The Last Word
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🗞 THE NEWSSTAND
(Hint: go Incognito to fight dem paywalls).
On Thursday, October 22, 2020, America watched its final presidential debate featuring Donald J. Trump as he debated Former VP and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The debate was unlike any of the past for Donald. Moderator Kristen Welker kept the entire thing quite civil and pushed both candidates along to discuss their policies on key issues for American voters—the economy, immigration, Covid-19, and climate change. [Read both candidates’ policies across every major issue]
Though with over 30 million people across the country already having participated in early voting it is unknown how much of an impact the debate will have had on swaying voters. While Democrats have come in greater force early in the election, this expected outcome per polling data, there is likely to be millions of voters waiting until November 3 to cast their ballots. With each state having its own timeline, the process is complicated, if not a convoluted approach to democracy, which has already geared up attorneys on both sides in what looks to be a potential battle at the courts over the outcome of the presidential election. Not to mention the existence of voter suppression and intimidation as seen in places like New Mexico and Florida.
In Congress, the Senate GOP moves ahead to confirm deeply conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court ahead of the presidential election. This, boycotted by the Democratic Party after weeks of appealing to hold off until after the election in order to allow voters a say in the replacement for late, great Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
This week the president tweeted out to his millions of followers raw footage of his 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl, which he walked out on calling for unfair treatment by Stahl who began the interview informing him she would be asking “tough questions.”
Another video this week from actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in his fictional character Borat, show his “support” for Rudolph Giuliana, the personal attorney to the president. The satirical video comes after the release of the sequel movie to Borat, which features a secret tape of the former New York mayor appearing to put his hands down his pants while laying on a bed with a young female interviewer in the room.
Other, more serious, raw footage has surfaced coming from none other than the Vatican, after evidence of the Catcholic Church having censored Pope Francis last year in an interview emerged showing the Pope’s endorsement of same-sex civil unions.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to have is a civil union law—that way they are legally covered. I supported that.”
—Pope Francis
🌍Around the Globe
Currently, in Nigeria, there is civil unrest as 56 peaceful protestors have been gunned down by security forces. The protests began two weeks ago in response to historical police brutality, which has been met with open firing into the crowds. In a public statement to the country, President Muhammadu Buhari called for police reform and calm in the streets but failed to mention the shootings. #EndSARS
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🎧 WEEKLY MIXTAPE
In support of the ongoing struggle in the streets of Nigeria this special #EndSARS playlist brought to you by Wrightstuff including Nigerian artist Burna Boy with his recent protest track “Monsters You Made” featuring Chris Martin.
Virtual eclectic band the Gorillaz are back with a strangely exciting new album onSong Machine, Season One: Strange Timezfeaturing Schoolboy Q, Beck, and others.
A new track from indie-dance artist Jai Wolf featuring Wrabel is chill, melodic, and just the sort of sound to find some calm in the chaos.
Also, this new sophisticated, smooth sound from singer-songwriter Xavier Omár on his latest if You Feel.
🥃 THE CABINET
The Last Word
A smoky remix on this prohibition-era cocktail featuring mezcal instead of gin is a great cocktail for your weekend evening.
Ingredients
¾ ounce mezcal
¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino
¾ ounce Green Chartreuse
¾ ounce lime juice
Garnish with lime
Directions
In mixing glass, stir all ingredients with ice (except garnish). Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lime.
🎙FIRESIDE CHAT
As we approach the final week of this long, oftentimes draining political campaign, we look to the pundits, experts, and statisticians to give us some sense of encouragement that our candidate is going to win. Though at some point while latching on to polling data and news headlines we are reminded of the human capacity to practice cognitive dissonance—keeping in mind that presidential races almost always tighten in the final days before the general election. And we may never know the future until it is the past.
Both sides got the presidential debate they had been waiting for all year long with their respective candidates participating in what might be deemed ‘normal’ political discourse—arguing for conservative or liberal policies. And yet, somehow we are left feeling unsatisfied and eager to find a poll or hidden trend to give us a sense of reprieve.
We are reminded of that fateful day when the American public woke up to find out the candidate who every major newspaper has predicted to be the winner, in fact, was not. No, I am not referring to 2016, but to the historical 1948 presidential election between incumbent Harry S. Truman and his popular Republican contender and Governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey.
In the infamous photo, President Truman holds up the Chicago Daily Tribune with the headline ‘Dewey Defeats Truman.’
For months the polls showed Dewey having a major lead over Truman, and the race was all but considered over until the votes came in.
It is important to remember this historical context, because though polling was infrequent and far less accurate than today’s polling averages using data-driven websites like RealClearPolitics or FiveThirtyEight, the truth is that if polls elected presidents, America would have had its first female president for three-plus years, and America might never have joined NATO.
So, with these remaining days left on the calendar, we learn to sit with our anxiety and discomfort of not knowing what that outcome of this election will be.
Here I will share three possible outcomes that I am prepared for after having studied past polling average swings in battleground states, trends in recent days, and commentary from both parties.
Scenario 1 — Blue Wall Divided
Scenario 2 — Big Ten “Go Blue!”
Scenario 3 — The Big Tie in Nebraska’s 2nd
I know what you are saying to yourself right now. “No way, Mr. Wrightstuff. The polls show Joe with a comfortable, consistent lead. Florida won’t go to Trump again. They are saying Joe could even win Texas!” But if we have learned anything these past few years it is that what we read in headlines is not always as it appears up close.
The Great Lakes and Sunbelt states are very much in play for both sides. And it is going to be a very close race that we may not have the answers to until days, if not weeks after November 3.
So, repeat after me. Don’t get complacent. Vote. I am headed to the first day of early voting here in New York. I’ll see you on the other side.
“As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.”
― Albert Einstein
We're in this together
#HabituateInSpace #Vote #EndSARSNow