Stellar Spark Show: Recent Episodes
Stellar Spark
Discussion of political events in the media - among other topics Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stellar-spark/support
The implications of the November elections will have far reaching effects.
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As Hurricane Ian passes through the Eastern Coast of the United States, climate change has become front and center. It is a prominent issue worldwide, and especially in the U.S. What can be done to slow the process?
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A majority of American support President Biden's new student loan debt forgiveness actions, while others say it will be too costly. What does this portend for the future of student loans and Americans who seek a college degree?
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In this episode, I discuss President Joe Biden's current approval ratings and how this may affect the 2022 midterm elections and 2024 presidential election outlook.
Website credits to racetotheWH.com.
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The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, now we must contend with the reality of ardent supporters and detractors across the nation.
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In this episode, I invite Michael A. Giangiordano II, a realtor and small business owner in Philadelphia. Michael is currently running as a Democrat for Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 184th district. I invite Michael on the show to share his priorities with potential voters and others who are interested in learning more about his campaign platform.
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Russian recognition of two regions in Ukraine has caused international consternation and widespread concern of an imminent invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken steps to bring Ukraine back into Russia's domain. The U.S. and west have condemned Russia's actions.
In this episode, I provide some thoughts on how the crisis may unfold and history of the crisis since Crimea in 2014.
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Coronavirus has infiltrated the White House circle with President Trump testing positive for COVID last week. It is unknown what the effect will be upon the 2020 election.
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In this episode, I discuss the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, her philosophy, and background as well as its implications for the future. Judge Barrett's appointment will arguably change the composition and ideological balance of the Court for years to come. President Trump discussed this issue at the presidential debate in Cleveland on September 29th. His opponent, Joe Biden, refused to answer a question from moderator Chris Wallace regarding court packing. The 2020 election may feature a similar scenario to that of the 2000 election in which President Bush won the election in Florida by 500 votes after months of legal uncertainty. Bush v. Gore was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court. The case set important precedent for the future and it remains to be seen how this election will be decided.
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In this episode, I discuss Joe Biden's weakness with Hispanic voters and what he needs to accomplish to keep the Democratic coalition together. A variety of recent polls show President Trump gaining among this demographic group which is a shift in his direction compared to 2016. Meanwhile, Biden has made efforts in Florida to reach out to Hispanic voters. Cuban and Venezulean Americans have been seeing a rightward shift over time which benefits the GOP. It remains to be seen if Biden can bring these voters into his fold in order to prevail in this election.
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In this episode, I discuss the Axios projection for November. They expect President Trump to win in a landslide on Election Day only to lose days later. This undoubtedly will cause backlash among his supporters. This projection may come as a defense as a Democratic loss may loom depending on the outcome of this race. The 2020 election still remains very winnable for Democratic nominee and former VP Joe Biden. The coronavirus will likely complicate voting in the election and make it increasingly more difficult to vote. How will this affect turnout in November?
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In this episode, I discuss some demographic changes to the American electorate and its implications on the electoral college as well as state representation. I also examine how both political parties must meet the changing circumstances in terms of their platform and stances on the issues. Depending on the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it can have wide ranging effects on the electoral strategies of both parties going into future election cycles.
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President Trump is gaining on Former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's polling lead over the last few weeks. In 2016, President Trump had a stunning upset over former Secretary Hillary Clinton. Can he replicate that performance again in 2020? It will depend on the voting method this year due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The 2016 and 2020 presidential forecasts from most major outlets remain consistent and the same. That does not mean the result will be exactly the same due to polling error and oversampling of certain groups.
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Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. selected Senator Kamala D. Harris of California to join his presidential ticket. Harris is the third woman to be selected for the role in American history. In this episode, I discuss the electoral impact (if any) of Harris joining the ticket, its implications, and what Biden/Harris need to do in order to be successful in the election. The next major events of the 2020 campaign include the nominating conventions. The first, the 2020 Democratic National Convention, will be held next week. It remains to be seen if Harris can help effectively campaign for Biden and win over undecided voters as well as recreating the Obama coalition in order to defeat President Trump.
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In this episode, I discuss how the Democrats can succeed in the 2024 presidential election and into the future. These three points are key to the Democratic Party's success. Uniting the party is essential and also adapting to changing demographics can put the Democrats at an advantage.
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Operation Legend was expanded on July 22nd by President Trump to combat the violent crime epidemic in America. Operation Legend has mixed views on both sides of the political spectrum. The President has sent federal personnel and resources to U.S. major cities such as Chicago among others. As we witnessed autonomous zones in Portland, Oregon, President Trump seeks to "take back" this country and protect its citizens. The President will seek to draw a contrast to former vice president and presidential candidate Joe Biden of Delaware. The 1st presidential debate scheduled to be hosted by the University of Notre Dame was also cancelled. This election will likely feature the first ever presidential debate to be hosted in a virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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In this episode, we discuss recent news of trial coronavirus vaccines in development by companies such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Today, the U.S. government as part of its "Operation Warpspeed" struck a deal with Pfizer to purchase 100 million doses of the trial vaccine. The deal registered at $1.5 billion. This news spurred some market confidence on Wall Street and is quelling fears that the pandemic may be drawn out for over another year. The vaccines still must pass regulatory requirements by the FDA in order to be deemed safe. As it relates to the political implications, President Trump would surely benefit from a coronavirus vaccine and convince the American people that there will be an economic recovery. If there is a lack of a vaccine or preventative measure by election day, his opponent Joe Biden can capitalize on his handling of the pandemic. It remains to be seen how the President's handling will affect the electoral outcome.
*Correction: There has been no president in American history to have lost the popular vote twice while winning the electoral college.
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Yesterday, President Trump made a speech in the Rose Garden at the White House and highlighted his accomplishments from his first term on issue related to trade, foreign affairs, and criminal justice reform. He attempted to paint Joe Biden as being affiliated with the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party and warned that they are "radical". This is an an attempt to regain some ground in the race for the White House in which Biden is leading nationally. President Trump hopes to count on the support of the "silent majority" to propel him to re-election in his bid for a second term.
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In this episode we discuss the recent polling shifts in the 2020 presidential race, the entry of Kanye West, and Mary Trump's response to her uncle seeking a second term. President Trump has seen his support grow in a slew of polls released by Gravis Marketing and others in key battleground states such as Arizona and Wisconsin. While West's impact will likely be minimal overall, if he receives ballot access his candidacy may see some traction in critical states in the Sun Belt among the younger African American demographic. Mary Trump also offered a critique in her newest book release about President Trump and why she believes he is acting out of his own self-interest in the presidency.
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In recent days, President Trump has been criticized for his handling of intelligence surrounding Russian bounties placed on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan during 2019. The U.S. has engaged the Taliban since 2001 during the War in Afghanistan following the September 11th attacks. Russia has sought to interfere in this process. It remains to be seen how President Trump will address this situation as he has had friendlier relations with this particular adversary.
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The release of former national security adviser John Bolton's book has caused much tension in the last week with President Trump. Bolton, a proponent of interventionism abroad, came into conflict with the President's positions on foreign affairs. President Trump sought an order blocking the book's release, but it was allowed to proceed.
The recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program were safeguarded in the Supreme Court's ruling on June 18th. The program was allowed to continue. Meanwhile, President Trump and Joe Biden have diverging views on immigration and its role in the United States. Biden argues for a "citizenship bill" to take more action on the issue. While President Trump still advocates for the program to be repealed.
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In this episode, we discuss President Donald Trump's signing of an Executive Order to ban choke holds while balancing the interests of police and communities as well as his statements on the Confederate monuments and symbols. Racial tensions remain high in our country after a long history of divisions on the issue. President Trump faces a tough re-election battle with presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden.
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In this episode, I discuss recent developments surrounding the latest economic numbers and if the economy is on a clear path to recovery as well as policing reform. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is being introduced by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to address the injustices in our police departments across the nation. It is unclear if the President will support such a measure during this time of a call for national unity from Americans and various groups. Today also marked the funeral of George Floyd, whose death came at the hands of former police officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department. There have been calls in recent days to "defund" the police and abolish police departments across the country. The President stands firm in his belief to support the police, while his challenger Joe Biden is being cautious as they head toward a contentious general election campaign. It remains to be seen if President Trump can successfully rebound the U.S. economy by election day or if his challenger can make the case to bring the country in a new direction.
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After the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man and security guard in Minnesota on May 25th, many protests erupted across the nation against racism and police brutality. These protests later turned violent as a result of other groups participating in demonstrations against the police. The federal government, led by President Trump promised to return the country to a state of "law and order" and safeguard Americans.
Meanwhile, the risks of gathering for protests in large numbers may have a negative effect on reopening according to experts. Dr. Fauci spoke today about a potential coronavirus vaccine by 2021, which is a bright spot for all humanity.
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I invite Ben to speak on the current coronavirus crisis. Ben has a YouTube channel called readonlypdf.
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Joe Biden makes controversial comments today in his interview on "The Breakfast Club". His campaign also is ramping up the VP selection process.
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President Trump spoke to the media yesterday that he is currently taking the drug hydroxychloroquine to ward off potential coronavirus infection. This statement surprised many in the media and he has encouraged others to begin taking the drug. I also discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the 2020 presidential election.
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