Wednesday, September 18, 2024
BY MATT BERG & CROOKED MEDIA
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More prominent Republicans will soon come out in support of the Democrat challenging Ted Cruz in Texas. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest Senate races you probably haven’t heard of.
- Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) is riding high after two recent polls show him within the margin of error against longtime MAGA Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has admitted that he could be in trouble. The Democrat got another big boost after former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) endorsed him earlier this month, later saying that Cruz has shown a “willingness to do whatever Donald Trump wanted him to do.” Cheney and her father, controversial right-wing former Vice President Dick Cheney, also recently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Speaking with What A Day on Wednesday, Allred described the endorsement from Cheney — who overlapped with him in Congress — as a “huge help” to the campaign: “It's a strong signal to actual serious conservatives in Texas who believe in rule of law, who believe in the Constitution, that they are part of our coalition,” Allred said. “Liz helps dramatize that, and we will have other prominent Republicans who will be getting involved, so everyone should stay tuned," he added, without naming names.
- Prominent endorsements that could sway the race are still on the table. Former President George W. Bush is one of Allred’s constituents, and the pair have a good relationship (though Bush tends to stay out of such matters). Former President Donald Trump still hasn’t thrown his hat in the race either — despite endorsing Cruz in the past. This weekend, Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita said Cruz is in desperate need of help. “I think in every race that I’ve run in, Trump has gotten involved,” Allred said. “And I've never lost.”
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Cruz is trying to paint Allred as a “radical,” though he has been rated by a nonpartisan organization as one of the most bipartisan members in Congress.
- Allred’s strategy until the election is to highlight his opponent’s legislative record, specifically how it ties into Trump’s MAGA vision and affects Texans. His campaign is directly blaming Cruz for restricting reproductive rights, tying that to the abortion ban in Georgia that led to the death of a young mother. On the southern border and immigration, “he's been one of the people who stood in the way of us actually fixing and securing the border,” Allred said, citing Cruz's opposition to immigration reform going back a decade. He’s also running ads attacking Cruz on his social security and Medicare positions.
- Cruz is using a similar rhetoric to sway voters: “America’s future is on the line in Texas. Colin Allred is raising money hand over fist. We can’t let up for a minute,” Cruz wrote on X (formerly Twitter) — and he ain’t lying about the money part. As of late June, Allred’s campaign had raised $41.2 million compared to Cruz’s $40 million, though the Democrat burned through more of his cash. Allred didn’t have an update on his fundraising during this period, but the weeks leading up to November could bring big cash influxes, especially if major endorsements drop.
The race is going to be another tough re-election for Ted Cruz, following his narrow win against Beto O’Rourke. But last time, prominent Republicans weren’t backing the Democrat.
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The Federal Reserve on Wednesday went big on its benchmark interest rate cut, slashing it from 5.3 percent to about 4.8 percent. The cut — the Fed’s first in more than four years — underscores its focus on bolstering the job market, which has shown signs of slowing.
“The economy is getting back to normal, inflation is back down to normal, and so now rates are heading back to normal. The right decision, albeit a tad late,” Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan public policy and economics professor, wrote on X, synthesizing it for us normies who thought studying journalism or English in college was a great idea.
It’ll take some time before Americans feel the effect of the cut, which should eventually make things like mortgages and car loans more affordable. The cut will also have a big influence on the economy that either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump inherit next year.
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Are you looking for sharp analysis on what’s happening this election cycle—and what could come next? Tune in to tomorrow’s episode of Pollercoaster, as Dan Pfeiffer and Elijah Cone dive deep into the latest post-debate polls. They’re breaking down both the national landscape and key battleground states like Iowa and Pennsylvania, and taking a closer look at the Senate races that could shake things up this election cycle. Head to crooked.com/friends to get access to this exclusive subscription series and more. |
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More pagers exploded in Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 450 others, a day after Israel reportedly hacked into Hezbollah militants’ devices and caused them to blow up. Israel has briefed the U.S. on the attack, which involved placing small amounts of explosives in the devices, an American official told the Associated Press. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. didn’t know about the attack, and that it doesn’t help Gaza cease-fire negotiations. Hezbollah leaders, backed by Iran, vowed to retaliate for the explosions, which experts say could violate international law since civilians have been harmed.
More than 100 former GOP officials and members of Congress threw their support behind Kamala Harris on Wednesday, calling Donald Trump “unfit to serve” in an open letter. The signatories, which includes people who served under Ronald Reagan and both Bush administrations, admit that they disagree with Harris on many issues (we would hope so!) but that Trump has demonstrated “dangerous qualities.” We’re a little weirded out by all of these right-wingers endorsing Kamala but, uh, we’ll take it!
A new poll of likely Georgia voters shows that Harris and Trump are virtually tied in the battleground state. Trump is leading 47 percent to 44 percent, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Time to breathe heavily into my paper bag… again…
Many immigration and progressive groups believe Harris’s hawkish southern border policy pledges align with MAGA’s anti-immigration agenda, but are looking the other way — for now. Those groups are supporting Harris, hoping that her rhetoric is posturing to help win the election, and that she’ll govern with a more liberal policy if she’s president. |
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Whether you’re searching for a buzzy new memoir, riveting true crime, or a fantasy novel that sweeps you away, Bookshop.org has just the book you’re looking for. Their online bookstore is stocked with a range of titles that will keep you entertained for hours. From Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo” to “Democracy or Else" by Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, there's something for everyone. Book recommendations on Bookshop.org also come from real people who love books, not algorithms.
And the best part? When you purchase from Bookshop.org, you’re supporting over 2,000 local, independent bookstores across the country.
What A Day is proud to partner with Bookshop.org in supporting independent bookstores. Every purchase you make on Bookshop.org directly funds local booksellers. Thanks to fellow readers like you, over $32 million has already been donated to help keep local, independent bookstores serving their communities. Bookshop.org is a certified B-Corp and all deliveries are carbon-neutral.
Join Bookshop.org in uplifting independent bookstores today. Happy reading! |
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Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) signed an executive order on Wednesday banning the use of “conversion therapy” on minors, saying that it aims to protect children from a discredited practice that attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity via counseling. Eliminating an actively-harmful practice against marginalized minors in a red state? Good things are still happening in America, folks. We can’t believe it either.
Public health data shows that U.S. overdose deaths plummeted last year by 10.6 percent. The dramatic drop, one of the largest in decades, is giving researchers hope that the trend could continue, saving tens of thousands of lives each year. It’s clear that overdose prevention education and Narcan are a major source of the good news.
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