Clinton-Trump rematch: America’s zero hour

Back in October 2020, Thomas Wright weighed up what a second Trump term would look like. 

Trump’s potential reelection should be seen as a pincer movement, an attack on the international order from two sides, argues Thomas Wright. Trump would consolidate his control over the institutions of government, bending them to his will, removing any lingering resistance from the Republican Party. Meanwhile, by confirming that the United States has rejected its traditional leadership role, a second Trump term would make a lasting impact on the world right when it is at a particularly vulnerable moment.

The article believes Trump winning a second term leads to more disruption to US foreign policy and world affairs. He also looked at how the world would react. He said ‘America’s allies and adversaries took a deep breath after the 2016 election.’ 

They did not know if Trump’s win was a temporary blip or a permanent change 

Trump’s next coup has already begun 

The Republicans have already started to undermine the 2024 election, writes the Guardian. 

The paper says, unlike the January 6 insurrection mob, the next coup is men in suits and ties and they pose a bigger threat. “The next attempted coup will not be a violent overthrow of the Capitol, but a carefully plotted and even technically legal one, subverting election machinery and exploiting various constitutional loopholes. It is well underway.” 

From Gerrymandering swing-state legislatures to restricting access to the polls to targeting key elections in 2022 and pressuring – and criminalising – the work of election officials, the GOP coup round two is well underway. 

Whilst the Atlantic says the former president and his party ‘have convinced a hauntingly large number of Americans that the essential workings of democracy are corrupt.’ They’ve convinced them with made-up claims of fraud, and only cheating can thwart their victory at the polls and violence is a legitimate response.

However, there are various actions that can be taken to try and stop Trump stealing the election.  Some are institutional or technocratic tweaks, and some are electoral battles or longer-term reform efforts. They might not be enough — it’s hard to combat broader systemic forces like identity-based polarization pushing the Republican Party toward extremism. But altogether, they make up an agenda that could help reduce the chances of the 2024 election being stolen, writes VOX.

What about Kamala Harris latest poll numbers?

Her first year as vice-president has been far from a smooth ride. The job has not come easy.  She has been accused of going AWOL and hasn’t been able to show a stance next to President Biden.

So it is no surprise that Kamala Harris‘ approval ratings have slumped. 

She really needs some time at the Whitehouse, taking on a bit more responsibility and really weighing in on the Ukrainian and Russian conflict could be that opportunity.

She really needs to up her game before the 2022 midterms, and if she performs well, she could build the momentum to lead the Democratic party.