Read about this administration’s expansive accomplishments on our Biden page.
PAUL’S HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
The Economy! Finally, people across the board are feeling it. Consumer sentiment jumped 13% in January, 29% over the last two months. Gas prices down, jobless claims down, inflation turning the corner, and the stock market is at an all time high—even Republicans are warming. Newsweek. On Fox News, Trump’s former White House economic adviser grudgingly admits the positives. Yahoo.
The GOP meltdown continues. Last week, it was Nevada, Michigan, and Florida.
This week in Arizona, the GOP chair resigned after being caught trying to bribe Kerri Lake not to run for Senate. KTAR News. In Colorado, the top GOP representative in the state house resigned after being caught trying to bribe officials over his arrest for drunk driving and gun possession. This “all but crushes” his U.S. Congressional bid. Axios. In Missouri, Republican infighting has forced the state senate president to kick Freedom Caucus members off their committees, calling them equivalent to children and swamp creatures as they continue to wreak havoc. AOL
Corrected gerrymandering allows possible new seats in the U.S. House for Louisiana and Wisconsin.
Biden is up by 8 points over Trump in Pennsylvania in a reliable poll. Causes include shifts in economic sentiment, and Republican infighting. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Biden wins in New Hampshire with enthusiastic write-ins. (FridayAction helped!) He was not on the ballot due to election technicalities. CNN
Nikki Haley got 43 percent. Despite all the headlines and analysis, it’s now a boxing match, not a coronation, and Haley is still in the ring to take swings at Trump with her red, red boxing gloves. She’s bringing in campaign money too. New York Times.
Never-Trumpers have cause for optimism. Even as he won, the numbers out of Iowa and New Hampshire weren’t great for Trump. Politico
MORE GOOD ELECTION NEWS
Catholics call out bishops not to back Trump. Newsweek
As primaries kick off, independents and moderates are saying they won’t vote for Trump. Politico. And in a Fox News Poll from New Hampshire, a majority of voters say they won’t support the other candidate—Trump or Haley.
35% of NH Republicans say they won’t vote for Trump in the general election. The Messenger. A Dover, NH voter said on The Daily Podcast, “I really wanted Chris Christie…I ended up writing in Joe Biden’s name.” Equally encouraging, Susan Collins announces she won’t vote for Trump even if he wins the nomination. The Daily Beast
The UAW endorses Biden. Workers call Trump “a scab.” ABC News
Ted Cruz, up for election, is looking vulnerable. Newsweek
SOCIOECONOMIC NEWS THAT’S ALSO POLITICAL
With Biden’s tweaks, Obama Care continues record-level enrollment, even as Trump, not reading the room, vows to repeal. The Washington Post
Another week, another astounding economic report. “U.S. growth shatters expectations.” Janet Yellen explains how this is good for a broad swath of American industries and occupations, “from firefighters to nurses to factory workers.” Politico
AND FINALLY
Simon Rosenberg’s optimism about the 2024 election. A massive new Democratic political machine has grown up organically, hundreds of thousands of Democrats on Zoom, in a far more intimate relationship with politics than ever before. (That’s us! FridayAction!) This counter-mobilization is providing more money, building unprecedentedly large campaigns, with huge field operations and more volunteers.
It’s not time for complacency, but Biden has been a strong president with lots to run on; Trump is weaker than he was in 2020, more extreme, more dangerous; in the news, day in and day out, he counter-mobilizes Democrats; and where there are MAGA candidates, Democrats do great. For the entire, more nuanced discussion with Ezra Klein, listen to the podcast or read the transcript in The New York Times.
“It’s always too soon to quit!” – Norman Vincent Peale