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Downballot Scandal Rocks Critical Swing State
Your unbiased daily news brief
James Kratch
September 20, 2024
Good Friday morning. We doubt anyone had this story on their 2024 bingo card. Have a great weekend.
In Today’s Brief
Springfield: Crisis continues
Ukraine: Zelensky visit
Nebraska: Electoral College try
FTC: Social media report
Ohtani: 50-50 club
... and more
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Top Tips
1) A bombshell
The controversial North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate is the subject of a stunning CNN report.
What happened: The network reported Mark Robinson, the state's current lieutenant governor, called himself a "Black Nazi" and made other offensive comments, including attacks on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and pro-slavery musings, while using a pornography website's message board prior to entering politics. Robinson is seeking to replace term-limited Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat. His campaign has been marred by a series of inflammatory actions, comments and proposals.
The reaction: Robinson denied the report, accusing Democratic rival Josh Stein of planting it. Robinson said he will stay in the race and the state GOP voiced its support. Former President Donald Trump once said Robinson "Martin Luther King on steroids,” but there were reports his campaign was pressuring Robinson to drop out ahead of the state's filing deadline.
Big picture: Robinson has trailed Stein by double digits in most recent polls; so this story is just more of the same for his electoral fate. But the fear among Republicans now is whether he could drag down Trump enough for Vice President Kamala Harris to score an Election Day upset. The state is considered a slight Trump lean, but Harris has led in some recent polls. If she can flip the state, it opens up her paths to 270 electoral votes considerably.
2) Blame game
A new study suggests the coronavirus pandemic did start at a Chinese animal market.
The news: A report published in Cell concluded Covid-19 originated at a wet market in Wuhan, China. The study analyzed over 800 samples taken in and around the market in January 2020 and theorizes infected animals were introduced to the market in November 2019.
Go deeper: The scientists concluded the raccoon dog -- a small, fox-like creature found in Asia -- was likely the top carrier, along with other animals. It and other animals are extremely susceptible to carrying viruses. But Chinese officials completely scrubbed the market right after it closed, making it impossible to verify the animals were infected.
Big picture: The data used in the study was collected by Chinese scientists and there are questions about its breadth. This has led advocates of the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab leak theory to argue the new study should be met with skepticism. But this study is one of many adding to a growing amount of evidence suggesting animal origin.
3) Alarming claims
An Alaska man allegedly targeted six Supreme Court justices and at least two family members with a slew of threats.
The news: Panos Anastasiou was arrested Wednesday in Anchorage. The 76-year-old man faces 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce and nine counts of threatening a federal judge. He claimed he was a Vietnam War veteran in his threats.
The details: Anastasiou unleashed well over 400 threats through the Supreme Court's website between March 2023 and this past July. Many of his missives were racist and some made references to lynching; he also sent homophobic and violent messages. The specific members of the high court he targeted were not disclosed.
Big picture: Prosecutors said Anastasiou has also targeted the unnamed governor of a state other than Alaska. Supreme Court justices have been the target of increased harassment and threats of violence, as have elected officials.
Quick Tips
U.S. News
The mayor of Springfield, Ohio, has claimed temporary emergency powers amid the city's public safety crisis. The town has been gripped with bomb threats and concerns of violence following inflammatory, widely-rebuked claims about Haitian migrants in the region (More)
A Kentucky police sheriff allegedly killed a judge in his chambers. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines was charged with the murder of Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins following an argument (More)
The House is working on a bipartisan stopgap funding package. A vote could happen early next week; the bill would avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the month, but only punt the issue to the end of the year (More)
World News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the U.S. next week. He will address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Trump; he plans to present his proposal to defeat Russia (More)
New French Prime Minister Michel Barnier said he is prepared to form a government, ending months of political mayhem. President Emmanuel Macron must still sign off on the plan, which will be anchored by centrist and conservative lawmakers; a left-wing coalition still holds a signficant swath of the National Assembly (More)
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called Israel's electronic device strikes in Lebanon "a declaration of war."Israeli forces carried out airstrikes amid renewed fears an all-out conflict could break out; the U.S. called for restraint in the region (More)
Campaign News
Republicans have renewed efforts to change Nebraska's Electoral College process and boost former President Trump. The safely GOP state awards three of its five electoral votes by congressional district, opening the door for Democrats to win an EV in the Omaha-centered 2nd District; it is unclear if state legislators have the votes to pull off the change (More)
There will be close to 150 ballot measures voted on across the nation this November. Ten states will have questions regarding abortion; drug regulation and minimum wages are other key issues (More)
Oprah Winfrey held a town hall with Vice President Harris in Michigan. The television talk show legend previously endorsed Harris and spoke at last month's Democratic National Convention (More)
Business & Markets
Major indexes closed higher yesterday. The markets jumped a day after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates; the Dow Jones and S&P 500 had all-time high closes (Dow +1.26%, Nasdaq +2.51%, S&P 500 +1.70%).
A federal report found popular social media companies engage in "vast surveillance" of users. The Federal Trade Commission said the "unacceptable" practices threaten privacy and safety and are particularly dangerous for kids (More)
Nike CEO John Donahoe will step down next month; company veteran Elliott Hill will come out of retirement and take over. Donahoe will remain a company advisor through January; the sneaker giant's stock is down over 25% this year, but rallied 8% yesterday (More)
Entertainment & Sports
Shohei Ohtani became the first man in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star erupted for three home runs, six hits, two steals and 10 RBI in a victory over the Miami Marlins (More)
The PGA of America will allow LIV Golf competitors to play on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The organization has added LIV to its list of approved tours; New York's Bethpage Black course will host the biennual international event next year (More)
Sabrina Carpenter will host a holiday special for Netflix. The Short N' Sweet pop singer's A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter will hit the streaming platform on Dec. 6 (More)
Quick Hitters
Feel Good: Students in Virginia surprised a beloved school custodian with his dream birthday gift: A Jeep Wrangler. They organized a GoFundMe campaign to thank him for his kindness and support.
Big Boom: The 1883 eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia produced the loudest sound in human record. How loud? Eardrums were burst 40 miles away and it was heard over 3K miles away.
Go Deep: Climate change is expected to make major droughts even longer and more severe in the future. This will present major environmental and humanitarian challenges.
Throw Back: A student lost her purse behind lockers in the 1950s. It was discovered over a half-century later in pristine condition and is now a time capsule display.
Life Hack: There are many ways to ensure you are taking in enough protein. But these are some of the top tips to build your diet around.
Watch This
Net Zero may not be a realistic target.
Links
Arch Manning will make his first college start this weekend 🏈
How American public opinion has changed in 20 years 🇺🇸
Read the manual for a pet rock 🪨
The Bachelor could help swing the presidential race 🗳️
Keys to being powerfully persuasive 🗣️
Interesting objects identified by the internet 🔎
Your bedframe may have just been recalled 🛏️
Our cellphones may be able to smell soon 📱
Great jobs regardless of how much they pay 💼
A good dog who was not taking no for an answer 🐶
Looking Ahead …
Donald Trump was the 45th President of the United States. And if he gets re-elected this fall, he will also be the 47th. Why does he get two numbers? It starts with Grover Cleveland Alexander and historians sticking to a questionable standard.