Leftist Lens, Episode 49(17)
Intro
Hello, Im Matt and this is James or I’m james and this is Matt
The election is just 1 week away, and the early voting is well underway, we have an important message about elon musk but then this episode is all about the election
We will tell you about it on this week’s edition of the Leftist Lens
Elon Musk
Paying people to register to vote and a sweepstakes if you do
Very illegal, I don’t understand the confusion
Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and
Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both -US Code title 18 section 597.
Bigger story, the Wall Street Journal, a right wing newspaper, outs Musk as Russian puppet
Regular contact between Musk and Putin has occurred since 2022
Since 2022 Musk has bought twitter and turned it into a cesspool of right wing propaganda, he has also agreed to prevent Taiwan from having StarLink access at the request of Xi.
Who knows what else Putin has asked for considering Musk’s heavy involvement with NASA
Election
If you are feeling overwhelming anxious about the election call or text 988, there has been an increase in staffing on the crisis line to handle the increase in anxiety and depression during this elections season
I’ve never seen this level of effort put into an election by democrats. Erie, where I live: Jesse Jackson was here last week, Bernie Sanders and JD Vance (2nd visit) yesterday. Bill Clinton will be here Tuesday
Parties you may see on your ballot
Constitution Party
Far right party that injects the bible heavily in it’s platform
Formed after George Bush I violated his “read my lips, no new taxes” pledge
Opinion: DO NOT VOTE FOR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
Forward Party
Centrist party founded by Andrew Yang
Originally advocated for congressional term limits, UBI, and data as a property right
Has since abandoned its platform except for in election issues leaving all other issues up to the candidates
RCV, non-partisan primaries and independent redistricting committees are their only platform now
Opinion: VOTE IF THE CANDIDATES INDIVIDUAL POLICIES ALIGN WITH YOURS
Libertarian Party
They believe in the most limited government and private everything
Doesn’t sound terrible but when Libertarians moved to and took over the government of Grafton NH, they proved their philosophy does not work
When they cut the town budget by 30% potholes went unrepaired, trash went un picked up, and bears overran the town
Opinion: DO NOT VOTE FOR
Green Party
Decent platform of social justice, equality, women’s rights, universal healthcare and education, anti death penalty
The are anti capitalist but also anti socialist advocating for a not defined other option
Opinion: DON’T VOTE FOR THIS YEAR
Socialist Party
The workers own the means of production
The only party that advocates for the people to have true power
Not viable at the national level but they have several town level seats
Opinion: IN ANOTHER YEAR WE'D PROBABLY ADVOCATE FOR CLAUDIA AND KARINA BUT NOT THIS YEAR, VOTE FOR LOWER SEATS IF YOU WANT
Ad Break-27:37
Ballot Measures
https://ballotpedia.org/2024_ballot_m...
We will go through the whole list and touch on the topics and tell people to go to ballotpedia.org to check on their state
Record turnout in NC and GA in early voting
More republicans are voting early but more democrats too
Turnout is critical and it looks like it’s going to be high
Kamala vs Trump rally
Kamala in Houston
30,000 attendees
2.5 million streams
Trump in Traverse City
3 hours late and no article I can find counted the people but from pictures it was much less than 30k and hundreds left before he got there after he sent a video message from his plane saying he would be two hours longer when already an hour late
48k streams
LA times and WaPo decline to endorse a presidential candidate when the billionaire owners of each, Patrick Soon-Shiong and Jeff Bezos, ordered them not to
Editors at both resigned over this and people are canceling their subs
When it comes to WaPO, you might want to boycott Amazon instead
Trump is having a rally in MSG today, it’d be a shame if it was empty
Odds and ends
Baseball on the radio