NDN News: 10.7m Biden Jobs, Brazil/J6/MAGA, Biden to Mexico, New Simon Political Briefing

Dear Friends,

Despite our deep, collective desire to return to normalcy, it appears that 2023 is going to be another eventful year of politics.  Some observations, insights: 

Understanding the Nature of the Conflict We Are In – The events of the past few days are a vivid reminder that despite the 2022 election being a very good one for Democrats, the threat of MAGA and its allies, here and abroad, remains a very real one.  Creating a far better understanding of the nature of this new conflict America and pro-democracy forces find themselves in, and forging a long-term plan to ensure democracy prevails here and abroad has become one of the center-left’s most important responsibilities now. 

Our defense of democracy in WWII and the Cold War was one of the Democratic Party’s most important achievements.  It appears history is calling on us once again. 

The Economy Remains Strong, Resilient – On Friday the US received another strong jobs report, and there is growing optimism about America making a “soft landing” this year.  In a new thread, NDN reviews some of the highlights of the strong performance of the American economy under Biden and recent Democratic Presidents:

• 5 times as many Biden jobs as were created over last 3 GOP Presidents combined

• US at lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, lowest poverty/uninsured rates ever

• GDP growth is remains strong; 3.4% growth over Biden's first 23 months 3x what it was under Trump

• Almost 2 jobs for every unemployed person, new business formation at very elevated levels

• Deficit and trade deficit lower, inflation also appears to be continuing to drop

• Of 47m jobs created since 1989, 45m- 96% - have been created under Dem Presidents

Biden Heads To Mexico, Kicks Off Important Immigration Debate Here in the US – On his way to meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, President Biden offered an intelligent new plan to address the unprecedented flow of migrants to the our southern border.  It would accept an elevated level of asylum seekers with fiscal sponsors from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, while using temporary authorities to turn back those who don’t fit these new requirements.  An important new debate about immigration and the border has begun, and NDN is hopeful, given the GOP’s obvious concern about these issues, that a bi-partisan legislative package to modernize our immigration system could get to the President’s desk this year.   

This NYT op-ed about the new plan by Farah Stockman provides helpful context. 

New Simon Political Briefing – On Friday Simon held a live discussion with the NDN community about the early days of 2023.  You can watch it and get additional resources here. His top takeaways:

• Dems head into the 2024 cycle the stronger party, GOP still too MAGA

• Dems have 3 big priorities now – keep economy growing/prevent GOP sabotage, win the war in Ukraine/defend democracy, fix the immigration system

• McCarthy has yielded to extremists, MAGA still far too powerful in the GOP

In the briefing Simon also discusses the new front page NYT story, The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed A False Election Narrative, which chronicles NDN’s battle against right-wing election narratives in the 2022 election. 

Welcome to 2023 everybody - The NDN Team

                                                                                                                                                                   

800 Maine Avenue SW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20024

www.ndn.org    @NDN_NPI

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.