Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has praised Qatar’s economy, a rare conciliatory remark about the Gulf state that his country has been blockading since June 2017.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, the de-facto Saudi leader said: “Qatar, despite the differences we have, has a great economy and they will be doing a lot in the next five years.”
The comments were made during a segment about economic potential in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.
He also claimed the “new Europe would be here in the Middle East”, alluding to the region’s econoimc promise.
Khashoggi killing: Erdogan calls for extradition of 18 suspects
Mohammed bin Salman is one of the key figures behind a land, sea, and air blockade of Qatar, along with the leaders of the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt.
The bloc accuses Qatar of supporting groups they have banned, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as supporting terrorism.
Qatar rejects any accusation that it supports terrorism as baseless.
As a result of the blockade, Qatar’s only land border with Saudi Arabia was closed off, and the blockading countries shut off airspace to traffic entering and leaving the country.
The Gulf state has largely weathered the embargo and established new trade relationships as a result, helped by vast foreign currency reserves and healthy demand for its liquified natural gas.
The Saudi crown prince has been under considerable pressure recently in light of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul by a 18-man Saudi hit squad on October 2.
Saudi Arabia claims the killing was a kidnap operation gone wrong but suspicions linger around Mohammed bin Salman’s possible role in the murder and whether the Washington Post columnist’s death was intentional.
At Wednesday’s forum, the crown prince said the Khashoggi case was “painful” and “justice will prevail”.
Calling Khashoggi’s murder a “heinous crime that cannot be justified”, he said all culprits will be punished, and promised Saudi Arabia and Turkey will work together “to reach results”.
He said the killing of the journalist will not “drive a wedge” between the kingdom and Turkey.
“We will cooperate with Turkey to discover the truth behind Khashoggi’s killing,” the Saudi crown prince said.
Now that it’s almost Halloween, it’s already basically Christmas — at least, that’s what the décor in your local pharmacy would suggest. And the holiday season means both Christmas music and Christmas movies are on their way. That includes a new take on The Grinch, this time anchored by Benedict Cumberbatch, Kenan Thompson, and Pharrell in a very key role as the narrator.
It also means new versions of beloved Grinch tunes, like, say, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” the everlasting ode to the big green guy’s devilish trickery. This time, it comes courtesy of Tyler, the Creator, whose menacing rasp perfectly captures the slinking villainy of the title character.
For the update, Tyler worked with storied composer Danny Elfman, perhaps best known for his work on many Tim Burton films (as well as for writing The Simpsons theme). The take is orchestral without being too stuffy — the kind of light and breezy, minute-and-a-half song that works well within the confines of a computer-animated film.
Tyler reportedly also wrote a brand-new song for the movie called “I Am the Grinch.” We’ll presumably get to hear all that on the film’s soundtrack.
Officials in the United States have said they have intercepted suspect packages, identified as potential explosive devices, sent to the homes of former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.
The US Secret Service on Wednesday said it recovered a single package addressed to Clinton in Westchester, a suburb north of Manhattan on Tuesday.
A second package was addressed to the Obama residence in Washington.
“The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
“The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them,” it said.
The Secret Service is investigating to determine who sent the packages.
The devices were similar to one found on Monday at the home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
The Associated Press reported that the explosive device found at the home of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton was believed to be linked to one that was found at the residence of George Soros. | Joshua Lott/Getty Images
The U.S. Secret Service said on Wednesday that it had intercepted two packages this week being sent to Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama that were handled as potential explosive devices.
A package was intercepted late Tuesday that was addressed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at her Westchester County home in New York, according to a press release from the Secret Service.
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On Wednesday, a second package was intercepted that was addressed to former President Barack Obama’s residence in Washington D.C.
The Secret Service said that “the protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”
The packages were identified during routine mail screening procedures.
“The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible,” USSS said in the statement.
The Associated Press reported that the explosive device found at the Clintons’ home in Chappaqua, New York, was believed to be linked to one that was found in a mailbox on Monday at the residence of billionaire George Soros, who has donated to liberal causes. Soros has been targeted by right-wing groups and even the president recently.
Soros was not there at the time.
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement released Wednesday that the White House condemns “the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures.”
“These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” she said. “The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”
Raanan added that league sources are under the impression that anyone on New York’s defense is available “for the right price.”
New York traded cornerback Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints for a 2019 fourth-round pick and 2020 seventh-round pick on Tuesday. The Giants then reportedly sent defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
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India’s government removed the head of the country’s top investigating agency and his deputy in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday – a move the opposition parties and constitutional experts said amounted to “misuse of power”.
Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Alok Verma, and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were asked to go on leave after the premier agency filed a corruption case against Asthana.
A feud between the two men has been simmering since before Asthana, who is allegedly close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was promoted to the agency’s second-highest post last year.
Verma has challenged the government move in the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on Friday.
The CBI is armed with a mandate to investigate corruption and all major crimes in the country.
Opposition politicians have questioned the government on the removal of Verma.
What are the reasons for sending CBI director on leave? Under which law did the Modi govt get the authority to initiate action against the chief of an investigating agency appointed as per the Lokpal Act ? What is Modi govt trying to hide ?
Since morning, the overthrown chiefs’ offices at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi have been searched and sealed. A dozen officers probing the deputy chief Asthana have been shunted out to different departments away from the capital.
On Monday, the CBI arrested an investigating officer and conducted searches at its own headquarters as part of their probe against Asthana in a bribery case related to Hyderabad-based meat exporter Moin Qureshi.
Critics say Prime Minister Modi is trying to save an allegedly “corrupt” officer, Asthana, who worked under Modi when the current Indian prime minister headed the government in Gujarat state.
The government wants the independent investigative agency to dance to their tunes. We will not let this happen
Former Congress Minister and Member of Parliament Veerappa Moily
Earlier, he had headed a probe into the 2002 Gujarat train burning case and had given a report exonerating Modi of all charges of wrongdoing in one of the worst religious violence in decades that ensued.
The government appointed an interim officer as chief of the CBI on Wednesday.
“They don’t have any authority to do this. If you leave the powers to sack the top officer of the CBI to the government, it’s a mockery of the whole institution. This is being done to protect the graft-accused officer Asthana, a blue-eyed boy of the prime minister,” Prashant Bhushan, Supreme Court lawyer, told Al Jazeera.
“The government is apprehensive of the complaint that lies before the CBI chief to investigate the Rafale deal signed by the government,” he added.
Upheld the ‘integrity’
Opposition has accused the Modi government of corruption in a multi-billion dollar deal to buy Rafale warplanes from France’s Dassault Aviation. The government has denied any wrongdoing.
The government has defended the CBI move, saying they have acted to uphold the “integrity” of the premier institution.
“The maintenance of the CBI’s institutional integrity is a pre-condition for fair probes. A strange and disappointing situation has arisen here which is that the chief and the deputy chief have levelled allegations against each other. Who will probe this?” India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a press conference in New Delhi.
“The requirements of fair play have to be there. The government can not probe this. The Central Vigilance Commission had recommended that as an interim measure both the top officers will go on leave. An independent SIT [special investigation team] will investigate. If they are innocent, they will come back,” he added.
The new crisis has brought back the spotlight on the role of the CBI and its relationship with the government of the day in the world’s largest democracy.
“This move by the government is clearly mala fide. The government is trying to take shelter under the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission [top anti-corruption body]. But only an appointing authority can remove the top officer,” Dushyant Dave, legal expert and senior Supreme Court lawyer told Al Jazeera.
“What the government has done is a dark chapter for Indian bureaucracy and its police forces. I have no doubt that on Friday the Supreme Court will examine the ousted officer’s plea objectively,” he said.
Analysts say the Modi government is destroying the “independence” and credibility of the country’s major institutions like the CBI, the Election Commission and even the judiciary.
“They have destroyed the CBI. Earlier they said the CBI is a ‘caged parrot’, now this government has made it a “hound ” to harass political opponents. Similar scenes unfolding at other leading institutions that are the foundation of this country,” lawyer Bhushan said.
In January this year, four senior judges of the Supreme Court held an extraordinary press conference lashing out at the then Chief Justice. They said democracy may not survive because of the way the court was being run.
The tenures of the CBI chief are protected by law to avoid political sacking during high-profile probes and remains to be seen how the top court will respond to the government’s move.
The opposition has laid the blame for the crisis at the doors of the government. The BJP’s main rival Congress party called it a “can of worms” and “a sordid state of affairs constitutionally and legally”.
“This is a direct assault by the government on the integrity of the CBI. The chief of this body was appointed by a collegium consisting of the Chief Justice, prime minister and Leader of the Opposition. Only they have the power to act here,” former Congress Minister and Member of Parliament Veerappa Moily told Al Jazeera.
“They are flouting all rules brazenly, clearly misusing their power. The government wants the independent investigative agency to dance to their tunes. We will not let this happen,” he added.
However, the crisis around the “integrity” of the premier federal body is not new.
The previous Congress-led government was also castigated by the top court in 2013 for allegedly interfering in a corruption case probe.
Former Supreme Court judge RM Lodha had earlier denounced the CBI as a “caged parrot” and “its master’s voice”.
For years, India’s opposition has alleged that the party in power uses the top investigating agency to cover up wrongdoing and target political opponents.
Anti-graft campaigners have long argued that political interference in the CBI reinforces the importance of an independent anti-corruption body.
Modi, who won on an anti-corruption plank in 2014, has yet to appoint a Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman.
The image was snapped at a protest against Israel’s blockade of Gaza on October 22 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu]
An image of a shirtless young protester in Gaza gripping a Palestinian flag with one hand and swinging a sling with the other has drawn comparisons with an iconic French Revolution painting.
Captured on October 22 by Mustafa Hassouna of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, and published by Getty Images, the photo shows the man in the thick of a protest against the Israeli blockade.
With black smoke from burning tyres behind him as well as fellow demonstrators and reporters wearing protective jackets, the image has been tweeted more than 5,000 times.
Laleh Khalili, a SOAS University professor, shared the photo on Twitter on Tuesday, writing: “Holy sh** what an image. “13th attempt to break the Gaza blockade by sea”.”
She followed it up with a second tweet containing an image of Liberty Leading the People, a painting by Eugene Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X of France.
In that iconic painting, a woman symbolising liberty leads people over a barricade and the bodies, holding the tricolour – the flag of the French Revolution, which became France’s flag.
Several users agreed with the comparison.
“Snapped on the way to storming the bastille,” joked Yousef Munayyer, of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Others noted similarities with different paintings depicting the French Revolution, David vs Goliath and Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea who supports the Greeks against the Trojans in the Trojan War.
Thanks to K-pop’s growing visibility in the U.S., the cultural barriers that once prevented Korean artists from making it big in the West are being smashed one milestone at a time. As a result, a new generation of K-pop acts are trying to leave their mark in the history books.
NCT 127 is the latest group to bring K-pop stateside with the release of their confident English debut, “Regular.” The 10-member group just dropped their first full-length release, Regular-Irregular, a sleek concept album that weaves a dual narrative between two worlds: reality (Regular) and fantasy (Irregular). It debuted at No. 86 on the Billboard 200, making NCT 127 the second-highest charting K-pop boy band in chart history.
So what should you know about this group of Korean artists who are currently making waves abroad? Here’s a very handy guide to NCT 127:
What does NCT 127 mean?
NCT stands for Neo Culture Technology, which are not three random words thrown together but rather an ambitious concept from SM Entertainment, the biggest record label in South Korea. The project aims to localize K-pop across the globe with region-specific groups, and NCT 127 is the Seoul-based unit. (127 refers to the longitude of Seoul. #TheMoreYouKnow)
Giphy / Apple Music
The 10 members of NCT 127.
“Culture Technology” is a strategy designed by SM founder Lee Sooman. It’s essentially a way to bring Korean pop music to the world, and NCT is the modern extension of that with its ever-expanding roster of international performers.
There are currently 18 artists under the NCT fold and three established units: NCT 127, NCT Dream (a more playful rotational unit for NCT’s teenage performers), and NCT U (a rotational group where songs are assigned to members based on who best fits the track).
In June 2018, a new unit made up of NCT’s Chinese members was announced. NCT China (working title) is set to debut later this year. There are also plans to expand the NCT brand to more countries in Asia — with a particular interest in Vietnam and “V-pop” — and even Latin America.
What are their fans called?
Fans of NCT are known as NCTzens (pronounced N-citizens), and the members will often affectionately call them “Seasonies” (“Seasony is us saying that our fans are precious to us like the four seasons,” they explained.) And here’s hoping you like the color green.
So, who’s in the group?
There are currently 10 members in NCT 127. Newest member Jungwoo made his official debut with the recent release of Regular-Irregular, and here they are looking like a bunch of handsome goth time travelers for their latest comeback:
SM Entertainment
Despite being based in Seoul, the group is culturally diverse with members from the U.S. (Johnny, born in Chicago), Japan (Yuta), China (Winwin), and Canada (Mark). So let’s get to know each of them a little better.
Taeyong
Real name: Lee Taeyong (nicknames: TY Track; Taebreze; Grandpa; 2D Taeyong)
Role: Leader, Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Vocalist, Visual, Center
Taeyong is so handsome that every Korean broadcast makes at least one reference to his “2D” good looks. (Because he looks like a manga character come to life.) But that’s the least impressive thing about this 23-year-old performer. Known for his onstage swagger and ferocious flow, TY is an integral, if not intimidating, member of NCT — he’s often featured in NCT U — and he’s a bit of a wunderkind when it comes to rapping, singing, dancing, writing, and pulling off bold looks. But offstage, Taeyong can be quite soft; he’s a perfectionist who cares for his members. And he has an unhealthy obsession with cleaning and Febreze (hence the nickname Taebreze).
What to watch: Taeyong’s magnetic performance in NCT U’s “The 7th Sense” is a great introduction to him as an artist; and “Yestoday” finds TY laying his past regrets bare over a chill trip-hop beat. Did I mention that he’s also adorable? And verygood-looking.
Taeil
Real name: Moon Taeil (nicknames: Taeyomi; Strony; Shin Taeil)
Role: Main vocalist
The oldest (and shortest) member of NCT, Taeil says he doesn’t open up easily to his members, but he’ll be the first to get emotional when his dongsaengs (little brothers) get sappy on him. The 24-year-old vocalist chose to pursue a career as an idol over attending university in 2013, a decision he agonized over for months. He’s one of the strongest vocalists in NCT, and honestly, the honey-voiced idol was destined to soundtrack K-Dramas. And he brushes his teeth six times a day, which says a lot about his work ethic. That, and his love for acrostic poems, despite being hilariously bad at them.
What to watch: His live vocals are insane — and he can play guitar. Not to mention, that high note in NCT U’s “Without You” is beautiful.
Johnny
Real name: John Seo / Korean name: Seo Youngho (nicknames: Johnny-cal; One and Only; Daddy)
Role: Lead Rapper, Lead Dancer, Vocalist
Born and raised in Chicago before moving to Seoul to pursue his dream, Johnny spent nine years as a trainee at SM before debuting with NCT 127 in 2017’s “Limitless.” (At one point, he even trained alongside a pre-debut EXO.) It’s this dedication and drive that makes him such a fan-favorite among NCTzens. He’s also a natural showman — he hosts “NCT Night Night” radio along with Jaehyun — with a surprising gift for applying eyeliner under pressure.
What to watch: That time he explained the concept of “daddy” to Super Junior’s Leeteuk is iconic (“oh, daddy”). He’s also a striking visual.
Yuta
Real name: Nakamoto Yuta (nicknames: Takoyaki Prince; Osaka Prince)
Born in Japan, Yuta spent the majority of his adolescence dreaming of a professional soccer career. But after watching K-pop idol group TVXQ! perform on television, he decided to pursue singing instead. So he moved to Seoul at 17 to train with SM in 2012 and debuted four years later with NCT 127 in 2016’s “Fire Truck.” His athleticism makes him a natural dancer, and the 22-year-old performer finally got to flex his vocal talent on standout R&B ballad “No Longer.” But it’s Yuta’s savage humor and confidence that make him so alluring. After all, this is a man who says one of his hobbies is reading comments of how handsome he is.
What to watch: Have you ever seen someone eat a lemon this way? Also, Yuta’s verse in “Fire Truck” deserves more attention.
Doyoung
Real name: Kim Dongyoung (nicknames: Bunny; Wang Zeung)
Role: Main vocalist
Doyoung joined SM’s pre-debut training team SMRookies in 2015 and debuted a little more than a year later with NCT U. But the vocalist didn’t officially join the NCT 127 lineup until 2017 with the release of “Limitless.” He looks and sounds like an angel, but Doyoung has a very short fuse — and the members love to push his buttons. However, at the end of the day, Doyoung is the mom of NCT; he may nag, but he also gives the best hugs. It also doesn’t take much to make him an emotional mess.
What to watch: Doyoung’s hook on “Yestoday” is a mood. His version of “Beauty and the Beast” is an even bigger mood.
Role: Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Occasional Rapper, Mark’s Soulmate
Jaehyun came to SM in 2013 after being scouted by the company in front of his school. He auditioned with EXO’s “MAMA” — not having a mirror, he practiced the choreography in front of his living room window — and officially joined SMRookies. He debuted with NCT in 2016 with “The 7th Sense.” With his rich voice and Disney-Prince good looks, it’s easy to see why everyone is enamored by him — from variety show hosts, to female fans, to other idols, and his fellow members (even 2D Taeyong). He’s also one of the group’s three English-speaking members, having spent four years living in Connecticut as a child. This is also why he has such a soft spot for the High School Musical franchise.
What to watch: Time doesn’t exist; there is only Before You’ve Heard Jaehyun’s Cover of “A Whole New World” and After You’ve Heard Jaehyun’s Cover of “A Whole New World.”
Winwin
Real name: Dong Sicheng (nickname: Win)
Role: Lead Dancer, Vocalist
There’s only one thing you need to know about NCT 127: Everybody loves Winwin, and Winwin hates everybody. (Just kidding… maybe.) Unlike some of the other members, Winwin isn’t big on skinship (platonic physical intimacy), but that doesn’t stop them from trying to initiate contact with him anyway. He’d rather watch his K-Dramas in peace. Winwin is part of NCT’s beloved China line with Chenle (NCT Dream), Kun (NCT U), Renjun (NCT Dream), and Lucas (NCT U), and he’s especially close with Renjun. (If you want to cry, then watch young Renjun’s message to his parents, in which he tells them not to worry because Winwin takes good care of him.) Ultimately, Winwin just shows his affection for his members in different ways.
What to watch: What Winwin wants, Winwin gets — especially around Taeyong. And let’s never forget Winwin’s now-iconic verse in the English version of “Regular.”
Jungwoo
Real name: Kim Jungwoo (nickname: Jungwoo-s)
Role: Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer
Sweet, soft Jungwoo is the newest member of NCT 127, but he debuted earlier this year with a standout moment in NCT U’s “Boss.” Still, the 20-year-old singer gets adorably flustered whenever someone hands him a mic. But he’s always quick with a pretty funny comeback. (“Pretty funny?”) He also bears an uncanny resemblance to fellow SM idol, Taemin. TBH, it’s a little unnerving.
What to watch: NCTzens are still recovering from this “Boss” choreography.
Mark
Real name: Mark Lee / Korean name: Lee Minhyung (nicknames: Yakkan Boy; Baby Lion)
Role: Main Rapper, Vocalist
The hardest-working guy in NCT, Mark debuted at age 16 with NCT’s “The 7th Sense” and has since taken part in more comebacks than any other NCT member because of his prominent roles in NCT 127, NCT U, and NCT Dream. He joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2012 after a global audition process and became a rapper with his easy-going flow and stage charisma. But the singer-songwriter’s most endearing quality is his extreme awkwardness. How this 19-year-old Canadian manages to transform from total mess into a rap god on stage is one of life’s greatest mysteries. And he writes all of his own verses — and others’ too — even the PG-13 ones.
Real name: Lee Donghyuck (nicknames: Donkey; FullSun)
Role: Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Maknae (youngest member), Mark’s Other Soulmate (depending on the day)
The youngest member of NCT 127 is a bit of a troublemaker — he thrives off chaos — but at the end of the day Haechan just wants to cuddle and make his hyungs (older brothers) laugh. The 18-year-old vocalist looks up to his idols Michael Jackson and SHINee’s Taemin when it comes to performance, and his unique voice makes him a bit of a secret weapon in NCT’s stacked vocal lineup, with key roles in both NCT Dream and NCT 127. And while his clingy personality and acute sense of humor may drive some of the other members crazy — and nearly caused Mark to leave SM altogether (don’t worry, they’ve been best friends since their childhood Mickey Mouse Club days) — it’s always with the best of intentions. And the fact that he has a personalized handshake with every member of NCT is the cutest thing ever.
What to watch: Haechan may be known for his vocals (listen to this note in “No Longer”), but he’s also a great dancer who has a real knack for picking up choreography. His performance in Weekly Idol‘s “Dance Cover Battle” is legendary, specifically his slinky version of Taemin’s “Move.” Also, “here is Korea, man” is the sickest burn.
What NCT 127 songs should I listen to?
You can start with their latest single, the Latin-trap “Regular” (recorded in both Korean and English). But NCT 127 debuted in 2016 with “Fire Truck,” a loud, punchy hip-hop track that more or less confused Korean listeners with its frenetic production and EDM hook. Love it or hate it, “Fire Truck” is the perfect distillation of NCT 127’s vibe: bass-heavy beats, weird production, innate charisma, and energetic choreography (just skip to 2:06).
“Limitless” is easily NCT 127’s best song to date. Their styling is borderline tragic, but the production of the single is near-perfect. It’s a powerful track that actually allows their vocalists to shine as it builds to a massive chorus (not unlike their labelmates EXO’s “Monster“). And Taeil’s background vocals are mesmerizing.
The group went full pop with their slick single “Touch.” The playful song displays the group’s versatility: They can go from studded chokers and charcoal eyeliner to colorful knits and fresh faces at the drop of a hat.
And let’s not forget about their vocal line, who take center stage with NCT U’s “Timeless,” a simple ballad featuring Taeil, Doyoung, and Jaehyun that packs an emotional punch.
Finally, NCT debuted in April 2016 with NCT U’s “The 7th Sense,” a smooth hip-hop track largely influenced by Western trap music that prominently featured rappers Taeyong and Mark. It didn’t resonate with Korean listeners, but among international fans it remains one of NCT’s standout songs because of its hard-hitting hook and vibey trap beat. And all of these members (with the exception of Ten) are now in NCT 127.
What else can I watch?
Well, if you’ve made it all the way to the end of this guide and still want more NCT content, then you need to watch the group’s Korean variety show, NCT Life. There are eight seasons, so that should keep you occupied until their next release.
The internal debates that have wracked the Democratic Party since the election of President Donald Trump have been submerged in the final weeks of the midterm elections. But whatever happens on November 6, you can expect that unity to break down on November 7, as the spin machines of all the various Democratic factions rev up to take credit, or cast blame.
That won’t be a meaningless exercise. Whatever Democrats think was the reason for their success, or failure, in 2018 will heavily influence their 2020 presidential primary—which will begin in earnest shortly after the midterms, if it hasn’t already—and shape the direction the party takes.
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To prepare for the post-election frenzy, here is a guide to the races that will matter most in determining what 2018 means:
The Great Liberal Hopes
Much ink, and much progressive small-donor cash, has flooded three high-profile races—the governors races in Florida and Georgia, and the U.S. Senate race in Texas—and for good reason. If Andrew Gillum, Stacey Abrams, or Beto O’Rourke wins it would upend conventional wisdom about what it takes to paint a red state blue: Instead of straining to lean right, all three are trying to build multiracial coalitions that galvanize progressives.
The three are not identical. Unlike O’Rourke and Gillum, Abrams has steered clear of expressing interest in single-payer health care. And while Gillum is running on an increase in the corporate tax rate, Abrams is trying to assure Georgians she won’t raise taxes. O’Rourke, running for Senate, has the most to say about Trump, going as far as to call for impeachment.
All are pointedly critical of the National Rifle Association, and squarely in favor of abortion rights. To win in the South while holding those culturally liberal positions would turbocharge the Democratic Party’s move leftward in 2020.
However, if they all lose, and the more moderate Democratic candidates running statewide in red states—especially the Senate candidates aiming to flip Tennessee (Phil Bredesen) and Arizona (Kyrsten Sinema)—win or even just perform better, then the many establishment voices quietly nervous about the growing populist/socialist faction in the Democratic Party will become a lot less quiet.
The Single-Payer Showdowns
The number of single-payer advocates in the House is likely to be larger after Election Day. Several candidates who have “Medicare for All” in their platforms have a decent shot of being elected in swing districts, including Katie Porter (in California’s 45th District), Mike Levin (California’s 49th) and Scott Wallace (Pennsylvania’s 1st), who are running in bluish districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, not to mention left-wing locks to win like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (New York’s 14th).
But to really celebrate, socialists and populists would like to able to say that single-payer helped Democrats win in districts previously won by Donald Trump, to show the issue’s potency on red turf. The three Democrats running forthrightly on a single-payer platform, in Trump-won districts rated “Toss-up” or “Lean Republican” by POLITICO, are Kara Eastman (Nebraska’s 2nd District), Randy Bryce (Wisconsin’s 1st) and Joe Radinovich (Minnesota’s 8th).
Radinovich could end up as an argument against running on single-payer in Red America. The Minnesota 8th was Trump country, but its House seat is currently Democratic. Bad polling for Radinovich has recently prompted the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to pull resources from his campaign. The possibility exists that one of the only Democratically-held House seats Democrats lost to a Republican on Election Day will be lost by a single-payer candidate.
But if Eastman or Bryce can triumph, a Radinovich loss would hold less import.
And a big blue wave could buoy other single-payer backers running on even deeper red turf. Keep an eye on: Diane Mitsch Bush (Colorado’s 3rd), Leslie Cockburn (Virginia’s 5th), Nate McMurray (New York’s 27th) and Sri Preston Kulkarni (Texas’ 22nd).
Gauging the Parkland Effect
One year after the Las Vegas massacre and eight months after the Parkland school shooting, the intensity of the gun debate has cooled. While many Democratic candidates have expanded background checks and assault weapons bans on their issues checklist, few are prioritizing the issue in the homestretch of the campaign.
A major exception is Lucy McBath. Her teenage African-American son was murdered by a white man complaining about loud rap music coming from the car he was in. McBath channeled her grief into activism, becoming a spokeswoman with Everytown for Gun Safety.
McBath is running in Georgia’s 6th District, a diverse, affluent suburban Atlanta district that Trump won by a single point. You might remember last year’s special House election there, which became the most expensive House race ever, with Democrat Jon Ossoff falling 4 points short of flipping the seat.
She is not a single-issue candidate; she is also drawing a big contrast with Republican Rep. Karen Handel on abortion. But McBath has put the gun issue front and center, with a TV ad in which she tearfully recounts the shooting that took her son. She doesn’t push an expansive gun control agenda; she skips the assault weapons ban, and instead proposes a minimum age of 21 to by guns, opposes requiring states to recognize concealed-carry permits from other states and supports banning gun ownership by domestic abusers and other criminals. Policy cautiousness aside, a McBath victory would boost gun control advocates who don’t want Democrats to shy away from gun control when stumping in Red America.
But several other Democrats are going in the opposite direction. Maine’s Jared Golden is running in his state’s 2nd District, an Obama-Trump district in the rural north that’s home to many hunters, and so he is trying to walk a moderate line. He opposes an assault weapons ban and a higher minimum age for gun ownership. He supports expanded background checks at the federal level, but opposed a 2016 state referendum for such checks, arguing the specifics went too far. He also supports keeping guns away from domestic abusers.
That was enough new regulation on guns for Golden to attract the ire of the NRA. But in the homestretch of this campaign, Golden is trying to get to the right of his opponent, Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin. Even though Poliquin has the NRA endorsement, and has adhered to the organization’s positions while in Congress, Golden is airing an ad showing a 2010 video when Poliquin briefly broke with the NRA and voiced support for mandatory background checks.
Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey’s rural 2nd District is a longtime gun rights advocate who once received an “A” rating from the NRA.He has since been downgraded to a “D” for supporting universal background checks, but otherwise touts himself as a defender of the Second Amendment. Van Drew is expected to flip the House seat in this Obama-Trump district, as the national Republican Party cut off support for his opponent, Seth Grossman, after he declared “the whole idea of diversity is a bunch of crap and un-American.”
Also of note: Democrat Billie Sutton has a shot of pulling off an upset in the South Dakota gubernatorial race, painting his opponent, Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem, as a creature of Washington and himself as a “pro-gun fiscal conservative.”
Each of the House candidates above is at least comfortable with expanded background checks, so they could all win and still give gun control advocates hope that such legislation could clear a Congress under Democratic rule. But wins by those Democrats who lean right on guns would also signal that the Parkland Effect had limited reach in the white working-class areas that Democrats are hungry to win back in 2020.
Trumping the Racist Card
An unprecedented number of Democratic House nominees are people of color running in predominantly white districts. Many of those candidates have been hit with racially charged Republican attack ads, of varying degrees of subtlety. (HuffPost’s Julia Craven is maintaining a running list.)
For example, an ad targeting Ammar Campa-Najjar (California’s 50th) calls him a “Palestinian Mexican millennial Democrat” who is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood (the ad earned “Four Pinocchios” from The Washington Post.) A mailer attacking Korean-American candidate Andy Kim (New Jersey’s 3rd) printed his name using a font known as “Chop Suey” or “Wonton”—“essentially the same font that has been used to depict Asians since at least the time of the Yellow Peril,” according to New Jersey Globe writer Amy Wilson.
But no one has suffered such a sustained, overtly racist barrage as Antonio Delgado, the African-American, Hispanic corporate attorney running in New York’s 19th, an Obama-Trump upstate district. Ever since Republicans caught wind of his brief attempt to be a hip-hop artist, the Congressional Leadership Fund (the super PAC affiliated with House Speaker Paul Ryan) has consistently defined Delgado as a “rapper” who holds “New York City values” and “not our values.” One ad criticizes Delgado’s position on welfare reform while showing a liquor store sign that reads: “WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS.”
How has Delgado responded? With his own steady stream of ads that show him comfortably chatting with middle-class white families, who assure voters that the Democrat “gets us,” is “with us,” and embodies, “our values.” Response ads don’t call the attacks “racist,” but “misleading” and “distorted.” Recently the campaign brought in the big gun: former Vice President Joe Biden, who cut an endorsement ad in which he says, “Antonio grew up in a working-class family, like I did. So he knows what matters to working people.”
Democrats have been grappling with whether they need nonwhite candidates who can spark higher turnout from their diverse base, or candidates who can more easily connect with the white working-class voters who were lost to Trump. If Delgado wins, that choice may be rendered a false one.
The Hippie-Puncher
With a populist/socialist faction ascendant in the Democratic Party, most establishment politicians have been careful not to blatantly antagonize their left flank, even when running in right-leaning areas. The days of “triangulation,” in which Democratic politicians purposefully took swipes at the left in order to claim the center, seem long gone.
But no one told Sen. Joe Donnelly.
Seeking to survive reelection in Indiana, a state that voted for Trump by nearly 20 points, Donnelly is running ads that gleefully attack the socialist left.
One Donnelly ad could easily be mistaken for a Republican spot: “Socialists want health care to be taken over by the government” intones a narrator while viewers see grainy footage of unruly protests. “Over my dead body!” declares Donnelly. Another one (resembling a fictional ad from Veep character Jonah Ryan) has Donnelly chopping wood while lacing into “the liberal left” for wanting to “chop defense spending.”
It’s politically rational for Donnelly to reach out to right-leaning voters in a right-leaning state. But a red state Democrat needs to entice swing and base voters to clear the 50 percent mark. Two decades ago, a liberal voter in a conservative area might have more readily accepted an elbow in the gut that came with a wink of an eye. But in this polarized era, is it possible to kick your own base and still expect them to get up and vote for you?
The Trump Voter
Most Democrats running in House districts that Trump won are not attacking the president by name. But there’s one who actually voted for Trump.
Richard Ojeda has taken a district that Trump won by almost 50 points—West Virginia’s 3rd—and turned into a toss-up. He’s no conservative. Like any West Virginia politician, he supports coal mining. But he’s known more for publicly encouraging his state’s 20,000 public school teachers and employees to go on strike (which they did, winning a substantial pay raise) and for persuading the state government to legalize medical marijuana.
He is also known for his fiery populist tirades—one 30-second ad features Ojeda proudly detailing all the reasons why he’s “angry” (including House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi). As a result, the Miller campaign is trying to paint him as a “radical” (who would be beholden to Pelosi) and Trump himself labeled Ojeda “a total wacko.”
Ojeda is not running as a Trump loyalist. He told Politico Magazine in March that Trump “hasn’t done shit.” But recently, his appraisal has become more balanced. He credits Trump for helping the coal industry, while criticizing his foreign policy and track record on bringing back offshored jobs.
If Ojeda wins, it would send a strong message to Democrats that to win in Trump country, they can’t make everything about Trump.
![The image was snapped at a protest against Israel's blockade of Gaza on October 22 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2018/10/24/a6f3cd284c2f44ee975b106c3f401158_18.jpg "'Iconic' image of Palestinian protester in Gaza goes viral")
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