require ID to vote.
In Virginia, an executive order directed the cleansing of voter rolls to ensure the integrity of elections. The initiative, following the absence of voter ID requirements in the state, is designed to prevent ineligible individuals from casting votes, whether intentionally or as a result of outdated records.
Meanwhile, Democrat-led states like Minnesota have expanded voting access, such as giving felons the right to vote and allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots.
Expanding voting access has been a hallmark of Democrat-led states. Measures such as granting voting rights to felons, streamlining absentee voting, and ...
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Changes to Voting Laws and Election Integrity
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Counterarguments
- Tightening voter laws could disproportionately affect marginalized groups, potentially leading to voter suppression.
- The "reasonable inquiry" rule in Georgia might be used to challenge legitimate election results, undermining public trust in the electoral process.
- Removing non-citizens and deceased voters from Virginia's rolls, while important for election integrity, must be done with extreme care to avoid mistakenly purging eligible voters.
- Expanding voting access in Minnesota could raise concerns about the potential for increased errors or fraud if not managed with proper safeguards.
- Measures like banning ballot harvesting and requiring proof of citizenship could be seen as barriers that make it harder for certain populations to vote.
- Making absentee voting more convenient, as in Kentucky, could be criticized if there are not equivalent efforts to ensure the security of mail-in ballots.
- Criminalizing ballot collection in Idaho could be viewed as a punitive measure that may prevent well-intention ...
Actionables
- You can educate yourself on the specific voting laws in your state to ensure you're prepared for any changes. Start by visiting your state's official election website or contacting your local election office to get the most current information on voter ID requirements, absentee voting procedures, and any new rules that might affect your ability to vote. For example, if you're in a state that has recently banned ballot harvesting, understand what that means for you if you're used to collecting and submitting ballots for your community.
- Volunteer as a poll worker to directly contribute to the election process and gain firsthand experience with the new voting laws. Poll workers are essential for elections, and by becoming one, you'll help ensure that voting procedures are followed correctly. This is especially relevant if your state has introduced measures like "reasonable inquiry" before certifying election results or if there are new transparency initiatives. You'll be able to see these processes in action and assist voters who may be confused by the changes ...
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The Trump-Harris Campaign Dynamic and Media Presence
As the 2024 presidential race takes shape, the contrasting media strategies of former President Donald Trump and his opponent, Kamala Harris, garner significant attention.
Former President Trump held a highly publicized press conference, taking questions from reporters for over an hour and confirming three upcoming debates with Kamala Harris.
Donald Trump recently attracted considerable media coverage when he held an extensive press conference. During this event, he criticized Kamala Harris and confirmed plans for both sides to participate in a debate next month. Trump emphasized his willingness to engage with the media by agreeing to three debates on Fox, ABC, and NBC and challenged Kamala Harris to commit to the same level of public engagement.
Trump contrasted his open engagement with the media against Harris' refusal to hold press conferences or interviews since becoming the Democratic nominee, accusing her of lacking the competence to do so.
Trump has contrasted his readiness to answer questions and participate in a dialogue with Harris's apparent reticence, suggesting that her failure to hold a press conference or interview shows a lack of competence. This claim comes amid Kamala Harris's silence in the media, having not engaged in any press conferences or interviews for over two weeks since securing the Democratic nomination.
While Harris currently holds a slim lead in national polls, Trump's favorability has climbed to its highest point in nearly two years, and he maintains a significant lead over Harris on the key issue of the economy.
In the national polls, Harris maintains a slend ...
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The Trump-Harris Campaign Dynamic and Media Presence
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Counterarguments
- Trump's willingness to engage with the media and agree to debates does not necessarily indicate a more effective campaign strategy; it could be argued that quality over quantity matters more in communication.
- Harris's lack of press conferences or interviews could be a strategic choice rather than a lack of competence, possibly aiming to avoid overexposure or to focus on targeted campaign efforts.
- The accusation that Harris lacks competence based on her media strategy could be seen as an unfounded personal attack rather than a substantive critique of her policies or campaign.
- Trump's rise in favorability might not solely be due to his media strategy; other factors such as economic conditions, policy proposals, or external events could also play significant roles.
- Holding a lead on the ...
Actionables
- You can enhance your public speaking skills by organizing a series of informal debates with friends on current issues, mirroring the structure of political debates to gain confidence and articulate your viewpoints effectively.
- Start by choosing a topic that's relevant and of mutual interest. Set up a debate format where each person has a set time to speak and respond. This practice can help you learn to think on your feet, present your arguments coherently, and handle opposing views gracefully, much like politicians do during their campaigns.
- You can improve your media engagement by starting a blog or a social media page where you regularly post content and engage with your audience, similar to how politicians engage with the public through various platforms.
- Choose a platform that suits you best, whether it's a blog, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Commit to a schedule for posting content, and make sure to interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages. This will help you understand the importance of media engagement and how it can affect public perception, as seen in political campaigns.
- You can track your personal progress on impor ...
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The Controversy Surrounding the GARM Advertising Group and Its Alleged Collusion Against Conservative Media
An influential advertising group faces scrutiny and organizational change after allegations of collusion against conservative media outlets have come to light.
The World Federation of Advertisers has disbanded its Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) initiative, following lawsuits by social media platforms alleging the group violated antitrust laws to force censorship of certain content.
Luke Rosiak verifies that, while the World Federation of Advertisers continues its operations, its Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) has shut down. This action follows congressional hearings and lawsuits that supported claims of anticompetitive conduct to suppress certain political content. Notably, Ben Shapiro from the Daily Wire provided testimony during these hearings about the activities.
Internal emails obtained by Congress revealed that GARM member companies were using the group as a pretext to exclude conservative outlets like Breitbart and the Daily Wire from advertising, citing vague "misinformation" concerns.
Through the discovery of internal emails by Congress, it was exposed that companies part of GARM were actively using "misinformation" accusations to justify the exclusion of conservative platforms such as Breitbart and the Daily Wire from receiving advertising revenue. A brand safety executive from GroupM was revealed to have classified Breitbart under this pretext. Furthermore, the Daily Wire was placed on a global high-risk exclusion list, associating it with conspiracy theories.
The congressional hearings, including testimony from Daily Wire editor Ben Shapiro, highlighted how large corporations were essentially colluding to use advertising dollars as a "cudgel" to suppress political views they disagreed with.
Ben Shapiro’s testimony during the congressional hearings shone a light on the tactics large corporations employed to l ...
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The Controversy Surrounding the GARM Advertising Group and Its Alleged Collusion Against Conservative Media
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Counterarguments
- The World Federation of Advertisers may argue that the disbandment of GARM was a strategic reorganization rather than a direct result of the allegations.
- Social media platforms might have had financial motivations for their lawsuits, which could be seen as protecting their own interests rather than defending free speech.
- The shutdown of GARM could be interpreted as a compliance measure to legal challenges rather than an admission of wrongdoing.
- The testimony of individuals like Ben Shapiro could be seen as subjective and reflecting a particular political bias.
- The use of "misinformation" as a criterion for excluding outlets from advertising could be defended as a legitimate effort to maintain advertising standards and public trust.
- The classification of certain outlets as high-risk could be based on established content policies and not necessarily political bias.
- The notion of collusion among large corporations could be challenged by the lack of concrete evidence proving coord ...
Actionables
- You can diversify your media consumption to include sources from across the political spectrum to form a more balanced view. Start by identifying media outlets that represent various political ideologies and commit to reading or listening to a different one each week. This helps you understand different perspectives and the reasons behind the push for or against certain types of content moderation.
- Support free speech by patronizing businesses and platforms that align with your values regarding open discourse. Research companies and their advertising practices to see if they support a wide range of voices. Choose to buy from those that don't engage in excluding voices based on political views, and consider reaching out to them to express your appreciation for their stance.
- Engage in community discussions about the importance of d ...
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