Pollsters are indicating that former President Donald Trump is in a strong position in the latest polls against Vice President Kamala Harris. RealClearPolitics shows Trump ahead in all seven battleground states, with GOP voter enthusiasm increasing. Democrats’ early vote advantage has decreased compared to four years ago. A CNBC poll shows Trump leading Harris overall, as well as on specific issues like immigration and inflation. This indicates that Trump’s strong position is a recent development and could impact the outcome of the election.
The culture desk highlights the authoritarian nature of the modern left, citing a mass boycott of the Israeli publishing industry initiated by 400 writers. Writer Lionel Shriver argues against mob mentality and emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression for all authors. The boycott is seen as an attempt to silence authors who don’t align with a specific ideological position. Shriver believes that writing should be about compelling and persuading through language, rather than silencing others.
Reason’s J.D. Tuccille discusses the negative impact of political polarization on relationships in America. Political disagreements have led to the end of friendships and family relationships, mistreatment at work, and even affecting dating apps. Tuccille calls for Americans to “chill out” and stop creating ideological litmus tests for personal and professional relationships. The toxic political environment is damaging social cohesion and creating fractures within society.
Conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson praises Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his response to recent attacks on Israel. Despite facing criticism from various international bodies, Netanyahu took strong action against Hamas and Hezbollah, effectively neutralizing them. Hanson believes that Netanyahu’s actions have done more to combat Israel’s enemies than NATO and other agencies combined. Despite facing backlash, Netanyahu’s actions have garnered respect for his leadership.
The Wall Street Journal’s editors raise concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on the Supreme Court. Harris has been vague about supporting the idea of adding Justices to the Supreme Court, as well as endorsing President Biden’s plan to impose ethics rules on the Justices. This could potentially lead to political harassment and compromise judicial independence. If Harris wins and Democrats maintain control of the Senate, there are fears that they may pursue “court-packing,” which was previously considered a fringe position.
Overall, the current political landscape in the United States is characterized by a strong position for Donald Trump in the polls, a growing culture of authoritarianism on the left, concerns about political polarization impacting relationships, praise for Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to threats against Israel, and worries about potential changes to the Supreme Court under a Harris administration. These diverse perspectives highlight the complex and contentious nature of contemporary politics in America.
