It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy.
It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. We think of it as a mini-magazine in your Inbox.
AMERICANS AND TERRORISM
By Lisa Desjardins
@LisaDNews
This weekend, President Donald Trump and the American military announced a major victory in the war on terror groups with the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the Islamic State.
The decades-long hunt for violent extremists in the region continues, but the way Americans see that fight -- and terrorism itself -- has changed.
* Far fewer Americans consider terrorism a “very big problem.” According to Pew’s latest figures ([link removed]) , last year roughly 34 percent of people felt that way. That is a big drop from 2016 ([link removed]) when 46 percent believed terrorism was a “very big problem
* There is a partisan divide. In 2016, some 65 percent of Republicans surveyed told Pew that terrorism is a “very big problem” to them. Just two years later, that figure is now 3 ([link removed]) 8 percent ([link removed]) .
* Meanwhile, other fears have grown, particularly gun violence. This year, Gallup ([link removed]) found roughly the same percentage of people - 46 percent - were worried about becoming a victim of terrorism (or having a family member become a victim) as becoming a victim of gun violence.
* There’s a fast-growing generational divide as well. A Harvard Public Opinion survey conducted in the spring found that people aged 25-29, were 30 percent more likely to say that terrorism is their top concern than people aged 18 to 24. And that last group includes Americans with little to no memory of 9/11.
Not surprisingly, the further we get from 9/11, the fewer Americans see terrorism as the country’s “most important problem,” according to Gallup. In 2002, ([link removed]) over 20 percent of Americans ranked terrorism as the nation’s number one problem. However, in September of this year ([link removed]) , that figure fell to less than one percent. A long list of issues ranked higher, including the environment, race, drugs, poverty and even the judicial system.
FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alex D’Elia, @ ([link removed]) AlexDEliaNews ([link removed])
Politics production assistant
It’s a big week for economic news, with implications for the 2020 race ([link removed]) -- Oct. 29. The economic data released this week will tell whether or not the U.S. is headed to a recession. Why it matters: The state of the economy has long been a closely-watched gauge for how voters see an incumbent president. -- The New York Times
Sessions strongly considering bid for old Senate seat in Alabama ([link removed]) -- Oct. 28. By November 8, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions will have to decide whether to run against incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones to rejoin the U.S. Senate. Why it matters: Sen. Jones’ seat is one that Republicans hope to retake, but Democrats hope to protect. -- POLITICO
The Technology 202: Facebook employees demand tougher standards for political ads ([link removed]) -- Oct. 29. Facebook employees are pushing back at CEO Mark Zuckerberg over policy that allows politicians to make false claims in ads.” Why it matters: The rare display of internal disapproval comes as concerns over foreign interference in and manipulation of the 2020 election continue. -- The Washington Post
California to start first-in-the-nation training to help transgender voters ([link removed]) -- Oct. 25. The Golden State has launched a program aimed at helping transgender Californians, who are sometimes hindered from voting when their appearance does not “match” their legal name. Why it matters: The program could increase voting access for an estimated 190,000 transgender voters in the state. -- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump lawyer says president couldn't be prosecuted for shooting someone on Fifth Avenue ([link removed]) -- Oct. 23. When asked by a federal appellate judge if the ‘Fifth Avenue’ example would not justify opening a criminal investigation into the president, the president’s personal lawyer agreed. Why it matters: Trump’s personal lawyers continue to argue in federal courts that the president has blanket immunity from criminal investigation while in office. -- The Hill
#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke ([link removed])
Politics producer
On this day in 1901, a radical anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, was executed for assassinating William McKinley. Ironically, and somewhat in response to the assasination, McKinley’s Vice President, Teddy Roosevelt went on to create a government entity that handlesd some national security issues, including anarchist activity.
Our question: What was that government entity?
Send your answers to
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]) or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
Last week, we asked: On this day in 1836, the Republic of Texas inaugurated its first president. This famous Texan was also one of the state's first senators after Texas was annexed in 1845. AND he was governor of both Texas and Tennessee - the only American to ever serve as governor of two states.
Who was this famous politician? Sam Houston
Congratulations to our winner: Jackie Austin!
Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.
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** Watch our interview with Vice President Mike Pence ([link removed])
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