Democratic Party

Representative Josh Gottheimer Continues Bipartisan Momentum for Main Street Growth Act

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

CHICAGO, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Exchange is pleased to announce that Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey's 5th district has officially signed on as the newest sponsor of the Main Street Growth Act.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Exchange is pleased to announce that Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey's 5th district has officially signed on as the newest sponsor of the Main Street Growth Act.
  • Representative Gottheimer, a key figure in the Democratic Party, boasts a diverse and influential career that spans politics and business.
  • The growing bipartisan support for the Main Street Growth Act highlights a collective acknowledgment of the need to prioritize the financial health of America's small businesses.
  • With this Act, we're not simply leveling the playing field; we're fostering an environment where the best and brightest can succeed.

CRAIG WILLIAMS CHALLENGES DAVE SUNDAY TO A SERIES OF 10 DEBATES AROUND PA

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 23, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Craig Williams, former Federal Prosecutor, Marine Combat Veteran, and State Representative, emerged as a formidable advocate for justice and safety at the Philadelphia Criminal Inn of Court's Attorney General Forum last evening. As the most qualified Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General, Williams directly engaged with four Democrat challengers, underscoring his unwavering dedication and principled approach to tackling the state's urgent crime issues.

Key Points: 
  • The discussion revolved around the Gun Violence Task Force, which Rep. Williams re-designed in 2022 legislation to focus on felony gun prosecution in Philadelphia.
  • It was the same "hiding" strategy deployed in the endorsement process, which party bosses invoked virtually with no debates.
  • In contrast, Craig Williams, undeterred by being a more qualified underdog, stepped into the forum ready to advocate for the tough, necessary measures to make Pennsylvania safe.
  • With that, Williams issued a debate challenge to Sunday, who so far has been able to avoid being on stage with Williams.

Prabowo’s likely victory: Jokowi’s effect and a test for Indonesia’s democracy

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

According to the latest reliable polling, Prabowo – Indonesia’s defence minister – secured almost 60% of the votes in what is considered as the largest and most complex single-day election in the world.

Key Points: 
  • According to the latest reliable polling, Prabowo – Indonesia’s defence minister – secured almost 60% of the votes in what is considered as the largest and most complex single-day election in the world.
  • This will likely mean that there will be no second round.
  • But since its first direct presidential election in 2004, Indonesia has relied on quick counts to know their new president on the election day.
  • This is his fourth attempt to run for the country’s top jobs.
  • He first ran as the vice presidential candidate for Megawati Sukarnoputri, PDIP chairwoman, in the 2009 presidential election.
  • It was after his 2019 election defeat that Prabowo accepted the offer of a job as Jokowi’s defence minister.

Jokowi’s factor

  • The Prabowo-Gibran ticket was organised with substantial involvement from Jokowi throughout.
  • Gibran was ruled eligible to stand as a vice-presidential candidate after the constitutional court, led by Jokowi’s brother-in-law Anwar Usman, overturned a requirement that the candidates must be at least 40 so that his 36-year-old son could run.
  • Many declared that the election was no longer about continuing Jokowi’s legacy but about saving democracy.
  • Three days before the election, a film exposing alleged electoral fraud involving Jokowi went viral.
  • These ranged from distributing government funds to potential voters before the election to planting supporters in numerous key provinces.

What does this mean for Indonesia’s democracy?

  • But it remains too early to make any judgements about any real democratic threat from the election.
  • He is the son-in-law of Indonesia long-term autocratic leader Suharto and has been accused of complicity in the disappearances of 13 activists during Suharto’s presidency.
  • Baca juga:
    On election eve, all 3 of Indonesia's presidential candidates have troubling human rights records

    .

  • It’s unlikely that Prabowo could have even achieved the runner’s up position had the election been held a year ago.
  • And, importantly, the military does not necessarily support Prabowo.


Yohanes Sulaiman tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

Former army general Prabowo Subianto likely to win Indonesia’s election at 4th attempt

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Voters in the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia, have elected former army general Prabowo Subianto as its eighth president, despite his campaign being dogged by accusations of human rights violations and electoral fraud.

Key Points: 
  • Voters in the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia, have elected former army general Prabowo Subianto as its eighth president, despite his campaign being dogged by accusations of human rights violations and electoral fraud.
  • According to the latest reliable polling, Prabowo – Indonesia’s defence minister – secured almost 60% of the votes in what is considered as the largest and most complex single-day election in the world.
  • This will likely mean that there will be no second round.
  • He first ran as the vice presidential candidate for Megawati Sukarnoputri, PDIP chairwoman, in the 2009 presidential election.
  • It was after his 2019 election defeat that Prabowo accepted the offer of a job as Jokowi’s defence minister.
  • In this year’s election Prabowo teamed up with Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, after a dispute between Jokowi and Megawati over their choice of candidates.

Jokowi’s factor

  • The Prabowo-Gibran ticket was organised with substantial involvement from Jokowi throughout.
  • Gibran was ruled eligible to stand as a vice-presidential candidate after the constitutional court, led by Jokowi’s brother-in-law Anwar Usman, overturned a requirement that the candidates must be at least 40 so that his 36-year-old son could run.
  • Many declared that the election was no longer about continuing Jokowi’s legacy but about saving democracy.
  • Three days before the election, a film exposing alleged electoral fraud involving Jokowi went viral.
  • These ranged from distributing government funds to potential voters before the election to planting supporters in numerous key provinces.

What does this mean for Indonesia’s democracy?

  • But it remains too early to make any judgements about any real democratic threat from the election.
  • Baca juga:
    On election eve, all 3 of Indonesia's presidential candidates have troubling human rights records

    .

  • It’s unlikely that Prabowo could have even achieved the runner’s up position had the election been held a year ago.
  • And, importantly, the military does not necessarily support Prabowo.


Yohanes Sulaiman tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

On election eve, all 3 of Indonesia’s presidential candidates have troubling human rights records

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

After nearly three months of campaigning, the three pairs vying for presidential and vice presidential seats are now in the cooling-off period.

Key Points: 
  • After nearly three months of campaigning, the three pairs vying for presidential and vice presidential seats are now in the cooling-off period.
  • That past is why the commitments of candidates to resolve human rights violations always come up during Indonesian elections.

Anies: concerns about his backers

  • Their programs related to human rights underlines Anies’ pledges to strengthen national human rights institutions, resolve past human rights cases and provide socio-economic recovery for victims of human rights violations.
  • Anies is the candidate with the most comprehensive details on his plans to revise regulations hindering press freedom and civil liberties.

Prabowo: haunted by deadly human rights allegations

  • Frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, who is running with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has pledged to strengthen democracy by protecting human rights for citizens.
  • The pair have also promised to eliminate discriminatory practices, including protecting the fundamental rights of communities and vulnerable groups.
  • However, only Prabowo-Gibran have not included any program to resolve past human rights violations among all candidates.

Ganjar: unresolved agrarian disputes

  • However, they do not expressly state what kinds of programs they will have to achieve this.
  • Ganjar has a poor record on agrarian conflicts during his tenure as the former governor of Central Java.
  • In 2018, he issued an environmental permit to construct the Bener Dam in Purworejo, Central Java, as part of a mining site.

No candidate is clean

  • The three presidential and vice-presidential pairs and their supporters have yet to be entirely assertive on the issue of civil liberties and human rights protection.
  • Given their track records, Indonesian voters face a challenge to vote for the candidate with the clearest position on human rights issues, given no one is thoroughly “clean” from human rights controversies.


Eka Nugraha Putra tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

200 million voters, 820,000 polling stations and 10,000 candidates: Indonesia’s massive election, by the numbers

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

There are three candidates running, alongside their vice presidential candidates.

Key Points: 
  • There are three candidates running, alongside their vice presidential candidates.
  • According to opinion polls, the favourite is Prabowo Subianto, leader of the Greater Indonesia Party (Gerindra), a populist and nationalist party he founded in 2008.
  • Prabowo is the frontrunner, but it’s unclear whether he will win an absolute majority of votes in the first round.

By the numbers


Voters are also casting votes in parliamentary elections, which include:
580 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR), with more than 9,900 candidates
152 seats in the Regional Representative Council (DPD), designed to represent the regions, with around 670 candidates
and local parliaments in each of the 38 provinces and 416 districts.
In total, there are over 2,700 separate electoral contests being held for around 20,500 seats. All are the responsibility of Indonesia’s independent election commission (the Komisi Pemilihan Umum, or simply KPU) to administer impartially and efficiently.

Logistical nightmare

  • The distance from Aceh in the west to Papua in the east is some 5,100 kilometres (3,200 miles), wider than the continental US.
  • Read more:
    Cute grandpa or authoritarian in waiting: who is Prabowo Subianto, the favourite to win Indonesia's presidential election?
  • To get an idea of the size of the task facing the KPU, let’s look at the presidential election first.
  • And they must also make choices for three other chambers – in addition to the presidential vote.

An unglamorous, but remarkable democratic achievement

  • So, how well has Indonesia done in this massive task of making democratic elections work?
  • In a world where democracy seems increasingly under pressure, Indonesia has managed five peaceful and democratic transfers of power.
  • In comparison to neighbouring states in Southeast Asia, where one-party dominance is widespread or democratic progress has been crushed under military coups, Indonesia stands out as a bastion of democratic politics.
  • Given the strains placed on the United States’ long-established democracy in recent years, Indonesia’s achievement in making elections work should not go unnoticed.


Stephen Sherlock does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

FAU AND MAINSTREET RESEARCH NATIONAL POLL REVEALS TIGHT U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

According to the national survey, 41 percent of registered voters expressed support for Trump, while 37 percent favored Biden.

Key Points: 
  • According to the national survey, 41 percent of registered voters expressed support for Trump, while 37 percent favored Biden.
  • These findings echo recent polls showing Trump consistently leading Biden by margins ranging from 1 to 4 percent.
  • Demographic analysis of the poll data highlights the role of racial and ethnic identity in shaping candidate support.
  • Further examination reveals Trump's strong hold on white non-college graduates, with 52 percent favoring him over Biden.

Whoever wins the presidential election, Indonesia will remain close to China

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

The world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia, eagerly awaits the outcome of the presidential election on Feb. 14.

Key Points: 
  • The world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia, eagerly awaits the outcome of the presidential election on Feb. 14.
  • Baca juga:
    Indonesia's presidential election may go to run-off, despite what the polls say

    .

Why China will remain a vital partner

  • Economically, China is a significant trading partner and source of investment for Indonesia, offering considerable development funds and economic opportunities.
  • Our latest report provides insight into the candidates’ potential approaches to China if elected, based on their engagements with Chinese officials in the past.
  • Prabowo has notably engaged extensively with China, meeting several times with Xiao Qian, the former Chinese ambassador to Indonesia, between 2018 and 2022.
  • His running mate, Gibran, has had limited interactions with China himself.
  • However, he would be associated with his father’s close ties to China, which have taken precedence during his time in office.
  • Since Jokowi became prime minister, China has evolved into Indonesia’s largest trading partner and investor, with Chinese exports to Indonesia surging to $71.32 billion in 2022, up from less than $40 billion in 2014.
  • Concerns have also been raised about the Batang Toru hydropower project in Sumatra, which threatens the habitat of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan.
  • In contrast, Anies has primarily interacted with Western countries, with limited engagement with China.

Modification of China-friendly policy

  • Baca juga:
    Mixue on the march: ice cream serves soft power for China in Southeast Asia

    .

  • By engaging with China, Indonesia aims to navigate the complexities of regional geopolitics while safeguarding its sovereignty and national interests.
  • It also has a significant position as a member of the G20 group of major economies, reflecting international confidence in its economic strength.
  • In addition, Indonesia’s strategic location makes it a crucial part of China’s BRI ambitions.


Para penulis tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi di luar afiliasi akademis yang telah disebut di atas.

FCC bans robocalls using deepfake voice clones − but AI-generated disinformation still looms over elections

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

The Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 8, 2024, outlawed robocalls that use voices generated by artificial intelligence.

Key Points: 
  • The Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 8, 2024, outlawed robocalls that use voices generated by artificial intelligence.
  • The 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act bans artificial voices in robocalls.
  • The FCC’s Feb. 8 ruling declares that AI-generated voices, including clones of real people’s voices, are artificial and therefore banned by law.
  • The move follows on the heels of a robocall on Jan. 21, 2024, from what sounded like President Joe Biden.

Injecting confusion

  • Compounding this problem in this case is the application of AI to clone Biden’s voice.
  • In a media ecosystem full of noise, scrambled signals such as deepfake robocalls make it virtually impossible to tell facts from fakes.
  • Though the audio and video output is usually choppy and stilted, when the audio is delivered via a robocall it’s very believable.

Context is key

  • What we found was that no single piece of media is reliable on its face; rather, context matters for making an interpretation.
  • When it comes to AI-enhanced disinformation, the believability of deepfakes hinges on where you see or hear them or who shares them.
  • How this is done varies, depending on the method of distribution: robocalls, social media, email, text message or websites.

Timely, accurate, local knowledge

  • It’s also important for the public to understand what new audio and visual manipulation technology is capable of.
  • I believe society needs to learn to venerate what I call TALK: timely, accurate, local knowledge.
  • I believe that it’s important to design social media systems that value timely, accurate, local knowledge over disruption and divisiveness.


Joan Donovan is on the board of Free Press and the founder of the Critical Internet Studies Institute.

Biden is campaigning against the Lost Cause and the ‘poison’ of white supremacy in South Carolina

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

The site of the speech on Jan. 8, 2024, was Charleston, South Carolina’s Mother Emanuel AME Church, where, on a summer evening in 2015, an avowed white supremacist murdered nine Black worshipers, including Rev.

Key Points: 
  • The site of the speech on Jan. 8, 2024, was Charleston, South Carolina’s Mother Emanuel AME Church, where, on a summer evening in 2015, an avowed white supremacist murdered nine Black worshipers, including Rev.
  • At Pinckney’s funeral, then-President Barack Obama sang a heart-felt version of the Christian hymn Amazing Grace.
  • “The word of God was pierced by bullets in hate and rage, propelled by not just gunpowder but by a poison,” Biden said.
  • What I have learned is that Biden’s Mother Emanuel speech should rank with some of the most important speeches in our history.

The original big lie

  • Boldly rejecting the Declaration of Independence as effusive “enthusiasm,” Smith injected white supremacy into public discourse.
  • Smith, who owned several plantations and at least 71 enslaved people, was among more than 1,800 U.S. legislators who enslaved Black people.
  • If you disagreed, vigilante thugs would beat you up or chase you into exile.

‘A house divided against itself cannot stand’

  • The Supreme Court’s infamous 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford extended Southern racist ideology into the North.
  • He addressed the consequences of slavery on America’s democracy and warned that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” “This government cannot endure,” he said, “permanently half slave and half free.
  • It will become all one thing, or all the other.
  • The Civil War was supposed to end slavery and the white supremacist ideology that underpinned it.
  • The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, known as the Reconstruction amendments, made equality explicit in the Constitution, extending civil and political rights to newly freed African Americans.

Democracies in peril

  • In his State of the Union address on Jan. 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sounded a new alarm.
  • His “Four Freedoms” speech was an updated version of Lincoln’s and further defined freedom within a democracy.
  • The immediate issue was whether the U.S. should help England and other European allies defend against the fascist regimes of German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
  • Biden called out Trump for his “big lie” about the 2020 election that Trump has repeatedly claim was “rigged” against him.


Joseph Patrick Kelly volunteers for the Charleston County (SC) Democratic Party.