February was characterized by divisions between and within varying groups. The United States presented a conflicted State of the Union that escalated to a crisis over executive authority. While 2018 midterm elections remain unresolved, the 2020 presidential race heated up with Democrats differing on issues other than a shared determination to de-throne Donald Trump. Also at odds with Trump was North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after the two leaders failed to negotiate an agreement about sanctions and denuclearization.
State of the Union: The governments’ annual review process was full of contradictions, exaggerations, and rare moments of optimism, both unpredictable and unsurprising given Trump’s mediocre-at-best style of management. The theme of the address was ‘unity’ and it opened in that sentiment, albeit flawed by Trump’s character and then contradicted by criticisms of the special counsel investigation, accusations of obstruction by Democrats, and arguments for the southern border wall. Primary takeaways: the political parties remain deeply divided, Trump won’t give up on his wall, and the women of the democratic party are social media gold.
National Emergency: For the umpteenth refrain of Trumps song-that-never-ends, the President reiterated the need for a border wall with Mexico, this time declaring a national emergency in an attempt to access the billions in funding he has tried to secure since taking office two years ago, most recently through failed negotiations around the annual budget. While not entirely unexpected, the move amplified the debate from one about immigration policy to a confrontation over the separation of powers, suggesting that the real national crisis is a constitutional one.
Presidential announcements: Good news for Bernie supporters who didn’t Kondo their t-shirts and buttons from the 2016 election. The Vermont senator sparked joy for his loyal followers when he announced he’ll make another run for office. So far his platform is very reminiscent of his 2016 run, though it’s unlikely he’ll again be seen as revolutionary in this cycles more crowded and progressive democratic field.
Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota also joined the race, with a heartland-democrat platform and profile that more closely align with the moderate progressive approach that old-school democrats & political pundits highlight for it’s ‘widespread appeal.’ Popular among her constituents and across the midwest, her campaign launched with an outdoor rally in the midst of a blizzard, a visual she continues to reference as evidence of her grit and that supporters praise a truly mid-western. Her appeal to voters in warmer climates remains to be determined.
North Carolina Voter Fraud: Months after midterm elections, NC’s 9th congressional race remains unresolved as prosecutors continue to investigate evidence of ballot tampering by workers on behalf of GOP candidate Mark Harris. Several campaign staffers including political operative Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr. have been charged with illegal ballot handling and conspiracy, revealing suspicious activity among the Republican party dating back to the 2016 elections and leading the state election board to order a new election for the botched midterms, this time without Harris on the ballot. Journalists are waiting to hear how this intersects with the GOP’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud by Democrats, another nail in irony’s coffin.
North Korea: The US and North Korea’s second summit was cut short without any agreement on nuclear disarmament or signals that there will be a resolution in the future. Trump and Kim pointed fingers with conflicting accounts on who was to blame for the failed negotiations, but the primary sticking points became clear; which and how many sanctions would be lifted from North Korea, and the extent and timeline of denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. The deadlock has taken the two leaders relationship from optimistic to “it’s complicated,” with international observers concerned that taking time for themselves will give North Korea more time and possibly incentive to further develop their nuclear arsenal. Third times a charm?