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POTUS: The New Get Out of Jail Free Card

11.25.24

Ally Sammarco Nov 26

Credit: Getty Images

Happy Monday evening, and welcome back to Today’s American News – your evening source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.

Election subversion, classified docs cases against Trump dismissed… One of Donald Trump’s presumed motivations for running for president in 2024 was to free himself from potential legal consequences. It came as no surprise today when special counsel Jack Smith dropped the cases against Trump for election subversion and mishandling of classified documents. “The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed,” Smith noted in the filing, citing Trump’s victory earlier this month as the impetus for his motion. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan quickly agreed to the motion and dismissed the cases. Trump was found liable for sexual assault and convicted on 34 felony counts by a jury of his peers for crimes related to the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Trump escaped sentencing for his 34 felony convictions.

Trump’s “mandate” isn’t really a mandate… For the third presidential election in a row, a majority of voters did not vote for Donald Trump. Trump fell short of the 50 percent threshold reached by President Biden and twice by President Obama. While Trump won the popular vote earlier this month, he hardly has the “mandate” his MAGA cronies claim. Compare Biden’s 2020 victory to Trump’s 2024 victory: Biden (2020) won a majority of voters; Trump (2024) won less than a majority of voters. Biden won the popular vote by 7 million; Trump won it by 2.5 million. Biden’s popular vote margin was 4.45%; Trump’s was 1.6%. Trump’s small victory, to MAGA Republicans, was a mandate whereas Biden’s convincing victory was not a mandate. Trump’s claim of an “unprecedented mandate” is a lie intended to grab power. 

VP Harris keeping options open… The lede in today’s Playbook was not about Trump’s cabinet or anything Trump-related; rather, it was about the future of VP Kamala Harris. Many Harris supporters have been wondering what the vice president will do after she leaves office in January. Politico boils the answer down to two possibilities: She could run for president again in 2028 or she could run for governor of California in 2026. Though a typical governor’s office would be a clear step down from the vice presidency, California is massive in population and has an economy larger than all but four countries in the world. At this point, the only indications are that she wants to keep her options open. No matter what, in the words of the VP herself, she is “staying in the fight.”

As DeWine mulls Vance replacement, Brown opens door to 2026… Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who has never closely aligned with Donald Trump, will appoint a replacement to fill the seat of JD Vance as he leaves the U.S. Senate to become vice president. One name DeWine never gave serious consideration: Columbus-area entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Ohio media has focused on more traditional names such as former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and state Sen. Matt Dolan. DeWine’s appointee will face a 2026 U.S. Senate special primary and general election. Outgoing U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, defeated in his bid for re-election, told Politico over the weekend that he won’t rule out a 2026 comeback.

Trump snubs–nay, humiliates–his megadonor… On Friday, CNN reported Trump was set to nominate a megadonor, former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), as agriculture secretary. On Saturday, however, Trump announced someone else for the role: Brooke Rollins, director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council in Trump’s first term. For Trump, a choice between Loeffler and Rollins easily goes to the more-loyal Rollins. Loeffler’s final act as a U.S. Senator defied Trump; on January 6, 2021, after Trump’s insurrectionists were cleared out of the Capitol, Loeffler went back on her promise to vote to overthrow the election (and she had made this promise in public at a rally with Trump on stage with her). Given the millions of dollars Loeffler spent to elect Trump and given the massive farm subsidies her family receives, Loeffler’s nomination could have been Trump’s most corrupt yet – and that’s saying a lot. Did Trumpworld feed CNN a lie about Loeffler’s supposed nomination in order to humiliate the one-time traitor of Trump? Or does CNN just have horrible sources in the convicted felon’s orbit?

Today’s Buzz

Wicked defies gravity at the box office… “Wicked”, the screen adaptation of the venerated Broadway hit that offers new perspective on the events of “The Wizard of Oz”, debuted at $164.2 million in global ticket sales, including $50.1 million in international sales. The film’s North American debut sales ranked third among all 2024 releases. By a country mile, “Wicked” ($164.2 million) surpassed “Les Miserables” ($103 million) as the largest ever opening for a Broadway adaptation. Starring talented vocalists Cynthia Erivo (“Elphaba”) and Ariana Grande (“Glinda”) the opening of the Jon M. Chu-directed film ranks it fifth all-time among musical films. On Broadway for 22 years and counting, the hit has a cult-like following as evidenced by adults showing up to theatres in full character costumes. 

Today’s Furry Friend

Meet the lovable stinker, Pearl.

That’s all for now in Today’s American News, your evening source attempting to make sense of American politics and entertainment. We look forward to being a regular part of your evening routine. Catch you tomorrow!

Stop greedy companies from overcharging for virus tests

 

The mpox outbreak continues to rage across East, West, and Central Africa. There have been tens of thousands of suspected cases, with hundreds more in recent weeks. Alarmingly, the U.S. and Britain have also recently reported their first cases of a new variant that is more contagious and deadly than what we’ve seen before. Public health officials in Africa must act quickly to contain the outbreak. But without access to affordable and widespread testing, tracking and controlling the spread of mpox is extremely difficult. Many affected countries rely on GeneXpert tests to detect and track mpox. But the manufacturer, Cepheid, and its parent company, Danaher, are charging more than four times the estimated cost of production for the tests. They’re simply too expensive for these countries to afford. Tell Cepheid and Danaher to lower prices so that countries with fewer resources can access them and better monitor the deadly outbreaks. This isn’t the first time Cepheid has overcharged for important tests. Last year, thanks to pressure from activists, the company reduced the price of its standard tuberculosis test from $9.98 to $7.97 each. And while its mpox test costs around $20 now, an independent analysis commissioned by Doctors Without Borders suggests that Cepheid could sell all of its tests for as little as $5 each while still making a small profit. We know Cepheid can lower the price of its mpox test and get more tests into the hands of more health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda — especially since the company has lowered test prices in the past! But Cepheid only lowered prices in response to pressure from concerned people all around the world. To help contain the mpox outbreak and prevent further spread, we must put pressure on Cepheid and demand urgent action. Send a message to Cepheid, and its parent company, Danaher. Tell them to lower prices for mpox tests to $5 each, and prioritize supplying African countries at the forefront of this growing global health crisis. Thanks for taking action, George Public Citizen

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For the first time in Alabama’s history

 

Terri Sewell is the proud product of Alabama’s rural Black Belt and has spent her life fighting for Alabama communities. From her time as one of the only black public finance lawyers in Alabama, when she delivered financing for new campus facilities at Alabama State University, Tuskegee University, and Stillman College, to her work as Congresswoman for Alabama’s 7th District, Terri Sewell has delivered results every step of the way.

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Friend, Following the recent election, we are all feeling a mix of emotions — frustration, relief, and determination to name just a few. As we navigate through them, we should also take pride in the history that was made here in Alabama. For the first time in a generation, we elected TWO Democrats to represent Alabama in the House of Representatives! It is the first time in Alabama’s history that we have had two Black members in our state’s congressional delegation. I’m so proud of Congressman-elect Shomari Figures, a lifelong Alabamian with a proven track record of leadership. He has served in all three branches of the federal government: as a law clerk on the federal court, as the White House Liaison and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Justice, and as a Counsel in Congress advising on critical issues like civil rights, immigration, and homeland security. Throughout his career, he has consistently worked to uplift Alabama communities, expand healthcare access, and create stronger, safer neighborhoods. Shomari knows how the federal government works and he has built the relationships needed to work across party lines and do the most good. He understands the challenges we are up against, and he will tirelessly fight in Washington to improve the lives of Alabamians. For too long, Black voters in Alabama have had their power diluted by unfair congressional maps. By sending Shomari Figures to Washington, those voters finally get the chance to claim their seat at the decision-making table. I look forward to having him as a partner in Congress and working on behalf of all Alabamians, especially those whose voices have yet to be fully heard. This is a new chapter for Alabama, so let’s celebrate this remarkable achievement and do our best to move forward with hope and determination. All the best, Terri Sewell

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