According to a recent Gallup survey, a majority of Americans say Republicans will do a better job bolstering the economy, giving the republican party its widest lead over the democratic party in terms of economic policy in over three decades.

Republicans better at managing the economy?

In a single-man campaign, Republican Matt Gaetz managed to oust sitting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday, in a voting reflective of intra-party conflict unseen in the history of US.

In a single-man campaign, Republican Matt Gaetz managed to oust sitting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday, in a voting reflective of intra-party conflict unseen in the history of US. The 41-year-old politician did not break a sweat as he headed the anti-McCarthy effort from one of the most powerful positions in the US. Here's everything you need to know about Matt Gaetz, a backbencher who rose from Florida state politics and became the man who vacated the chair of the House Speaker. Matt Gaetz: Beginnings in Florida Gaetz won the crowded GOP primary in 2010 for the Florida state House, using his resources to his advantage as an attorney. He joined his father in the state legislature, where he served as a senator from 2006-2016, including his time as chamber president from 2012-2014. Although he initially intended to run for the state Senate held by his father in 2016, he opted to run in Florida's 1st Congressional District and won. Gaetz, a loyalist of former US president Donald Trump, has rebuffed traditional conservative stances on issues like marijuana, which he supports removing from the Controlled Substances Act. ALSO READ | Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to French-American-Russian trio for a quantum discovery In 2021, reports said that federal investigators were probing a 2018 trip to the Bahamas involving escorts allegedly trafficked for Gaetz, including a 17-year-old girl. However, he denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he had no relations with an underage girl. The Justice Department did not bring any charges against him. Matt Gaetz vs Kevin McCarthy Although Gaetz insists that his drive to remove McCarthy wasn't personal, the feud between the two was Congress's worst-kept secret. McCarthy suggested that Gaetz might blame him for the House Ethics Committee inquiry into allegations that Gaetz broke sex-trafficking laws, ABC News reported. The feud between Gaetz and McCarthy came to the fore this year. Gaetz opposed McCarthy's speakership push, causing McCarthy to undergo 15 rounds of voting before winning. After it became clear that the Floridan would prompt a motion to vacate, McCarthy repeatedly sniped at Gaetz last month. "He's blaming me for an ethics complaint against him in the last Congress," McCarthy told CNBC. "I have nothing to do with it," he added. After the 216-210 vote that ousted McCarthy on Tuesday (Oct 2), Gaetz told reporters, "I think that this represents the ripping off the Band-Aid." "Kevin McCarthy is a feature of the swamp. He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favours. We are breaking the fever now," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Who is Matt Gaetz? Congressman who toppled US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in historic first

Leading US House Republican Kevin McCarthy may soon lose his position as speaker following the passage of a stopgap funding package that had more support from Democrats than from Republicans. This comes after a hardline critic within his own party asked for a vote to remove McCarthy from office.

US Republican files bid to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

Presidential candidates are already gearing up for the upcoming U.S. elections. The two candidates stealing the spotlight are President Biden and Former President Trump. Many candidates have dirt on their hands. It will be interesting to see who steals the lead in the race to the top seat. Listen in to @VikramChandra

The US 2024 Presidential election race

The stage is set for the second Republican debate as the race for the White House intensifies.

Race for white house: 7 republican candidates qualify for 2nd presidential debate

91 felony indictments against Donald Trump but the former US President appears to be unstoppable. New Wall Street Journal opinion polls show that he is leading the Republican campaign for the 2024 Presidential elections

US: Donald Trump-Joe Biden rivalry intensifies

Former US President Donald Trump plans to give a speech in Detroit on September 27 to a crowd of union workers, skipping the second&nbsp;Republican presidential debate, an aide said on Monday, and instead inserting himself into a dispute between striking workers and America's leading automakers.

The prime time speech is expected to be delivered to auto workers and other blue collar union members, the aide added. The speech comes as Trump has been harshly critical of&nbsp;President Joe Biden's electric vehicle policies&nbsp;and urged autoworkers to back his candidacy.

The event will mark the second time Trump has skipped a Republican primary presidential debate, in a race where despite his myriad legal problems, Trump leads his nearest rival by nearly 50 percentage points, according to the most recent opinion polls.

Trump's speech signals an effort by his team to look beyond his party's White House nominating contest and onto a likely general election re-match with Biden next November.

The speech to union members will be part of an intense campaign by Trump to win back some of the working class voters who defected to Biden in his 2020 victory against Trump.

The United Auto Workers union began a strike last week against the three biggest US auto manufacturers over pay and other benefits, a labor dispute that could pose significant political danger for Biden.

While Biden has touted his support of unions for decades, there is anger among some rank-and-file auto workers that he has not done enough to stand up to the manufacturers and their executives amid huge industry profits.

Trump is seeking to exploit the dispute, and will try to persuade auto workers and other union members that he will be on their side if he becomes president again.

Trump has said recently&nbsp;that Biden is "waging war" on the auto industry&nbsp;through electric vehicle mandates and has said the UAW should endorse him.

The current strike also has profound geographical resonance for next year's general election because many of the affected workers are based in three key Midwestern battleground states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - where next year's presidential contest could be decided.

Trump skipped the first Republican presidential debate in Wisconsin last month. The second debate is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation &amp; Institute in Simi Valley, California, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Los Angeles.

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Former US President Donald Trump plans to give a speech in Detroit on September 27 to a crowd of union workers, skipping the second Republican presidential debate, an aide said on Monday, and instead inserting himself into a dispute between striking workers and America's leading automakers.

Former US President Donald Trump plans to give a speech in Detroit on September 27 to a crowd of union workers, skipping the second Republican presidential debate, an aide said on Monday, and instead inserting himself into a dispute between striking workers and America's leading automakers. The prime time speech is expected to be delivered to auto workers and other blue collar union members, the aide added. The speech comes as Trump has been harshly critical of President Joe Biden's electric vehicle policies and urged autoworkers to back his candidacy. The event will mark the second time Trump has skipped a Republican primary presidential debate, in a race where despite his myriad legal problems, Trump leads his nearest rival by nearly 50 percentage points, according to the most recent opinion polls. Trump's speech signals an effort by his team to look beyond his party's White House nominating contest and onto a likely general election re-match with Biden next November. The speech to union members will be part of an intense campaign by Trump to win back some of the working class voters who defected to Biden in his 2020 victory against Trump. The United Auto Workers union began a strike last week against the three biggest US auto manufacturers over pay and other benefits, a labor dispute that could pose significant political danger for Biden. While Biden has touted his support of unions for decades, there is anger among some rank-and-file auto workers that he has not done enough to stand up to the manufacturers and their executives amid huge industry profits. Trump is seeking to exploit the dispute, and will try to persuade auto workers and other union members that he will be on their side if he becomes president again. Trump has said recently that Biden is "waging war" on the auto industry through electric vehicle mandates and has said the UAW should endorse him. The current strike also has profound geographical resonance for next year's general election because many of the affected workers are based in three key Midwestern battleground states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - where next year's presidential contest could be decided. Trump skipped the first Republican presidential debate in Wisconsin last month. The second debate is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute in Simi Valley, California, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Los Angeles. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Trump to skip next Republican debate, give speech to auto workers

US Republican Governor from the state of Florida, Ron DeSantis, on Thursday (September 7) got into a heated argument with an audience member during a press conference, who blamed him for the racially motivated mass shooting that left three Black people dead in Jacksonville, last month.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened?</h2>

According to reports, the exchange which lasted not more than three minutes, started out cordial with both DeSantis and the unidentified man thanking each other for their military service. However, the unidentified man went on to accuse DeSantis of enacting policies “that hurt people like myself and the people that I love,” including his children.&nbsp;

The person also said that the policies the Florida governor backs have led to weapons going to “hateful people.” Subsequently, a visibly angry DeSantis said, “You don’t get to come here and blame me for some madman.” He added, “That is not appropriate and I’m not going to accept it.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-gunman-kills-3-himself-in-racially-motivated-florida-store-shooting-629586">White gunman kills 3, himself in ‘racially motivated’ shooting at Florida store</a>

During the press conference which took place in Jacksonville DeSantis said, “I’m not going to let you accuse me of committing criminal activity. I am not going to take that.” This was followed by some audience members clapping. 
&nbsp;

Watch the exchange here: 
&nbsp;

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“You have allowed people to hunt people like me”: 
 
A Black audience member gets into a back and forth with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) at a Jacksonville news conference after questioning state policies he says have led to violence against Black people. <a href="https://t.co/7G99npsvZ8">pic.twitter.com/7G99npsvZ8</a>
— The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1699805584403345499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Jacksonville shooting</h2>

The suspected gunman responsible for a tragic incident at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida was identified as Ryan Christopher Palmeter. The shooting, which took place on August 27 is believed to be motivated by racial hatred and resulted in the deaths of three Black individuals.&nbsp;

Palmeter allegedly shot three people before killing himself and left behind a last will and testament, along with disturbing writings which are called something like hatred-filled “the diary of a madman”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-gunman-in-racially-motivated-jacksonville-store-shooting-identified-629783">US: Gunman in racially motivated Jacksonville store shooting identified</a>

Speaking about the incident during the exchange DeSantis said that the suspected gunman should have been “Baker Acted,” referring to a law in the state of Florida which allows for family members to involuntary institutionalize an individual in light of a mental health crisis.

“He should have been ruled ineligible…But they didn’t involuntarily commit him,” said the Florida governor. DeSantis then went to interrupt the unidentified man and said, “There is the truth. There is something about the truth. It’s not — everyone doesn’t have their own truth.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

US Republican Governor from the state of Florida, Ron DeSantis, on Thursday (September 7) got into a heated argument with an audience member during a press conference, who blamed him for the racially motivated mass shooting that left three Black people dead in Jacksonville, last month.

US Republican Governor from the state of Florida, Ron DeSantis, on Thursday (September 7) got into a heated argument with an audience member during a press conference, who blamed him for the racially motivated mass shooting that left three Black people dead in Jacksonville, last month. What happened? According to reports, the exchange which lasted not more than three minutes, started out cordial with both DeSantis and the unidentified man thanking each other for their military service. However, the unidentified man went on to accuse DeSantis of enacting policies “that hurt people like myself and the people that I love,” including his children. The person also said that the policies the Florida governor backs have led to weapons going to “hateful people.” Subsequently, a visibly angry DeSantis said, “You don’t get to come here and blame me for some madman.” He added, “That is not appropriate and I’m not going to accept it.” ALSO READ | White gunman kills 3, himself in ‘racially motivated’ shooting at Florida store During the press conference which took place in Jacksonville DeSantis said, “I’m not going to let you accuse me of committing criminal activity. I am not going to take that.” This was followed by some audience members clapping. Watch the exchange here: “You have allowed people to hunt people like me”: A Black audience member gets into a back and forth with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) at a Jacksonville news conference after questioning state policies he says have led to violence against Black people. pic.twitter.com/7G99npsvZ8 — The Recount (@therecount) September 7, 2023 × Jacksonville shooting The suspected gunman responsible for a tragic incident at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida was identified as Ryan Christopher Palmeter. The shooting, which took place on August 27 is believed to be motivated by racial hatred and resulted in the deaths of three Black individuals. Palmeter allegedly shot three people before killing himself and left behind a last will and testament, along with disturbing writings which are called something like hatred-filled “the diary of a madman”. ALSO READ | US: Gunman in racially motivated Jacksonville store shooting identified Speaking about the incident during the exchange DeSantis said that the suspected gunman should have been “Baker Acted,” referring to a law in the state of Florida which allows for family members to involuntary institutionalize an individual in light of a mental health crisis. “He should have been ruled ineligible…But they didn’t involuntarily commit him,” said the Florida governor. DeSantis then went to interrupt the unidentified man and said, “There is the truth. There is something about the truth. It’s not — everyone doesn’t have their own truth.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lashes out at audience member at press meet over Jacksonville shooting

Republican presidential nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to pardon all non-violent January 6 protesters if he is elected as the next US president in 2024.&nbsp;

“America now has a two-tiered justice system: Antifa and BLM rioters roam free while peaceful January 6 protesters are imprisoned without bail. Biden’s ‘Department of Injustice’ has executed over 1,000 arrests for nonviolent offences related to January 6, casting a dark shadow over Lady Justice and the foundational principles of our legal system,” said Ramaswamy.

“To unify this country, I commit as president to pardon all Americans who were targets of politicised federal prosecutions and those denied due process. This includes all peaceful, nonviolent January 6 protesters who were denied their constitutional due process rights," he added.&nbsp;

In the aftermath of the US presidential elections, former president Donald Trump's&nbsp;supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence as over 2,000 people entered the US Capitol, starting a riot.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vivek-ramaswamy-i-want-to-revive-our-nations-patriotism-and-pride-613452">Watch |&nbsp;Vivek Ramaswamy: I want to revive our nation's patriotism and pride</a>

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<h2>Will pardon Trump: Ramaswamy</h2>

Apart from forgiving the Capitol Hill protesters, Ramaswamy has also batted for pardoning Trump. During a recent interview, Ramaswamy extended his support to Trump and said his aim was to 'reunite' the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“If Donald Trump's the nominee -- yes, I will support him, and if I'm the president, yes, I will pardon him because that will help reunite the country. But it's not the most important thing I'm going to do as the next president. It is the table stakes for moving this country forward," Ramaswamy said.&nbsp;

Ramaswamy, a US citizen, born and raised in&nbsp;Cincinnati, Ohio has put his hat in the ring to secure a nomination from the Republican party for the 2024 presidential elections. He is up against former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and other heavyweights.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/who-is-vivek-ramaswamy-all-about-the-indian-american-entrepreneur-in-the-us-presidential-bid-2024-564670">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? All about the Indian-American entrepreneur in the 2024 US presidential bid</a>

Despite starting as an underdog, Ramaswamy has made rapid strides in the race, especially after the first Republican debate&nbsp;held last month. The entrepreneur was subjected to a barrage of verbal tirades from other Republican leaders but managed to hold his own and emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the GOP primary debate.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Republican presidential nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to pardon all non-violent January 6 protesters if he is elected as the next US president in 2024.

Republican presidential nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to pardon all non-violent January 6 protesters if he is elected as the next US president in 2024. “America now has a two-tiered justice system: Antifa and BLM rioters roam free while peaceful January 6 protesters are imprisoned without bail. Biden’s ‘Department of Injustice’ has executed over 1,000 arrests for nonviolent offences related to January 6, casting a dark shadow over Lady Justice and the foundational principles of our legal system,” said Ramaswamy. “To unify this country, I commit as president to pardon all Americans who were targets of politicised federal prosecutions and those denied due process. This includes all peaceful, nonviolent January 6 protesters who were denied their constitutional due process rights," he added. In the aftermath of the US presidential elections, former president Donald Trump's supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence as over 2,000 people entered the US Capitol, starting a riot. Watch | Vivek Ramaswamy: I want to revive our nation's patriotism and pride Will pardon Trump: Ramaswamy Apart from forgiving the Capitol Hill protesters, Ramaswamy has also batted for pardoning Trump. During a recent interview, Ramaswamy extended his support to Trump and said his aim was to 'reunite' the country. “If Donald Trump's the nominee -- yes, I will support him, and if I'm the president, yes, I will pardon him because that will help reunite the country. But it's not the most important thing I'm going to do as the next president. It is the table stakes for moving this country forward," Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy, a US citizen, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio has put his hat in the ring to secure a nomination from the Republican party for the 2024 presidential elections. He is up against former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and other heavyweights. Also read | Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? All about the Indian-American entrepreneur in the 2024 US presidential bid Despite starting as an underdog, Ramaswamy has made rapid strides in the race, especially after the first Republican debate held last month. The entrepreneur was subjected to a barrage of verbal tirades from other Republican leaders but managed to hold his own and emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the GOP primary debate. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Vivek Ramaswamy 'vows' to pardon January 6 protesters

If you thought a Republican presidential debate would be boring without Donald Trump then you might have been proven wrong

Republican presidential debate: Vivek Ramaswamy remains unfazed during verbal attacks

As Republican frontrunner Donald Trump skips first debate of 2024 US election season, candidates face off in Wisconsin.

Republican debate: Highlights as GOP candidates face off

Vivek Ramaswamy 'stole the show' at the Republican party's first primary debate. The 38-year-old's anti-woke, & anti-climate change remarks are going viral. Who exactly is he? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Vivek Ramaswamy: The Indian-origin entrepreneur taking on Trump | GOP Primary Debate

The first of Donald Trump's co-defendants in Georgia's criminal case accusing the former U.S. president and his associates of subverting his 2020 election loss surrendered at an Atlanta jail on Tuesday, according to county records and a statement.

First Trump allies in presidential election subversion case surrender in Georgia

First Trump allies in Georgia election subversion case surrender

Tropical Storm Hilary hit Mexico's northwestern Pacific Coast on Sunday, boasting winds of 100 kilometres per hour that reached California, bringing unexpected heavy rainfall to the arid southwestern United States. In the political arena, former US President Donald Trump has opted out of the forthcoming Republican primary debates, citing&nbsp;his commanding position in recent opinion polls where he maintains a solid grip on 47 percent of the Republican vote nationally overshadowing competitors

China, in its bid to resuscitate its sluggish economy, has taken its second key benchmark lending rate cut this year, reducing the one-year loan prime rate to 3.45 percent from 3.55 percent.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tropical-storm-hilary-batters-california-flash-floods-and-tornado-warnings-in-place-627375">Tropical Storm Hilary batters California: Floods and tornado warnings in place</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/21/374433-tropical-storm-hilary.png?imwidth=1920" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-hilary-weakens-is-now-a-tropical-storm-627328">Tropical Storm Hilary</a>&nbsp;made landfall on Sunday (August 20) on Mexico's northwestern Pacific Coast, along with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometres per hour, reaching California. It also brought heavy rains with it in the typically arid southwestern United States.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-skip-republican-primary-debates-cites-legendary-lead-in-opinion-polls-627368">Trump confirms skipping Republican debates, cites lead in opinion polls</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/21/374431-untitled-design-2023-08-21t070421113.png?imwidth=1920" />

Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not be taking part in the upcoming Republican primary debates. He took the decision basis his leading position in the recent opinion polls. It is worth noting that the recent polls reflect the dominance of former president Trump in the Republican quarters.&nbsp;The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll from this month indicated that Trump commands 47 percent of the Republican vote nationally. Meanwhile, Trump's rival and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis saw a decline of six percentage points from July, settling at 13 percent.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slashes-key-benchmark-lending-rates-to-revive-sluggish-economy-627374">China slashes key benchmark lending rates to revive sluggish economy</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/21/374434-untitled-design-2023-08-21t081207131.png?imwidth=1920" />

Amid efforts to revive&nbsp;its sluggish economy, the second-largest in the world, China has slashed key benchmark lending rates, a move taken for the second time this year, media reports said.&nbsp;The People's Bank of China (PBOC) took action on Monday by decreasing the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) by 10 basis points from 3.55 percent to 3.45 percent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/threads-plans-launch-of-web-version-of-app-next-week-report-627371">Threads plans launch of web version of app next week: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/09/365504-the-battle-for-kyiv-44.png?imwidth=1920" />

Meta Platforms is planning to launch the web version of its microblogging app Threads, reported the Wall Street Journal on Sunday (August 20), citing people familiar with the matter.

Watch | Chandrayaan-3: India awaits Vikram's successful landing as last 25 km left, 2 days for touchdown

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Tropical Storm Hilary hit Mexico's northwestern Pacific Coast on Sunday, boasting winds of 100 kilometres per hour that reached California, bringing unexpected heavy rainfall to the arid southwestern United States.

Tropical Storm Hilary hit Mexico's northwestern Pacific Coast on Sunday, boasting winds of 100 kilometres per hour that reached California, bringing unexpected heavy rainfall to the arid southwestern United States. In the political arena, former US President Donald Trump has opted out of the forthcoming Republican primary debates, citing his commanding position in recent opinion polls where he maintains a solid grip on 47 percent of the Republican vote nationally overshadowing competitors China, in its bid to resuscitate its sluggish economy, has taken its second key benchmark lending rate cut this year, reducing the one-year loan prime rate to 3.45 percent from 3.55 percent. Tropical Storm Hilary batters California: Floods and tornado warnings in place Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall on Sunday (August 20) on Mexico's northwestern Pacific Coast, along with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometres per hour, reaching California. It also brought heavy rains with it in the typically arid southwestern United States. Trump confirms skipping Republican debates, cites lead in opinion polls Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not be taking part in the upcoming Republican primary debates. He took the decision basis his leading position in the recent opinion polls. It is worth noting that the recent polls reflect the dominance of former president Trump in the Republican quarters. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll from this month indicated that Trump commands 47 percent of the Republican vote nationally. Meanwhile, Trump's rival and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis saw a decline of six percentage points from July, settling at 13 percent. China slashes key benchmark lending rates to revive sluggish economy Amid efforts to revive its sluggish economy, the second-largest in the world, China has slashed key benchmark lending rates, a move taken for the second time this year, media reports said. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) took action on Monday by decreasing the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) by 10 basis points from 3.55 percent to 3.45 percent. Threads plans launch of web version of app next week: Report Meta Platforms is planning to launch the web version of its microblogging app Threads, reported the Wall Street Journal on Sunday (August 20), citing people familiar with the matter. Watch | Chandrayaan-3: India awaits Vikram's successful landing as last 25 km left, 2 days for touchdown ×

Morning news: Tropical Storm Hilary updates, Trump opts out of Republican debates, and more

Vivek Ramaswamy seems to be the choice with GOP supporters who seem to be favouring the newest entry to the Republican Presidential candidacy race in a new poll.

Vivek Ramaswamy dethrones Pence, ties with DeSantis as 2nd favourite

US' Top Military positions are empty after a Republican Senator went against the Pentagon's reproductive health policies. What are the health policies?

Gravitas: Republican senator stalls promotion of over 300 top military officials

Prosecutors investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the US state of Georgia were expected to begin presenting evidence to a grand jury Monday for what could be a sprawling, multi-defendant indictment.

US: Another Trump indictment looms as grand jury hears election case

The leaders of Europe's major insurance companies have raised concerns about the growing political resistance in the United States over aggressive policy steps required to combat climate change. This, the UN-backed group of insurers called the Net Zero Insurance Alliance says,&nbsp;has put their ability to collaborate in combating climate change at risk.

The Net-Zero Insurance Alliance was established in 2021 to collectively address carbon emissions related to underwriting.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/explainer-why-the-insurance-industry-is-taking-over-100-billion-hit-from-climate-change-losses-550991">Explainer: Why the insurance industry is taking over $100 billion hit from climate change losses?</a>

However, this initiative's future has been uncertain since May this year&nbsp;when a letter from 23 Republican state Attorneys General&nbsp;suggested that the alliance's joint targets might violate antitrust laws, following which&nbsp;several insurers left the group.

<h2>What was the legal challenge?</h2>

This legal challenge emerged amidst rising opposition among certain Republican politicians who view environmental activism as detrimental to the oil and gas industry and the broader economy.

Several states, including Florida and Texas, have implemented legislation to discourage environmental, social, and governance investing and financing with target to deter harms on oil and gas industry.

Axa, a prominent European insurer, was a founding member of the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance but withdrew in May.

Its chief executive Thomas Buberl told the Financial Times, "My job is to manage insurance and not to deal . . . with 23 attorneys-general in the US."

It was "far more powerful" to act collectively on climate, he said, but he added: "You also have to at some point say to yourself, OK, where are your priorities? Is there a different way of getting to the same result with less hassle?"

Christian Mumenthaler, CEO of reinsurer Swiss Re, which also left the alliance in May, echoed Buberl's sentiment.

“It’s clear that in today’s political environment, it remains very difficult: there remains some political risk, some legal risk. Then the question is, OK, for the overall cause, how much is it adding?," Mumenthaler was quoted as saying by Financial Times.

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Explainer: Why the insurance industry is taking over $100 billion hit from climate change losses?

The leaders of Europe's major insurance companies have raised concerns about the growing political resistance in the United States over aggressive policy steps required to combat climate change.

The leaders of Europe's major insurance companies have raised concerns about the growing political resistance in the United States over aggressive policy steps required to combat climate change. This, the UN-backed group of insurers called the Net Zero Insurance Alliance says, has put their ability to collaborate in combating climate change at risk. The Net-Zero Insurance Alliance was established in 2021 to collectively address carbon emissions related to underwriting. Also read | Explainer: Why the insurance industry is taking over $100 billion hit from climate change losses? However, this initiative's future has been uncertain since May this year when a letter from 23 Republican state Attorneys General suggested that the alliance's joint targets might violate antitrust laws, following which several insurers left the group. What was the legal challenge? This legal challenge emerged amidst rising opposition among certain Republican politicians who view environmental activism as detrimental to the oil and gas industry and the broader economy. Several states, including Florida and Texas, have implemented legislation to discourage environmental, social, and governance investing and financing with target to deter harms on oil and gas industry. Axa, a prominent European insurer, was a founding member of the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance but withdrew in May. Its chief executive Thomas Buberl told the Financial Times, "My job is to manage insurance and not to deal . . . with 23 attorneys-general in the US." It was "far more powerful" to act collectively on climate, he said, but he added: "You also have to at some point say to yourself, OK, where are your priorities? Is there a different way of getting to the same result with less hassle?" Christian Mumenthaler, CEO of reinsurer Swiss Re, which also left the alliance in May, echoed Buberl's sentiment. “It’s clear that in today’s political environment, it remains very difficult: there remains some political risk, some legal risk. Then the question is, OK, for the overall cause, how much is it adding?," Mumenthaler was quoted as saying by Financial Times. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. Explainer: Why the insurance industry is taking over $100 billion hit from climate change losses?

Republican-led backlash over climate change raises concern among European insurers

A three-year-old child riding on one of US states Texas’ migrant buses died, said the officials on Friday (August 11) which is the first death reported by the state since it began its controversial measure of shuttling thousands of refugees and migrants from the United States-Mexico border last year.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know?</h2>

The child’s death was confirmed by Texas officials, in a statement, but no other details about where the child was from or why they became ill were immediately released by the authorities. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the child was three years old and died Thursday in Marion County, in the southern part of the US state.&nbsp;

The officials in the state of Illinois said that they are working with the health officials, state police and federal authorities to the “fullest extent possible to get answers in this tragic situation.”

“Every loss of life is a tragedy,” said the Texas Division of Emergency Management, in a statement. It added, “Once the child presented with health concerns, the bus pulled over and security personnel on board called 911 for emergency attention.”&nbsp;

A report by the American media outlet CBS News reported that the toddler was a girl from Venezuela. According to the Texas officials, the child received treatment from paramedics and later died at a hospital.&nbsp;

Texas officials said that the temperature of all passengers was taken and they were also asked about any medical conditions. The bus departed from the Texas border city of Brownsville and was heading for Chicago, Illinois.&nbsp;

<h2>Operation Lone Star</h2>

As a part of Texas’ Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s sprawling mission on the border, called Operation Lone Star, the state has bused more than 30,000 migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the US since 2022.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s administration is also suing the state for the wrecking ball-sized buoys placed on the Rio Grande, earlier this year, which pose environmental and humanitarian concerns.&nbsp;

The so-called operation has also come under scrutiny amid recent reports of Texas officials separating some migrant families on the border. When asked about the toddler’s death, US Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes the Texas border said he was unaware about the incident.&nbsp;

“You can’t use the migrants as political pawns. You still got to be accountable to taking care of them, especially if you're transporting kids,” said Cuellar. He also criticised Abbott and said that the Texas governor should work with the federal government on border security.

As a part of this so-called operation, Texas has also sent buses to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles. In June, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the buses a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/political-stunt-85-migrants-dropped-outside-vp-kamala-harris-house-amid-18-degree-temprature-546644">“despicable stunt”</a> by Abbott after 42 people, including some children, were dropped off in the California city.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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A three-year-old child riding on one of US states Texas’ migrant buses died, said the officials on Friday (August 11) which is the first death reported by the state since it began its controversial measure of shuttling thousands of refugees and migrants from the United States-Mexico border last year.

A three-year-old child riding on one of US states Texas’ migrant buses died, said the officials on Friday (August 11) which is the first death reported by the state since it began its controversial measure of shuttling thousands of refugees and migrants from the United States-Mexico border last year. What do we know? The child’s death was confirmed by Texas officials, in a statement, but no other details about where the child was from or why they became ill were immediately released by the authorities. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the child was three years old and died Thursday in Marion County, in the southern part of the US state. The officials in the state of Illinois said that they are working with the health officials, state police and federal authorities to the “fullest extent possible to get answers in this tragic situation.” “Every loss of life is a tragedy,” said the Texas Division of Emergency Management, in a statement. It added, “Once the child presented with health concerns, the bus pulled over and security personnel on board called 911 for emergency attention.” A report by the American media outlet CBS News reported that the toddler was a girl from Venezuela. According to the Texas officials, the child received treatment from paramedics and later died at a hospital. Texas officials said that the temperature of all passengers was taken and they were also asked about any medical conditions. The bus departed from the Texas border city of Brownsville and was heading for Chicago, Illinois. Operation Lone Star As a part of Texas’ Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s sprawling mission on the border, called Operation Lone Star, the state has bused more than 30,000 migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the US since 2022. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s administration is also suing the state for the wrecking ball-sized buoys placed on the Rio Grande, earlier this year, which pose environmental and humanitarian concerns. The so-called operation has also come under scrutiny amid recent reports of Texas officials separating some migrant families on the border. When asked about the toddler’s death, US Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes the Texas border said he was unaware about the incident. “You can’t use the migrants as political pawns. You still got to be accountable to taking care of them, especially if you're transporting kids,” said Cuellar. He also criticised Abbott and said that the Texas governor should work with the federal government on border security. As a part of this so-called operation, Texas has also sent buses to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles. In June, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the buses a “despicable stunt” by Abbott after 42 people, including some children, were dropped off in the California city. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Three-year-old dies on Texas migrant bus going to Chicago

As a crucial committee reviews a $728 billion agricultural and nutrition funding plan on Monday, 25 Democratic legislators urged Republican House of Representatives leaders to refrain from pushing for greater cuts to the largest U.S. food aid program for low-income Americans.

US: Democrats urge Republican not to make financial cuts in food aid

Republican president nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has courted controversy after he suggested cancelling Juneteenth, calling it a 'useless' holiday.&nbsp;

Ramaswamy made the suggestion during a conversation with Iowa voters on Saturday (August 5). He suggested that instead of Juneetenth,&nbsp;a national voting holiday can be instituted.&nbsp;

“Cancel Juneteenth or one of the other useless ones we made up,” Ramaswamy told to a raucous reception from the crowd.&nbsp;

Asked by NBC News to clarify whether he thought Juneteenth was a “useless” holiday, Ramaswamy said, “I basically do". He also clarified that the holiday was instituted due to political reasons.&nbsp;

“The reason for making it a holiday was under political duress. It was a political hostage situation on the back of the death of George Floyd,” Ramaswamy said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vivek-ramaswamy-i-want-to-revive-our-nations-patriotism-and-pride-613452">Watch |&nbsp;Vivek Ramaswamy: I want to revive our nation's patriotism and pride</a>

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When pressed if he believed other holidays such as Veterans Day or Memorial Day were also useless holidays, Ramaswamy said he didn't.&nbsp;

“I stand with the presumption of time-tested traditions,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ramaswamy's 180 on the holiday

Ramaswamy's statement comes less than two months after he was seen celebrating the holiday. In a video posted on his official X handle, formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy said he was proud to celebrate the holiday.&nbsp;

"Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance &amp; self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself.

“What we celebrate is how far we’ve come. And as a first-generation American myself, you better believe I’m proud of it. Happy Juneteenth everybody,”&nbsp; he added.&nbsp;

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Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance &amp; self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/NyHfbJoAlw">pic.twitter.com/NyHfbJoAlw</a>
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1670802957565034496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/who-is-vivek-ramaswamy-all-about-the-indian-american-entrepreneur-in-the-us-presidential-bid-2024-564670">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? All about the Indian-American entrepreneur in the 2024 US presidential bid</a>

Notably, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, despite being observed since 1866. The announcement came in the backdrop of George Floyd's death when the Black Lives Movement (BLM) was at its peak.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Ramaswamy and his politics&nbsp;</h2>

Ramaswamy, a US citizen, born and raised in&nbsp;Cincinnati, Ohio has put his hat in the ring to secure a nomination from the Republican party for the 2024 presidential elections. He is up against former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and other heavyweights.&nbsp;

His father worked at the General Electric Plant in Evendale, Ohio. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist in Cincinnati. Ramaswamy argues that American capitalism is a way out for discriminated Indian citizens to grab better economic opportunities in the US.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Republican president nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has courted controversy after he suggested cancelling Juneteenth, calling it a 'useless' holiday. Ramaswamy made the suggestion during a conversation with Iowa voters on Saturday (August 5).

Republican president nomination seeker Vivek Ramaswamy has courted controversy after he suggested cancelling Juneteenth, calling it a 'useless' holiday. Ramaswamy made the suggestion during a conversation with Iowa voters on Saturday (August 5). He suggested that instead of Juneetenth, a national voting holiday can be instituted. “Cancel Juneteenth or one of the other useless ones we made up,” Ramaswamy told to a raucous reception from the crowd. Asked by NBC News to clarify whether he thought Juneteenth was a “useless” holiday, Ramaswamy said, “I basically do". He also clarified that the holiday was instituted due to political reasons. “The reason for making it a holiday was under political duress. It was a political hostage situation on the back of the death of George Floyd,” Ramaswamy said. Watch | Vivek Ramaswamy: I want to revive our nation's patriotism and pride × When pressed if he believed other holidays such as Veterans Day or Memorial Day were also useless holidays, Ramaswamy said he didn't. “I stand with the presumption of time-tested traditions,” he said. Ramaswamy's 180 on the holiday Ramaswamy's statement comes less than two months after he was seen celebrating the holiday. In a video posted on his official X handle, formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy said he was proud to celebrate the holiday. "Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance & self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself. “What we celebrate is how far we’ve come. And as a first-generation American myself, you better believe I’m proud of it. Happy Juneteenth everybody,” he added. Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance & self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/NyHfbJoAlw — Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 19, 2023 × Also read | Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? All about the Indian-American entrepreneur in the 2024 US presidential bid Notably, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, despite being observed since 1866. The announcement came in the backdrop of George Floyd's death when the Black Lives Movement (BLM) was at its peak. Ramaswamy and his politics Ramaswamy, a US citizen, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio has put his hat in the ring to secure a nomination from the Republican party for the 2024 presidential elections. He is up against former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and other heavyweights. His father worked at the General Electric Plant in Evendale, Ohio. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist in Cincinnati. Ramaswamy argues that American capitalism is a way out for discriminated Indian citizens to grab better economic opportunities in the US. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy bats for cancelling 'useless' Juneteenth holiday

Bahta Mekonnen, a 28-year-old U.S. Army captain from the key voting state of Georgia, is among the millions of&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters who helped deliver President Joe Biden the White House in 2020.

Three years later, he is one of the voters who Democrats fear could cost Biden a second term in 2024.

Disappointed by what he sees as Democrats' lurch to the left, free spending and empty promises, but also turned off by far-right Republicans, Mekonnen says he sees nothing but bad options at the ballot box next year.

"What I'm noticing across the Democratic Party right now is there's a lot of pandering to the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;community," he said. "It seems like they do a lot to try to make it seem like they are the party for young&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men or&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men as a whole, but they don't back it with anything. They don't follow through."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-democrats-fail-to-censor-robert-f-kennedy-jr-over-covid-race-comment-617920">House Democrats fail to censor Robert F. Kennedy Jr over Covid, race comments</a>

Long the most loyal Democratic constituency,&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters played a large role in rescuing Biden's struggling 2020 presidential campaign in the South Carolina primary, and sending him to the White House with Democrats in control of the Senate, thanks to further success in Georgia.

In return, many&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters expected Biden and Democrats to push new federal protections against restrictive local voting laws, police and criminal justice reform, student loan debt relief and economic empowerment.

Many of those efforts have been blocked by Republicans, leaving Biden to ask voters to let him "finish this job," with a second term, but with no clear path to get these things done.

On the other hand, Democrats' focus on LGBTQ and abortion rights leaves voters like Mekonnen feeling alienated.

"I'm probably getting turned away from the left, just because the Democrats are turning more left in my books," he said, adding he wished Democrats spent more time on the economy.

Polls and Reuters interviews show younger&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters and&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men of all ages are losing their faith in Democrats, Biden and perhaps even the political process, just three years after the U.S.'s biggest protests for racial justice and civil rights in a generation.

The vast majority of&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters, including men, are still expected to choose Biden over a Republican.

But the question for Democrats is whether disillusioned&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters will turn out to the polls in large enough numbers in crucial cities, from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit to keep Biden in the White House.

"Democrats need to understand that there is a growing population, especially with&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men, who are reaching the point of being fed up with always being pushed over and looked over," said LeLann Evans, 33, a political campaign manager who is running as a write-in candidate for Nashville City Council.

Democrats' failure to secure widespread student loan relief or legalize marijuana has been disappointing, Evans said, adding that Republicans' more aggressive approach when they have power means they are "actually getting things done."

<h2>Turnout drops</h2>

Self-identified&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Americans make up 14.2 per cent&nbsp;of the U.S. population, or 42.7 million people, a 30 per cent&nbsp;jump from 2000, Pew Research shows. These Americans are five years younger than the population as a whole, with an average age of 33, and Democrats' earning their loyalty is crucial for the party to keep winning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia, and to recapture districts in the South in the future.

Instead the opposite is happening.

Black&nbsp;voter turnout dropped by nearly 10 percentage points, from 51.7 per cent&nbsp;in the 2018 midterm elections to 42 per cent&nbsp;in 2022, according to a Washington Post analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's survey released earlier this year. White voter turnout slipped by only 1.5 points to 53.4 per cent.

"Black&nbsp;voter turnout was down across the country in 2022. We saw it in the polls, the surveys, the exit polls and every way you could measure it," said Michael McDonald, a politics professor at University of Florida.

Some Democrats have also been disturbed by recent polls showing that some&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters are defecting to Republicans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-led-us-house-panel-interviews-former-hunter-biden-associate-621196">Republican-led US House panel interviews former Hunter Biden associate</a>

One in five&nbsp;Black&nbsp;people under the age of 50 voted Republican in the 2022 midterms, roughly double the number of their elders, according to a previously unreported analysis of exit polling data by HIT Strategies, a public opinion research firm aligned with Democrats that routinely surveys&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Americans.&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men and women under the age of 50 voted Republican in similar numbers, the poll showed.

Republican Donald Trump's 12 per cent&nbsp;share of the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;vote in 2020 was four percentage points higher than it was in 2016, according to exit polls by Edison Research.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted July 11-17 found 18 per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Americans would pick Trump over Biden in a hypothetical matchup, compared to 46 per cent&nbsp;who favored Biden, including about one in four&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men, compared to about one in seven&nbsp;Black&nbsp;women.

Compared with&nbsp;Black&nbsp;women,&nbsp;Black&nbsp;men were more likely to say they would back a presidential candidate that supported abortion restrictions and increased police funding to fight crime.

<h2>Economic gains?</h2>

Democrats are favored by&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters who value abortion rights, voting rights and opposition to racism, says Terrance Woodbury, chief executive officer at HIT Strategies.

But that margin shrinks when it comes to managing the economy.

"When you get to economic issues - economic security, inflation, job security - those 50 and 60 point gaps began to shrink to near parity, where you have young&nbsp;Black&nbsp;folks saying that Republicans are almost as good for them on the economy as Democrats are," Woodbury said.

Julian Silas, 25, a&nbsp;Black&nbsp;investment research analyst from the Chicago area, said many of his friends and family are reexamining their politics and questioning just how much the loyalty of&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Americans to the Democratic Party bettered their lives, particularly their economic standing.

Every four years, Democratic candidates talk about increasing&nbsp;Black&nbsp;wealth and closing the gap between&nbsp;Black&nbsp;and white Americans, but "nothing actually really happens," Silas said.

"It seems like there's things that they talk about that seem good, that I can align with, like student loan debt relief or home ownership and all these different things, but maybe sometimes it doesn't feel like it's moving fast enough," Silas said.

The U.S.&nbsp;Black&nbsp;unemployment rate has fallen to historic lows under Biden, but hit a 10-month high in June, driven in large part by&nbsp;Black&nbsp;workers leaving the labor market.

Black&nbsp;families had 4.4 per cent&nbsp;of total household wealth in the first quarter of 2023, Federal Reserve data show, up slightly from 4.3 per cent&nbsp;at the beginning of 2020.

The Democratic Party has spent considerable time, money and resources to retain and expand the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;vote, including mounting registration drives in battleground states and recruiting&nbsp;Black&nbsp;campaign staff.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first&nbsp;Black&nbsp;person to hold that position and the highest U.S.&nbsp;Black&nbsp;elected official, and Jaime Harrison, the African-American chairman of the Democratic National Committee, attended this summer's Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans and have lavished attention on historically&nbsp;Black&nbsp;colleges and universities and media outlets including&nbsp;Black&nbsp;radio stations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-retains-republican-frontrunner-status-denigrates-desantis-as-desanctis-620447">Trump retains Republican frontrunner status, denigrates DeSantis as 'DeSanctis'</a>

Harris spoke at the annual NAACP gathering on Saturday.

"As we head into the 2024 cycle, the DNC is doubling down on our commitment to engaging&nbsp;Black&nbsp;voters with meaningful and sustained investments to make sure they know how President Biden and Vice President Harris have delivered for them," said Tracy King, the DNC's director of outreach communications, in an emailed statement.

For some, right now, that's not enough.

"I'm kind of stuck with Biden until someone else comes along," said Andre Russell, 47 and from Chicago, who works in education. "As a society we definitely have to move past the trope of old white men running everything."

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Bahta Mekonnen, a 28-year-old U.S. Army captain from the key voting state of Georgia, is among the millions of Black voters who helped deliver President Joe Biden the White House in 2020.

Bahta Mekonnen, a 28-year-old U.S. Army captain from the key voting state of Georgia, is among the millions of Black voters who helped deliver President Joe Biden the White House in 2020. Three years later, he is one of the voters who Democrats fear could cost Biden a second term in 2024. Disappointed by what he sees as Democrats' lurch to the left, free spending and empty promises, but also turned off by far-right Republicans, Mekonnen says he sees nothing but bad options at the ballot box next year. "What I'm noticing across the Democratic Party right now is there's a lot of pandering to the Black community," he said. "It seems like they do a lot to try to make it seem like they are the party for young Black men or Black men as a whole, but they don't back it with anything. They don't follow through." Also read | House Democrats fail to censor Robert F. Kennedy Jr over Covid, race comments Long the most loyal Democratic constituency, Black voters played a large role in rescuing Biden's struggling 2020 presidential campaign in the South Carolina primary, and sending him to the White House with Democrats in control of the Senate, thanks to further success in Georgia. In return, many Black voters expected Biden and Democrats to push new federal protections against restrictive local voting laws, police and criminal justice reform, student loan debt relief and economic empowerment. Many of those efforts have been blocked by Republicans, leaving Biden to ask voters to let him "finish this job," with a second term, but with no clear path to get these things done. On the other hand, Democrats' focus on LGBTQ and abortion rights leaves voters like Mekonnen feeling alienated. "I'm probably getting turned away from the left, just because the Democrats are turning more left in my books," he said, adding he wished Democrats spent more time on the economy. Polls and Reuters interviews show younger Black voters and Black men of all ages are losing their faith in Democrats, Biden and perhaps even the political process, just three years after the U.S.'s biggest protests for racial justice and civil rights in a generation. The vast majority of Black voters, including men, are still expected to choose Biden over a Republican. But the question for Democrats is whether disillusioned Black voters will turn out to the polls in large enough numbers in crucial cities, from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit to keep Biden in the White House. "Democrats need to understand that there is a growing population, especially with Black men, who are reaching the point of being fed up with always being pushed over and looked over," said LeLann Evans, 33, a political campaign manager who is running as a write-in candidate for Nashville City Council. Democrats' failure to secure widespread student loan relief or legalize marijuana has been disappointing, Evans said, adding that Republicans' more aggressive approach when they have power means they are "actually getting things done." Turnout drops Self-identified Black Americans make up 14.2 per cent of the U.S. population, or 42.7 million people, a 30 per cent jump from 2000, Pew Research shows. These Americans are five years younger than the population as a whole, with an average age of 33, and Democrats' earning their loyalty is crucial for the party to keep winning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia, and to recapture districts in the South in the future. Instead the opposite is happening. Black voter turnout dropped by nearly 10 percentage points, from 51.7 per cent in the 2018 midterm elections to 42 per cent in 2022, according to a Washington Post analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's survey released earlier this year. White voter turnout slipped by only 1.5 points to 53.4 per cent. "Black voter turnout was down across the country in 2022. We saw it in the polls, the surveys, the exit polls and every way you could measure it," said Michael McDonald, a politics professor at University of Florida. Some Democrats have also been disturbed by recent polls showing that some Black voters are defecting to Republicans. Also read | Republican-led US House panel interviews former Hunter Biden associate One in five Black people under the age of 50 voted Republican in the 2022 midterms, roughly double the number of their elders, according to a previously unreported analysis of exit polling data by HIT Strategies, a public opinion research firm aligned with Democrats that routinely surveys Black Americans. Black men and women under the age of 50 voted Republican in similar numbers, the poll showed. Republican Donald Trump's 12 per cent share of the Black vote in 2020 was four percentage points higher than it was in 2016, according to exit polls by Edison Research. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted July 11-17 found 18 per cent of Black Americans would pick Trump over Biden in a hypothetical matchup, compared to 46 per cent who favored Biden, including about one in four Black men, compared to about one in seven Black women. Compared with Black women, Black men were more likely to say they would back a presidential candidate that supported abortion restrictions and increased police funding to fight crime. Economic gains? Democrats are favored by Black voters who value abortion rights, voting rights and opposition to racism, says Terrance Woodbury, chief executive officer at HIT Strategies. But that margin shrinks when it comes to managing the economy. "When you get to economic issues - economic security, inflation, job security - those 50 and 60 point gaps began to shrink to near parity, where you have young Black folks saying that Republicans are almost as good for them on the economy as Democrats are," Woodbury said. Julian Silas, 25, a Black investment research analyst from the Chicago area, said many of his friends and family are reexamining their politics and questioning just how much the loyalty of Black Americans to the Democratic Party bettered their lives, particularly their economic standing. Every four years, Democratic candidates talk about increasing Black wealth and closing the gap between Black and white Americans, but "nothing actually really happens," Silas said. "It seems like there's things that they talk about that seem good, that I can align with, like student loan debt relief or home ownership and all these different things, but maybe sometimes it doesn't feel like it's moving fast enough," Silas said. The U.S. Black unemployment rate has fallen to historic lows under Biden, but hit a 10-month high in June, driven in large part by Black workers leaving the labor market. Black families had 4.4 per cent of total household wealth in the first quarter of 2023, Federal Reserve data show, up slightly from 4.3 per cent at the beginning of 2020. The Democratic Party has spent considerable time, money and resources to retain and expand the Black vote, including mounting registration drives in battleground states and recruiting Black campaign staff. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black person to hold that position and the highest U.S. Black elected official, and Jaime Harrison, the African-American chairman of the Democratic National Committee, attended this summer's Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans and have lavished attention on historically Black colleges and universities and media outlets including Black radio stations. Also read | Trump retains Republican frontrunner status, denigrates DeSantis as 'DeSanctis' Harris spoke at the annual NAACP gathering on Saturday. "As we head into the 2024 cycle, the DNC is doubling down on our commitment to engaging Black voters with meaningful and sustained investments to make sure they know how President Biden and Vice President Harris have delivered for them," said Tracy King, the DNC's director of outreach communications, in an emailed statement. For some, right now, that's not enough. "I'm kind of stuck with Biden until someone else comes along," said Andre Russell, 47 and from Chicago, who works in education. "As a society we definitely have to move past the trope of old white men running everything." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Biden losing popularity amongst Black voters close to 2024 elections

Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser. With Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott sharing the stage, the fundraiser occurred with less than six months left for the state's caucuses.&nbsp;

The Republican presidential hopefuls addressed the donors and local Republican leaders.

Trump insisted he was the best candidate to defeat Joe Biden, citing the polls that show him far ahead of DeSantis.

"I wouldn’t take a chance on that one," Trump said of DeSantis, who he consistently referred to as "DeSanctis". Speaking about his record as president, Trump insisted that he was the only president who did not start a war on a foreign land.

The Florida governor, meanwhile, talked up his record in the state that he said has focused to "beat the left's agenda".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-approval-rating-plummets-to-new-low-as-trump-gains-momentum-612215">Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum</a>

Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has seen attacks on transgender healthcare as well as abortion access. 
 
His relentless attack on LGBTQ+ education has won him hardline supporters amid consistent criticism from activists and people alike.

Also watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump's employee accused of attempting to delete CCTV Footage

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Taking a leaf out of Trump's booklet of populism that the former president first used in the run up to his election to the White House in 2016, DeSantis said that he will deploy military on border with Mexico and vowed a "deadly force" on &nbsp;drug cartels.

<h2>Iowa Lincoln Dinner: Trump cements frontrunner lead</h2>

Despite an immediate prospect of a third criminal indictment, Trump has a whopping 30-point advantage over his closest rival, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, according to a Fox Business poll.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis is faltering. The Florida governor has recently fired a third of his campaign staff and reportedly cancelled&nbsp;two fundraising events last weekend due to lack of donor interest.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polls, his support among likely Republican primary voters has dipped by roughly eight points since the beginning of July 2023.

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Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser.

Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser. With Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott sharing the stage, the fundraiser occurred with less than six months left for the state's caucuses. The Republican presidential hopefuls addressed the donors and local Republican leaders. Trump insisted he was the best candidate to defeat Joe Biden, citing the polls that show him far ahead of DeSantis. "I wouldn’t take a chance on that one," Trump said of DeSantis, who he consistently referred to as "DeSanctis". Speaking about his record as president, Trump insisted that he was the only president who did not start a war on a foreign land. The Florida governor, meanwhile, talked up his record in the state that he said has focused to "beat the left's agenda". Also read | Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has seen attacks on transgender healthcare as well as abortion access. His relentless attack on LGBTQ+ education has won him hardline supporters amid consistent criticism from activists and people alike. Also watch | Donald Trump's employee accused of attempting to delete CCTV Footage × Taking a leaf out of Trump's booklet of populism that the former president first used in the run up to his election to the White House in 2016, DeSantis said that he will deploy military on border with Mexico and vowed a "deadly force" on drug cartels. Iowa Lincoln Dinner: Trump cements frontrunner lead Despite an immediate prospect of a third criminal indictment, Trump has a whopping 30-point advantage over his closest rival, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, according to a Fox Business poll. Meanwhile, the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis is faltering. The Florida governor has recently fired a third of his campaign staff and reportedly cancelled two fundraising events last weekend due to lack of donor interest. According to FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polls, his support among likely Republican primary voters has dipped by roughly eight points since the beginning of July 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump retains Republican frontrunner status, denigrates DeSantis as 'DeSanctis'

Mexican-born Mayra Flores, a former Republican Representative, has declared her candidacy for Texas's 34th Congressional District, media reports said.&nbsp;This sets the stage for a rematch against incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez.&nbsp;

In the 2022 midterm elections, she was defeated by Gonzalez with a margin of over 8 points. The redistricting process also contributed to a more favorable environment for Democrats in the district.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trial-opens-over-new-zealands-2019-white-island-volcanic-eruption-incident-that-killed-22-614451">Trial opens over New Zealand's 2019 White Island volcanic eruption incident that killed 22</a>

Flores made her announcement on the show "Fox &amp; Friends," emphasising her commitment to representing the people of South Texas and addressing issues such as border security, empowering border patrol agents, and combating child trafficking.

“I am announcing for Congress. We are taking back our seat,” she said adding, “We will flip this district and take back what is ours in 2024.”

In her campaign ad, Flores highlighted her family's connection to the Rio Grande Valley, where she and her father worked in the cotton fields.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-outgoing-prime-minister-prayut-chan-o-cha-announces-retirement-from-politics-614430">Thailand's outgoing prime minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha announces retirement from politics</a>

She aims to leverage her deep roots in the community to garner support.

Flores initially won a special election in June last year to fill the state’s old 34th Congressional District. It came after the seat was left vacant by former Democratic Representative Filemon Vela, who resigned to work at a law firm.&nbsp;

<h2>A rapid Latinos shift</h2>

Her win was celebrated among conservatives. It was interpreted as a signal of a rapid Latinos shift towards the Republican Party in Texas.&nbsp;

“Our values align with the Republican Party. Our values align. I am pro-God, pro-life, pro-family,” she said Tuesday. “The Democrat Party stands against everything we stand for.”

Watch | Why US military deals are not enough to wean India off Russian arms yet

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According to the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report, the House district is rated as "likely Democrat" for the upcoming 2024 election.

<h2>Poll in favour of&nbsp;Mayra Flores&nbsp;</h2>

The National Republican Congressional Committee had been actively involved in persuading Flores to launch another campaign.

It conducted a poll that indicated that she had a viable chance of winning the district, despite President Joe Biden having won it by a significant margin of nearly 16 points in the 2020 election.

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&nbsp;

Mexican-born Mayra Flores, a former Republican Representative, has declared her candidacy for Texas's 34th Congressional District, media reports said. This sets the stage for a rematch against incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez.

Mexican-born Mayra Flores, a former Republican Representative, has declared her candidacy for Texas's 34th Congressional District, media reports said. This sets the stage for a rematch against incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez. In the 2022 midterm elections, she was defeated by Gonzalez with a margin of over 8 points. The redistricting process also contributed to a more favorable environment for Democrats in the district. Also Read | Trial opens over New Zealand's 2019 White Island volcanic eruption incident that killed 22 Flores made her announcement on the show "Fox & Friends," emphasising her commitment to representing the people of South Texas and addressing issues such as border security, empowering border patrol agents, and combating child trafficking. “I am announcing for Congress. We are taking back our seat,” she said adding, “We will flip this district and take back what is ours in 2024.” In her campaign ad, Flores highlighted her family's connection to the Rio Grande Valley, where she and her father worked in the cotton fields. Also Read | Thailand's outgoing prime minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha announces retirement from politics She aims to leverage her deep roots in the community to garner support. Flores initially won a special election in June last year to fill the state’s old 34th Congressional District. It came after the seat was left vacant by former Democratic Representative Filemon Vela, who resigned to work at a law firm. A rapid Latinos shift Her win was celebrated among conservatives. It was interpreted as a signal of a rapid Latinos shift towards the Republican Party in Texas. “Our values align with the Republican Party. Our values align. I am pro-God, pro-life, pro-family,” she said Tuesday. “The Democrat Party stands against everything we stand for.” Watch | Why US military deals are not enough to wean India off Russian arms yet × According to the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report, the House district is rated as "likely Democrat" for the upcoming 2024 election. Poll in favour of Mayra Flores The National Republican Congressional Committee had been actively involved in persuading Flores to launch another campaign. It conducted a poll that indicated that she had a viable chance of winning the district, despite President Joe Biden having won it by a significant margin of nearly 16 points in the 2020 election. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Republican Mayra Flores announces bid to reclaim Texas House seat

Former US vice president and a contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential elections Mike Pence made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine on Thursday. He held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a statement released to the media, Pence said, “Freedom is winning in Ukraine, and now more than ever, we need to keep faith with the courageous fighters here in Ukraine who are standing for freedom and pushing back on Russian aggression."

The trip comes amidst the ongoing counteroffensive by the Ukrainian forces against the Russian invading forces even as the Kremlin continues to manage the fallout of the failed rebellion staged by the private militia group Wagner.

Pence was quoted by NBC News as saying, “I believe America’s the leader of the free world.” He added, “But coming here just as a private citizen — being able to really see firsthand the heroism of the Ukrainian soldiers holding the line in those woods, see the heroism of the people here in Irpin that held back the Russian army, to see families whose homes were literally shelled in the midst of an unconscionable and unprovoked Russian invasion — just steels my resolve to do my part, to continue to call for strong American support for our Ukrainian friends and allies.”

<h2>Pence vs Trump on Ukraine</h2>

Pence has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and a fierce critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Also, he has become the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the war-battered nation.

Watch:&nbsp;Mike Pence on National Abortion ban

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On the other hand, his Republican opponent Donald Trump has shied away from publicly throwing his support behind Ukraine, and instead placed his bets on a “mutually agreed solution.” He has also vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within one day of him becoming the president.

Former vice president Mike Pence is facing a significant gap in support compared to former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters, as indicated by polls, as they consider the candidate who will challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming elections.

<h2>Republicans divided over Ukraine</h2>

The issue of Ukraine has become a divisive point among Republican presidential contenders as they vie for the party's nomination for the White House.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-mike-pence-the-former-us-vp-who-will-take-on-donald-trump-601009">Also read:&nbsp;Who is Mike Pence, the former US VP who will take on his ex-boss Donald Trump?</a>

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered Trump's closest rival in the race, has raised questions about the extent of aid that should be provided to Ukraine.&nbsp;

On the other hand, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have voiced their support for continued assistance to Ukraine.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Former US vice president and a contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential elections Mike Pence made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine on Thursday.

Former US vice president and a contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential elections Mike Pence made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine on Thursday. He held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a statement released to the media, Pence said, “Freedom is winning in Ukraine, and now more than ever, we need to keep faith with the courageous fighters here in Ukraine who are standing for freedom and pushing back on Russian aggression." The trip comes amidst the ongoing counteroffensive by the Ukrainian forces against the Russian invading forces even as the Kremlin continues to manage the fallout of the failed rebellion staged by the private militia group Wagner. Pence was quoted by NBC News as saying, “I believe America’s the leader of the free world.” He added, “But coming here just as a private citizen — being able to really see firsthand the heroism of the Ukrainian soldiers holding the line in those woods, see the heroism of the people here in Irpin that held back the Russian army, to see families whose homes were literally shelled in the midst of an unconscionable and unprovoked Russian invasion — just steels my resolve to do my part, to continue to call for strong American support for our Ukrainian friends and allies.” Pence vs Trump on Ukraine Pence has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and a fierce critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Also, he has become the first Republican presidential candidate to visit the war-battered nation. Watch: Mike Pence on National Abortion ban × On the other hand, his Republican opponent Donald Trump has shied away from publicly throwing his support behind Ukraine, and instead placed his bets on a “mutually agreed solution.” He has also vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within one day of him becoming the president. Former vice president Mike Pence is facing a significant gap in support compared to former president Donald Trump among Republican primary voters, as indicated by polls, as they consider the candidate who will challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming elections. Republicans divided over Ukraine The issue of Ukraine has become a divisive point among Republican presidential contenders as they vie for the party's nomination for the White House. Also read: Who is Mike Pence, the former US VP who will take on his ex-boss Donald Trump? Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered Trump's closest rival in the race, has raised questions about the extent of aid that should be provided to Ukraine. On the other hand, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have voiced their support for continued assistance to Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Pence makes surprise visit to Ukraine 

Turning the tables, former US president Donald Trump is now countersuing journalist E. Jean Carroll for defamation, alleging she falsely accused him of rape after a grand jury did not agree with her allegation that the former president raped her but found that he sexually abused her.&nbsp;

Previously, Carroll claimed that Trump had raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996.&nbsp;Although the jury reached a unanimous decision&nbsp;regarding the defamation and sexual abuse, it&nbsp;did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her.

Consequently, Trump filed a new case and is now seeking a retraction as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. According to the former president's claims, Tuesday's filing relates to comments made by Carroll on CNN after an earlier court verdict.&nbsp;

Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’”

Carroll added that when she shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, she told him, “He did it. And you know it.”

After the filing of the case, a lawyer representing Carroll said the case was&nbsp;"nothing more than his [Trump's] latest effort to delay accountability" for the verdict on 9 May.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-verdict-is-for-all-women-e-jean-carroll-after-jury-holds-trump-guilty-of-sexually-abusing-her-591074">Also read |&nbsp;'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her</a>

<h2>Date set for a second defamation trial</h2>

The Republican leader filing the lawsuit comes over a fortnight after a federal court in New York&nbsp;set the date for a second defamation trial against him.

Notably, Carroll, who received&nbsp;$5 million in compensatory and punitive damages last month, filed another case after Trump's tirade against her at a CNN town hall.&nbsp;A day after a nine-member jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the Elle magazine writer, he called her a 'whack job'.&nbsp;

He added that Carroll was telling a "made-up story" and that he didn't know her, which according to Carroll's lawyers, comes under the category of further "defamatory statements".&nbsp;

"Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite," the complaint reads.

"This conduct supports a very substantial punitive damages award in Carroll’s favor both to punish Trump, to deter him from engaging in further defamation, and to deter others from doing the same," it added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-sexually-abused-writer-e-jean-carroll-us-jury-rules-590929">ATCH |&nbsp;Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules</a>

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The trial will begin on 15 January 2024 and Carroll is seeking at least $10 million in damages this time. The timing is critical as 2024 is when the US goes into presidential polls and Trump's election campaign might be in full swing by then.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Turning the tables, former US president Donald Trump is now countersuing journalist E. Jean Carroll for defamation, alleging she falsely accused him of rape after a grand jury did not agree with her allegation that the former president raped her but found that he sexually abused her.

Turning the tables, former US president Donald Trump is now countersuing journalist E. Jean Carroll for defamation, alleging she falsely accused him of rape after a grand jury did not agree with her allegation that the former president raped her but found that he sexually abused her. Previously, Carroll claimed that Trump had raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. Although the jury reached a unanimous decision regarding the defamation and sexual abuse, it did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her. Consequently, Trump filed a new case and is now seeking a retraction as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. According to the former president's claims, Tuesday's filing relates to comments made by Carroll on CNN after an earlier court verdict. Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’” Carroll added that when she shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, she told him, “He did it. And you know it.” After the filing of the case, a lawyer representing Carroll said the case was "nothing more than his [Trump's] latest effort to delay accountability" for the verdict on 9 May. Also read | 'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her Date set for a second defamation trial The Republican leader filing the lawsuit comes over a fortnight after a federal court in New York set the date for a second defamation trial against him. Notably, Carroll, who received $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages last month, filed another case after Trump's tirade against her at a CNN town hall. A day after a nine-member jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the Elle magazine writer, he called her a 'whack job'. He added that Carroll was telling a "made-up story" and that he didn't know her, which according to Carroll's lawyers, comes under the category of further "defamatory statements". "Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite," the complaint reads. "This conduct supports a very substantial punitive damages award in Carroll’s favor both to punish Trump, to deter him from engaging in further defamation, and to deter others from doing the same," it added. ATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × The trial will begin on 15 January 2024 and Carroll is seeking at least $10 million in damages this time. The timing is critical as 2024 is when the US goes into presidential polls and Trump's election campaign might be in full swing by then. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump turns the tables, countersues E. Jean Carroll for false rape allegations

Former US president Donald Trump in a recent Fox interview has given reasons for his rather callous handling of the alleged classified documents. When quizzed about why he failed to comply with the request from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to return the documents, Trump said he had personal items mixed with the official items.

Former US president Donald Trump in a recent Fox interview has given reasons for his rather callous handling of the alleged classified documents. When quizzed about why he failed to comply with the request from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to return the documents, Trump said he had personal items mixed with the official items. “The only way NARA could ever get this stuff, this back would be [to say] ‘Please, please, please could we have it back,’” Trump said during a sit-down interview with Bret Baier. “I want to go through the boxes and get all my personal things out. I don’t want to hand that over to (National Archives) yet. And I was very busy, as you’ve sort of seen,” he said. “Before I send boxes over, I have to take all of my things out. These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things," added Trump. Watch: Former US President Donald Trump put National Security at risk × No secret documents: Trump When questioned about the July 2021 meeting recording where Trump could be heard describing the secret documents at his residence, the Republican leader said he was simply referring to news clippings and magazine pieces. “There was no document. That was a massive amount of papers and everything else talking about Iran and other things. And it may have been held up or may not, but that was not a document. I didn’t have a document per se. There was nothing to declassify. These were newspaper stories, magazine stories and articles.” What happened to Trump? Trump was indicted on 37 counts, including under the .Espionage Act for carrying confidential and classified documents to his Florida Mar-a-Lago residence. It was his second indictment since announcing a run for the 2024 presidential election. He faces allegations of mishandling sensitive government secrets and engaging in scheming to prevent their recovery and return. Authorities assert that he conspired to impede investigators and knowingly shared national security secrets with individuals lacking proper clearance. Upon making an appearance at the Miami Court, earlie.r this month, Trump pleaded not guilty on all 37 charges and later went on an unhinged tirade to attack President Joe Biden as well as past presidents. Making his first speech from the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey after the hearing, the Republican leader said he will go after the "Biden crime family" if he comes to power. “I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family. Name a special prosecutor," said Trump as the crowd chanted slogans of "lock him up". Also read | Get, set, arrest? Will Donald Trump be arrested in classified documents row? “I will totally obliterate the deep state. We know who they are. I know exactly who they are. They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump defends not returning classified documents as it had 'personal' items

Former US president Donald Trump rang in his 77th birthday on Wednesday after a day of heavy court proceedings. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal counts including espionage charges and managed to secure a release on bond.

Former US president Donald Trump rang in his 77th birthday on Wednesday after a day of heavy court proceedings. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal counts including espionage charges and managed to secure a release on bond. The legal woes, however, are far from over for the Republican leader. Fulton County, Georgia and its sheriff's office have dispatched officials to Miami and New York to gather intelligence regarding allegations that Trump pressured election officials to overturn his loss in the state's 2020 election. Notably, in one of the leaked tapes that went viral at the time, Trump was caught instructing Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, “I just want to find 11,780 votes,” to surpass Joe Biden’s total. If the officials manage to gather ample evidence, Trump could be staring at another indictment. Stormy Daniels hush-money case Then there is the Stormy Daniels hush-money case where Trump has again pleaded not guilty. Trump is accused of having sex with Daniels right after Melania gave birth to their son Barron. He is alleged to have falsified records to conceal reimbursements to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence her about their alleged sexual encounters. Also read | Trump's attempt to move 'hush money' case to federal court opposed by Manhattan DA E. Jean Carroll's defamation case Having just about settled the defamation case with E. Jean Carroll, a federal judge in New York on Tuesday granted the request to the journalist to update her lawsuit after Trump issued new comments about her. Earlier, Carroll had won $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Trump's recent statements at a CNN town hall triggered Carroll to file another complaint. "Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite," read the complaint. WATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × Election overturning allegations Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who has charged Trump in the classified documents case is also leading the case into allegations of Trump overturning the 2020 presidential election. A federal jury has heard from witnesses, including former vice-president, Mike Pence. Also read | 'I will obliterate...': Trump goes on unhinged tirade after Miami court proceedings Despite the plethora of court cases staring Trump, his popularity is yet to take a beating. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 81 per cent of Republican voters view the charges as politically motivated. Meanwhile, 43 per cent said Trump is their preferred candidate in the primary compared with 22 per cent who picked the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump rings in his 77th birthday with plethora of court cases awaiting him

When Donald Trump announced to the world Thursday night that he had been indicted on a raft of federal charges, his message was consistent and singularly focused: Joe Biden is using the government to crush his political comeback.

Trump claims he is victim of 'vicious persecution' by Biden in first speech since federal indictment

Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges over the alleged mishandling of classified documents. The 76-year-old billionaire - who served as the 45th president of the US between 2017 and 2021 - could face a lengthy prison sentence if he's ultimately convicted.

Donald Trump faces 37 felony charges in classified documents investigation

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