Tag Archives: 2024 US elections

Politics, Regional

My Take On It: US 2024 elections…call to global prayers for grace and peace

Janet Karim

“1…..that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” – Luke 18:1b

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:1-4

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. – Romans 13:1

4 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.– Proverbs 21:1

In the historic US 2024 presidential elections between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the former president became the second president to make a comeback to the White House. Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms as Donald Trump, becoming POTUS45 and POTUS47. On her part, Harris walked into history books with her accolades (first African American woman, first Asian woman to be presidential nominee of a major US political party), but also someone who re-entrenched the peaceful transition of power in the US political system. Harris is also the second VP to accept the ballot tallies in an election she has lost; in modern times, the last Vice President to take in the state electoral college votes was Al Gore when he lost to George W. Bush (POTUS43).

As with all competitions there are winners and losers; while the fun-fares are being intensified or tissues bunched up for a good cry, the entire world is called to pray for the US election results. Inside and outside the US, people need to summon their praying mats and attire for prayer and earnestly pray. The actions, reactions of the occupant of the WH impacts global dynamics. Praying for leaders is also a biblical directive. The divine ordinances also call for humility (the opposite of pride), unity (the opposite of divisiveness), and the love of others as you love yourself. In the heat of election campaigns, these three human natures are lacking, thrown out the window, and burns out voters.

In the first speech after her 2024 presidential election loss to former president Donald Trump, and accepting defeat in the elections to a large crowd outside her alma mater Howard University, VP Harris vowed to “keep fighting.”

“The light of the American promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up,” Harris said to a cheering crowd that was filled with cheering with many crying and visibly sad faces. In the concession speech, VP Harris also detailed her call with her Republican opponent following his victory. She underscored the importance of and declared that the US “must accept the results of this election.”

The VP pledged to help Mr. Trump and his team with their transition and “engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”

On his part, president-elect Donald Trump spent his first day receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden. He also began the process of turning his election victory into a government. Malawi former president Peter Mutharika extended his congratulations to president-elect Trump. Mutharika extended the warm congratulations through his Facebook page. He said he and President-elect Trump share the same interests in terms of development that benefits everyone.

On the whole, Mr. Trump was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye after addressing his supporters after he declared himself the winner of the elections. This was in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and counting of the results was still in progress.

Trump and Harris spoke on a call where the president-elect “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.

As the win wore in, the president-elect leader got more potential good news with word that special counsel Jack Smith was evaluating how to wind down the two federal government cases against the president-elect before he takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, according to a person familiar with Smith’s plans, but who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to the media. Last year Smith charged Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and another one of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence

While the latter classified documents case had already been dismissed, Mr. Trump’s election victory means that the Justice Department believes he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with decades-old department legal opinions meant to shield presidents from criminal charges while in office.

In his declaration of victory president-elect Trump repeated some of his views about the state of America, that “our country needs help in a lot of areas, our border, immigration…” promising that these were some of the issues that his government was going to be fixing. On her part, VP Harris continued to inspire hope in her base by saying “the light of the American promise will always shine bright; she thanked, expressed gratitude and love for the many volunteers and staff that worked with her in the 107-day campaign.

As onlookers from within the United States and from without, all people should pray, pray that president-elect Mr. Trump receives more grace to proceed; that he gets a divine encounter like that of Saul. People around the world are called to pray that his Jesus moment eases the woes and worries the prospects of his second term will cause on the world political map, and that it is less antagonistic than the first term. Let people pray for humility, love of unifying the country to abound on both sides of the political divide in the US.

May America shame the devil and rise above the rhetoric of hate and animosity that characterized the 2024 campaign. Let love of country (threaded in humility), unity, and love abound, the vital ingredients that have held the country called these United States of America.

Opinion, Politics

Calibrating the 2024 USA elections outcome

Rick Dzida

This is a summarised article. First we will discuss Harris and Trumps dispositions.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have contrasting positives and negatives, particularly in their personal characteristics and campaign tone.

Kamala Harris’ positives:

  • Even-tempered: Harris is seen as even-tempered by 64% of voters, compared to 32% for Trump .
  • Good role model: 53% of voters view Harris as a good role model, while 34% say the same about Trump.
  • Down-to-earth: 51% of voters describe Harris as down-to-earth, versus 38% for Trump.
  • Mentally sharp: Harris has a slight edge over Trump (61% to 52%) in being seen as mentally sharp.

Kamala Harris’ negatives:

  • Perceived as too personally critical: 45% of voters say Harris is too personally critical of Trump.

Donald Trump’s positives:

  • Standing up for what he believes in: 69% of voters say Trump stands up for what he believes in, compared to 60% for Harris .
  • Experience: Trump’s prior experience as President is seen as a positive by his supporters.

Donald Trump’s negatives :

  • Perceived as too personally critical: 66% of voters say Trump is too personally critical of Harris.
  • Negative campaign tone: Voters view Trump’s tone more negatively than Harris’.
  • Divisive figure: Trump is seen as a divisive figure by many voters.

It’s essential to note that these positives and negatives are based on voter perceptions and may vary depending on individual perspectives and priorities.

Next we will tackle the performance of Joe Biden – representing Harris visions and Donald Trump administrations.

Joe Biden’s presidency has been marked by significant accomplishments, despite facing numerous challenges. His administration has achieved substantial job growth, with 15 million new jobs created in just three years – a record. Unemployment rates have also hit 50-year lows, and wages continue to rise while inflation decreases.

Some notable achievements include:

  • Economic Growth: The economy has bounced back from the pandemic, with the United States now having the envy of the world in terms of economic recovery.
  • Healthcare: The Affordable Care Act has been protected, and Biden has enacted tax credits to reduce healthcare premiums for millions of working families
  • Infrastructure: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has led to 46,000 new projects across the country, modernizing roads, bridges, ports, and airports.
  • Climate Action: Biden’s policies have attracted $650 billion in private sector investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
  • Social Justice: The administration has launched initiatives to address racial wealth gaps, protect reproductive freedom, and promote women’s health research.

The Donald Trump administration’s delivery on its promises is a mixed bag. On the economic front, the administration saw 113 months of continuous job gains come to an end in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Trump took credit for driving down the unemployment rate, which dropped to 3.5% in February 2020, the rate ultimately ended at 6.4% when he left office, 1.7 percentage points higher than when he started.

Economic Highlights:

  • Job Loss: The economy lost 2.7 million jobs during Trump’s presidency.
  • GDP Growth: The real GDP declined 2.2% in 2020, the largest drop since 2009.
  • Income Growth: Median household income rose by $3,838, or 6%, during Trump’s four years .

Social and Environmental Issues:

  • Health Insurance: The number of people lacking health insurance rose by 3 million .
  • Immigration: Illegal immigration increased, with apprehensions at the Southwest border rising 14.7% .
  • Climate Change: Coal production declined 26.5%, and coal-mining jobs dropped by 25%.

Regulatory Environment:

  • Deregulation: The growth of federal regulation slowed significantly under Trump.
  • Regulatory Rollbacks: The number of restrictive words and phrases in the Code of Federal Regulations increased by only 0.9% during Trump’s presidency.

It’s essential to consider multiple perspectives when evaluating the Trump administration’s performance. provides a comprehensive analysis of Trump’s numbers, highlighting both accomplishments and shortcomings .

In any democratic dispensation, only a voter has powers to elect leaders.

Politics, Regional

2024 US Elections: Trump, Harris locked in a tight race, says WSJ Poll

Burnett Munthali

As the countdown to the November 5, 2024 presidential election accelerates, a new Wall Street Journal poll indicates that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump are locked in a fierce contest for the presidency.

The poll highlights the razor-thin margins in several critical battleground states, suggesting a neck-and-neck race that could determine the election’s outcome.

Battleground state dynamics

The Wall Street Journal’s latest findings reveal that both candidates are within two percentage points of each other in six of the seven key swing states deemed essential for a successful electoral strategy. Harris is currently leading in Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, while Trump holds an advantage in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada.

Notably, the margin in Nevada stands out, with Trump leading Harris by five percentage points—a significant gap in what has otherwise been a closely contested race.

The survey was conducted with a sample of 600 registered voters per state between September 28 and October 8, reflecting the evolving political landscape as the election date approaches.

Voter sentiment and campaign strategies

The proximity of the candidates in these battlegrounds underscores the critical role voter sentiment will play in the upcoming election.

Harris has been actively courting Arab and Muslim voters amid rising tensions regarding the situation in Israel, hoping to solidify support in communities that may feel alienated by current administration policies.

In contrast, Trump has maintained a focus on energizing his base, leveraging discontent among traditional Republican voters.

As both campaigns ramp up their efforts, the candidates are making strategic appearances and tailoring their messages to resonate with key demographic groups.

For instance, Harris recently hosted a town hall in Las Vegas aimed at Latino voters, recognizing the significant influence this population could wield in pivotal states like Nevada.

Implications for the election

The Wall Street Journal’s findings reflect a broader narrative of a deeply polarized electorate, with the outcome likely hinging on voter turnout and engagement in the final weeks of the campaign.

With both candidates pulling out all the stops to sway undecided voters, the stakes have never been higher.

As the candidates prepare for the next presidential debate and intensify their campaign efforts, political analysts are closely watching voter sentiment shifts in these battleground states.

The tight race is not only a reflection of each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses but also highlights the critical issues that resonate with American voters in this election cycle.

Conclusion

With less than a month until Election Day, the Trump-Harris contest is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in recent history.

As the candidates continue to navigate the complex political landscape and address the concerns of diverse voter groups, the final results remain uncertain.

Both campaigns are aware that every vote will count in what could be a historic election for the United States.

Politics, Regional

Republicans against TikTok despite Trump grumble

Burnett Munthali

WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-House Republican leaders are trying to pass legislation that would force the Chinese owners of TikTok to sell the platform or face a U.S. ban on the app, even after former President Donald Trump spoke out against such a move.

The legislation is progressing quickly on Capitol Hill during an election year in which both Democrats and Republicans are eager to demonstrate toughness on China.

It is not clear whether the bill would pass the Senate, but President Biden has said he would sign it.

The bill would remove TikTok from app stores in the U.S. by September 30 unless its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, sold its stake.

Trump, as president, issued an executive order that would have done the same thing, but it was blocked by repeated rulings from federal courts; now he has changed course and is opposing the bill.

Trump offered a rambling explanation for his reversal, saying that he did not want to alienate young voters or empower Facebook, which he considers a foe.

Background: Congressional Republicans walked away in January from a bipartisan border security bill, which they had largely supported, after Trump spoke out against it.

If Republican legislators change their minds about TikTok, it could be another indication of Trump’s control over the party.