The Morning Sixpack - October 29, 2024
Newspaper endorsements, war, economy, election
1. Newspapers pull endorsements at last minute—what does it mean?
The Washington Post’s mantra is “Democracy dies in darkness,” the implication being that they and their reporters shed light on important issues that our democracy faces and that—somehow—helps to preserve it.
And I don’t disagree. The “Fourth Estate” (the independent press) and its First Amendment protections are critical to preserving our democratic values.
However, there has always been a question around bias or the appearance of bias. There are long-standing issues about whether reporters should just report the news or should they interject opinions into their stories. One could say that’s what opinion writers are for.
Nevertheless, there is now a controversy over whether news organizations should continue endorsing presidential candidates. Large newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, and LA Times have been giving political endorsements for decades.
For example, the New York Times has been endorsing presidential candidates since 1860, starting with its support for Abraham Lincoln. This tradition has continued for over 160 years, with endorsements aimed at providing readers with informed perspectives based on the paper's values and editorial judgments.
Just this past week, both the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have pulled their presidential endorsements (both for Kamala Harris), a sudden move that has sparked backlash among their audiences. Historically, editorial endorsements allowed newspapers to share their perspectives, helping readers make informed voting decisions. However, as media ownership increasingly prioritizes neutrality to avoid divisive stances, the newspapers argue that not endorsing aligns with a commitment to empower readers to reach their own conclusions.
This is bullshit. The owners of both newspapers are billionaires, bending their knee to Donald Trump preemptively to curry his favor.
NOTE, too, that the day WaPo pulled their endorsement was the same day Blue Origin, Bezos’ space company, met with Trump. Bezos claims “he didn’t know” that Blue Origin, who has a $3.4 billion contract with the US government, met with Trump. Read more on that here.
These nearly simultaneously decisions have provoked massive fallout. At the Washington Post, the announcement led to prominent resignations from editorial board members and public outcry, resulting in substantial subscription cancellations of over 200,000 subscribers. That’s a lot to lose for a company with 2.5 million subscribers.
Jeff Bezos, WaPo’s owner, took the unusual step of defending the stance, emphasizing that avoiding endorsements addresses biases, although he admitted that the timing—so close to the election—could have been better planned. Former editor Martin Baron criticized the decision as a display of institutional weakness, suggesting it might embolden political figures who previously clashed with the paper.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Times saw subscriber losses after its non-endorsement decision, which some felt contradicted the publication’s responsibility to guide readers in a highly charged political climate. Editorial writer Karin Klein publicly resigned, challenging the neutrality claim as effectively taking a side. Journalists at both papers raised concerns that declining subscriptions could lead to layoffs, endangering the quality of journalism.
This is dangerous. And it’s exactly what an authoritarian regime wants and needs: A weakened press whose survival instincts will force ownership to comply with its head of state. Mark my words.
In contrast, some papers, such as The Oregonian, have bucked the trend and resumed endorsements after recognizing community disappointment with neutrality. This approach, they argue, respects readers’ desire for transparent guidance, reflecting the traditional role newspapers played for over a century in U.S. elections.
Read more here.
2. NASA Astronauts Hospitalized After Splashdown in Rare Incident
After an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s Crew-8 astronauts splashed down safely off Pensacola, Florida. The four-person team, including NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, immediately underwent post-flight medical evaluations, as is customary. While three crew members were released soon after, one astronaut was held overnight for a non-disclosed medical issue but was cleared the next day.
Their return was initially delayed by weather disruptions, keeping them in orbit longer than the planned six months. This extended stay underscored the physical demands of prolonged space missions, with effects on muscle and bone density, vision, and immune response, highlighting the ongoing research needed to prepare astronauts for future long-duration space travel, such as missions to Mars.
Read more here.
Is there a deeper story to be told here? Time will tell. I don’t trust Musk to be truthful about anything.
3. Puerto Rico’s G.O.P. Chairman demands apology from Trump
Puerto Rico’s Republican Party chairman, Angel M. Cintrón, announced he would withhold his support from Donald Trump unless Trump personally apologizes for offensive remarks made about Puerto Rico at a recent rally. During the event at Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who opened for Trump, referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.” Cintrón, who played a significant role in securing Puerto Rico’s delegates for Trump at the Republican National Convention, urged Trump to disavow the comments publicly.
While Trump’s campaign responded by saying the joke does not represent the former president’s views, some believe this response is insufficient. San Juan’s Archbishop Roberto O. González Nieves echoed Cintrón’s stance, calling for a personal apology from Trump, stating that Hinchcliffe’s remarks could incite hatred.
The incident is particularly sensitive, as Puerto Ricans, though U.S. citizens, cannot vote in presidential elections from the island but may do so as state residents. The comments have thus raised concerns over the role of empathy and respect in Trump’s outreach to Latino and Puerto Rican communities, especially in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania.
Click here to read more.
Registered Puerto Rican voters by state (top 12 states considered to be a toss-up):
Florida: 1,171,637
Pennsylvania: 472,213
Texas: 213,809
North Carolina: 115,449
Virginia: 105,770
Georgia: 100,923
Arizona: 64,738
Wisconsin: 61,437
Michigan: 43,381
Nevada: 27,230
New Hampshire: 17,612
Minnesota: 14,090
Source: https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/faculty/ayala/prdiaspora/index-english.html
4. The Associated Press stands at the ready to call political races on Election Day (November 5, 2024)
For nearly two centuries, The Associated Press (AP) has played a vital role in delivering election results to Americans, a tradition dating back to 1848 when it called the presidential election for Zachary Taylor. This service, described as one of the most significant acts of journalism in U.S. history, continues to be the AP’s cornerstone, with a commitment to accuracy and impartiality. As a nonpartisan news agency, the AP reports election results solely based on verified data, striving to help voters make informed decisions without any political agenda.
On November 5, the AP will again undertake the responsibility of reporting results for roughly 5,000 races, including the presidential, congressional, and local elections. The AP has a strong track record for accuracy, achieving a 99.9% correct rate in 2020, including every race for president, governor, and Congress. Despite the pressures to deliver results promptly, the AP prioritizes accuracy, recognizing that public trust hinges on their commitment to “getting it right.”
However, a recent AP-NORC poll reveals a concerning trend: only 44% of Americans are highly confident that the 2024 election results will be counted accurately. Responding to this skepticism, the AP is intensifying efforts to clarify its process, ensuring transparency by detailing how data is gathered, verified, and analyzed. This approach aims to demystify the election process and reaffirm the reliability of their reporting, especially in an era of widespread mistrust in election integrity.
The AP’s longstanding role as an election result provider underscores its dedication to the democratic process, having consistently delivered accurate results through turbulent periods in U.S. history. In 2024, as in every election since its founding, the AP commits to maintaining this trust by providing dependable election coverage that Americans can rely on.
They are doing God’s work here, folks. This job is tough.
Read more here.
5. Consumer confidence surges to nine-month high despite election jitters
U.S. consumer confidence surged unexpectedly in October, hitting 108.7, its highest level since January, according to the Conference Board’s latest report. This marked a sharp rebound from September’s revised score of 99.2, well above economists’ forecast of 99.5. Despite concerns surrounding inflation and high prices, consumer sentiment appears resilient, with confidence levels defying the steady decline that had characterized most of the year.
The report shows consumers feel better about the present economy, as the “current situation” measure jumped significantly to 138.0, reflecting positive views on job availability and economic conditions. Confidence in future economic conditions also rose but more modestly, with a six-point increase to 89.1. Additionally, the percentage of Americans expecting a recession over the next year dropped, indicating an improving outlook amid declining gasoline prices and a stronger stock market.
Interestingly, the upcoming presidential election ranked low in consumers’ concerns, placing fifth behind inflation, food prices, and general cost-of-living issues. In contrast, the election was a top concern in previous election cycles, including 2016 and 2020, highlighting a shift in focus to economic fundamentals over politics.
Analysts are divided on what this optimism means for the economy. While the Conference Board’s Dana Peterson noted this boost as the strongest since March 2021, other experts, like Carl Weinberg from High Frequency Economics, cautioned that it diverges from the Fed’s Beige Book findings, which pointed to flat or declining activity in several regions. Nonetheless, the rise in consumer confidence may signal more stability ahead, even as the country navigates uncertain economic terrain.
6. Putin's Nuclear Posturing: A Show of Strength Amid Stalemate in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a major nuclear training exercise on Tuesday, showcasing Russia’s strategic nuclear capabilities through a series of ballistic and cruise missile launches. Observing from the Kremlin, Putin watched as missiles launched from the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Arctic Ocean, hitting their targets, according to Russia's defense ministry. The display, seen as both a deterrent to the West and a message to Russia’s domestic audience, comes amid Russia’s challenging position in Ukraine and mounting Western support for Kyiv.
These exercises, part of Russia’s annual nuclear readiness program, spotlight Putin’s emphasis on maintaining an updated and formidable nuclear arsenal. Putin has repeatedly warned that Western weapons aid to Ukraine risks escalating the conflict, though thus far, advanced deliveries have not elicited a direct response from Moscow. During the drills, Putin promised continued investments in nuclear capabilities, highlighting plans for new nuclear-armed submarines, bombers, and mobile missile systems as a means of bolstering Russian security.
Analysts suggest that Putin’s nuclear rhetoric serves a dual purpose: to project power at home in the face of mixed results on the Ukrainian front and to deter Western allies from further supporting Kyiv’s military capabilities. Ukraine, meanwhile, has pushed back against these nuclear threats, dismissing them as bluffs and pointing to Russia's lack of significant reaction to previous weapons deliveries that included fighter jets and advanced missiles.
The Kremlin’s repeated nuclear warnings have become an underlying theme of its strategy, with Putin framing these actions as defensive in nature. In his public statements, Putin emphasized that while Russia has no desire for a new arms race, it will maintain its nuclear forces to ensure Russia’s security. This latest show of force underscores Russia's intent to remind the West of its nuclear reach amid the prolonged conflict.
Source: http://nytimes.com/2024/10/29/world/europe/putin-nuclear-weapons-ukraine-russia.html