50th Blog: The VP Debate, Union Strike, and Election Updates
Welcome back to the 50th blog from Politics Explained, almost a year since we posted for the first time ever! If you’re new here, we write weekly short, non-partisan blogs to provide a resource for youth to create political opinions for themselves. We also post interviews on our Instagram and TikTok, linked above in the top right corner! This week, we’ll be discussing the VP debate, the Union Strike, and general updates on the upcoming election. Let’s get started!
This past Tuesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance faced off in the first and only Vice Presidential debate of this race. While Walz had moments of shakiness, occasionally misspeaking, Vance was seen dodging many questions, including whether or not he believed Trump lost in 2020. Something else to note was how friendly both Vance and Walz acted toward each other. During multiple times throughout the debate, they both mentioned how they agreed with one another on various topics. Some of these topics included abortion, the border, taxes, gun control, and both of their running mates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. One of Vance’s main arguments was “if Kamala Harris has so many great plans for America, why hasn’t she done that already as Vice President?” Well, although Tim Walz didn’t really address this, we must all remember that she hasn’t been the President for the last four years, but has been the Vice President. Other than being the tie-breaking vote for the Senate, the Vice President is delegated* responsibility by the President and doesn’t act on their own.
Also this past Tuesday was the start of a dockworker’s union strike which closed down major ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast. The union’s over 45,000 workers were asking for higher wages. On Thursday, the strike ended after wage improvements were granted by employers. The improvement deal includes a 63% increase of wages and lasts until January 15th. However, the union (The International Longshoremen’s Association), says they will continue to bargain for more improvements including retirement benefits and automation at the ports.
Now, for some quick updates on the upcoming Presidential election:
Five weeks left until Election Day (Nov. 5)
Harris is up 49% - 46% against Trump in FiveThirtyEight’s and NYT’s national polling average
Swing states:
Harris is up in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin
Trump is up in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona
*Definition of the Week (delegate): entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person.
