Trump's Second Act

Plus, otterly adorable.

The Flag

Good morning and Happy Thursday! Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:

  • US: Marijuana legalization fails in Florida as numerous states approve citizen voting amendments (PBS)

  • World: Israeli defense minister's sacking removes thorn in Netanyahu's side (Reuters)

  • Business: Dow soars 1,300 points to a record, Russell 2000 jumps 4% as Trump defeats Harris (CNBC)

  • Technology: Nintendo says the Switch successor will be compatible with Switch games (The Verge)

  • Sports: NFL trade deadline winners and losers: While Chiefs and Lions bolster Super Bowl hopes, Cowboys sacrifice only their future (Yahoo Sports)

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Left: How to Deal With the Worst-Case Scenario, Scaachi Koul, Slate

Left: How White Women Doomed Kamala Harris and the Democrats—Again, Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

Right: Elon Musk’s gamble hits big time: ‘A star is born’, Mike Brest, Washington Examiner

2024

Trump Gets a Second Act

Today’s Top Story: President-elect Donald Trump was named the victor in the U.S. presidential election around in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Reporting from the Left: Donald Trump wins US presidency (AP)

Reporting from the Right: Donald Trump elected as the next President of the United States (Fox News)

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Democracy at Risk, but All Is Not Lost

The Top Argument From The Left: Donald Trump has won — and American democracy is now in grave danger, Zach Beauchamp, Vox: “In nearly every conceivable way, a second Trump administration will likely be more dangerous than the first… Yet as dire as things are, America has reserves it can draw on to withstand the coming assault. Over the course of the country’s long democratic history, it has built up robust systems for checking abuses of power. America’s federal structure gives blue states control over key powers like election administration. Its independent judiciary stood strong during Trump’s first term. Its professional, apolitical military will likely push back against unlawful orders. Its politically active citizenry has a proven capacity to take to the streets. And America’s world-leading media will fiercely resist any effort to compromise its independence. … This is not to make an argument for complacency or naive optimism. Quite the opposite… But this realism should not be cause for succumbing to despair. … Trump is taking office with roughly half the voting public primed to see him as a threat to democracy and resist as such. … Trump has won the presidency, which gives him a tremendous amount of power to make his antidemocratic dreams into reality. But it is not unlimited power, and there are robust means of resistance. The fate of the American republic will depend on how willing Americans are to take up the fight.”

Honorable Mention #1: Trump’s second term will look nothing like his first, Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins, CNN

Honorable Mention #2: Trump’s Victory Speech Was the Worst Thing You Could Imagine, Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

The Comeback King

The Top Argument From The Right: Donald Trump is King of All Comebacks four years after sour defeat, Michael Goodwin, New York Post: “As politics goes, this was a resurrection. … If there was a single turning point, it was the assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. Rising from the stage with blood smeared on his head and face, Trump raised his fist and demanded that his shocked followers ‘Fight, fight, fight.’ Any doubts about his heart were dispelled in that perilous moment, and millions of Americans followed his lead across the finish line. … Fight, fight, fight they did, and now he’s going back to the White House. In many ways, the victory this time is even more striking and important than in 2016. He has totally reshaped the GOP, making it both far more diverse and more centered on the middle and working classes. It has all the earmarks of a durable coalition. …it must be said that Trump’s victory is even greater than the results indicate. For not only did he defeat Kamala Harris, Barack Obama and the Democratic machine, he also beat the media. … The major outlets disgraced themselves with their propaganda-level coverage. … They even cheered on the unprecedented attempts to prosecute and imprison Trump, all while echoing the scurrilous left’s talking point that he was a threat to democracy.”

Honorable Mention #1: Trump’s Victory Is the Most Remarkable Political Comeback in American History, Mark Antonio Wright, The Federalist

Honorable Mention #2: 2024’s Biggest Loser Is The Corporate Media Industrial Complex, Elle Purnell, The Federalist

FLAG THIS

Electoral Distribution

As of yesterday evening, according to the Associated Press, Harris earned 226 electoral votes, and Trump secured 295, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Trump also has a path toward winning the popular for the first time. States that remain to be called are:

  • Arizona (11 votes)

  • Nevada (6 votes)

WATERCOOLER

FDR’s Fourth, Cranberry Sauce, Gerger for Big Babies

On This Day in 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term in office. FDR remains the only president to have served more than two terms.

POWERED BY NATIVEPATH

Why rely on over-the-counter pain relievers when you can combat inflammation and other health concerns naturally? Unleash your vitality and take on life with renewed vigor, free from discomfort's limitations. Embrace the transformation from within—order your Antarctic Krill Oil now and experience the difference firsthand.

Your health deserves a breakthrough, and NativePath is here to deliver just that. Enter their revolutionary Antarctic Krill Oil—unlike ordinary fish oils, krill oil boasts a unique phospholipid structure. This means your body can absorb its rich nutrients more efficiently, allowing you to reap the full benefits.

It’s also packed with powerful omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA. These nutrients are renowned for supporting heart health, cognitive function, and joint comfort, acting as a natural solution to help your heart, lower your triglycerides, and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Relieve abnormal swelling and pain naturally in as little as 4 days.

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