How's it going, America,
Check out our latest episode of The Pod Millennial! I talk to Adam Coleman about who's really behind the wheel of America's big rigs, and how unqualified drivers ended up operating some of the most dangerous vehicles on our highways. New episodes drop every Tuesday! Listen, rate (5 stars, of course!), and subscribe!
Let's get into it:
We've all been yammering on about the midterms for months. Gas prices have fluctuated but never quite gone down. None of the wars have come to an end. There's still plenty of fighting and bombing in Ukraine, and threats keep ramping up between Israel and the US over Iran. But are those enough reasons to send the GOP packing? I guess we'll find out later on tonight, although if the propaganda from PBS is to be believed, there's no reason to think we'll even get the results on Tuesday night.
Every single US House seat is up for election today, that's 435 seats, which happens every two years, but is still a pretty stunning number. There are 35 Senate seats up for election and 36 gubernatorial races. Redistricting plays a role in these elections as several states have made changes. This was originally perceived as something that would benefit Republican candidates, but now we're all on pins and needles waiting to see what happens.
Predictions have been bouncing back and forth, but the even money seems to be on the GOP keeping the Senate and losing the House. The only thing is that with the influx of socialist candidates who will be joining the left side of the aisle, there's a good chance the Democrats will be losing the House, too—simply because the far-left socialists don't actually back the Dems they used to gain power. Even if the Dems win, there's every reason to believe Hakeem Jeffries will have to fight to be speaker.
So what about the Senate? The two crazy candidates, Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico, have been fighting to gain dominance. The polls have been pretty untrustworthy this time around, especially when paired with prediction markets that are able to be manipulated for profit.
As with every recent election, this one is consequential. Democrats have been clear that their first plan is lawfare against the sitting Trump administration and staffers. They're planning to start impeachment proceedings. Their reasons for all of this have to do with the White House Ballroom, the Trump Arch, and "sending a message" to young people not to be conservative.
If the GOP retains control, we'll see more of the same, which at least includes closed borders, controls on immigration, pushing back against universities that violate Title IX and engage in discrimination, fighting fraud, and leaving bloated social programs at status quo or better, not expanding them to the moon.
In my district, there are concerns about data centers and transmission lines but I could find no candidate in favor of either thing. I say let's have more industry, more development, more jobs. There are people moving into this little corner of West Virginia at astounding rates, new houses are going up at alarming speed. But there's still no money for infrastructure: more and wider roads, schools, water lines, first responders. The area needs jobs, and the local elected leaders just keep talking about preserving open space—the same open space being gobbled up with new housing.
Somehow it always seems that the people who hold office have completely different priorities from the people who voted for them. But you know, go vote anyway! I will be.
Libby