What Actually Mattered This Week: US Election, Record COVID Cases, Paris Climate Agreement
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WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERED THIS WEEK
My thoughts on some of this week’s biggest news stories:
Biden expands paths to victory by pulling ahead in Pennsylvania, Georgia
Looks like Biden wins.
Trump doesn’t concede.
And nearly half the population thinks the outcome is illegitimate.
Trump falsely asserts election fraud, claims a victory
Counting all the legitimate votes = not rigging the election.
Presidential claims of election rigging are demonstrably false, and Trump’s speech yesterday alleging widespread fraud is the most destructive speech I’ve ever seen delivered by an American President.
Climate change: US formally withdraws from Paris agreement
The US is officially the first country to leave the Paris climate agreement.
It’s legitimately hard to get the entire world to disagree with you on something.
We’ve managed it.
Day After Election, U.S. Records All-Time High Of 103,000 New Covid-19 Cases
The most important story before the election was COVID.
The most important story after the election remains COVID.
Prefer long-form analysis? Here are my thoughts on why America is too divided to reclaim its place on the global stage.
TRUTHS, DAMNED TRUTHS, AND STATISTICS
% who say following mattered most in deciding who they voted for 2020:
Economy 35%
-82% of these voters voted for Trump
-17% for Biden
Racial inequality 20%
-8% Trump
-91% Biden
Covid 17%
-14% Trump
-82% Biden
Crime and safety
-71% Trump
-28% Biden
Health care 11%
-36% Trump
-63% Biden
THE GZERO WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN
More from GZERO Media (subscribe here)
GRAPHIC TRUTH
YOUR GZERO WORLD
Even before November 3rd, many Americans were losing sleep over the various ways that things could go wrong on Election Day, and in the days and weeks to follow (it may be time to retire the term "Election Day," given that most states don’t finish their ballot counting on November 3rd). I take those fears head-on with election law expert Rick Hasen. We talk about the specter of voter suppression, administrative incompetence, and/or dirty tricks by foreign actors in this year's election.
For a longer, more in-depth version of my interview with Hasen, check out the GZERO World podcast.
WORLD IN 60 SECONDS
All eyes were on the United States this week. What countries are watching most closely?
What happened in Vienna?
Is Boris Johnson against the ropes because of his COVID response?
Find out in this week’s World in 60 Seconds!
*Note: This video was filmed on November 3rd.
Do you like what you’ve seen? Subscribe and stay informed.
BECAUSE THE INTERNET
It’s a mystery
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
America through Foreign Eyes by Jorge Casta?eda
I talk with government folks pretty regularly, but foreign ministers are among my favorites. That’s because they’re savvy political operators who often know the politics of their own country as well as they do the politics of the world. And Jorge Casta?eda is one of the best. His latest book “America through Foreign Eyes” is exhibit A, and as the former foreign minister of Mexico, he’s the ideal person to shed light on this critical (and timely) subject. A must read.
DEEP THOUGHTS
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
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Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and foreign affairs columnist at TIME. He currently teaches at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and previously was a professor at New York University. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
FIRE ENGINEER - ENGENHEIRO DE PROTE??O CONTRA INCêNDIO (SISTEMAS ENGENHEIRADOS)
4 年Hey Ian, Are you changing something in your mind? ...with razor-thin margins in key states and no declared winner yet... Nothing how the reality of things, isn't it?
Senior Upstream Auditor at ExxonMobil Corporation
4 年But: question for you Ian— To David Crookall’s comments, whether we agree with the rhetoric or not, why is “sustainable development”, emissions control, clean air and clean water, deforestation etc. are not on your list of issues in either in 2016 or 2020 elections?? Even if the wholesale “climate change” label is used, was that a very small percent if voter issues list you have?? Thanks man!
Senior Upstream Auditor at ExxonMobil Corporation
4 年Ian Well done, greatly appreciated weekly update, “what mattered” summary and GZero segment, I think one if the best of yours.. thanks for the charts, graphs, analysis in the wake of US elections... I am not as inclined to the conclusion as David’s comments suggests— such that Climate Change was a “win” factor during the election; but also never disregard that issue myself, except that realistically Climate Change nomenclature and its connection to the fossil fuels and O&G industry is false and misleading data being thrown out sometimes to shift focus to certain unproven and uneconomical “renewables” pipe dreams being chased. These are my personal opinion, and I am an engineer / projects management professional with extreme dedication to SH&E elements if development.
Climate change, Ocean, Sustainability, Participatory simulation, Experiential learning, Debriefing, Climate literacy, Editing, Publication; PhD, FRSA
4 年The fight for climate has won the US election.. Are you going to @MockCOP26 ?? https://www.mockcop.org/?Great!?? Then you might consider enroling in our EDU26 participatory simulation about climate change and education.?More here https://oceansclimate.wixsite.com/oceansclimate/mock-cop26 See also https://www.youthclimateleaders.org/.?Please tell your friends and help to spread the word.
Head of Investments
4 年H