A discussion on decreasing political polarization in the U.S. with Columbia University professor Peter T. Coleman, Listen First Project Founder Pearce Godwin,and Annenberg Public Policy Center's Kathleen Hall Jamieson.
President Biden announced new trilateral cooperation and coordination between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea on several issues including North Korea. The three nations have agreed to joint annual military exercises and strengthening ballistic missile cooperation. President Biden stressed this summit was not about China. The trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was held at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland.
"Show Austin that he has value to his country, that he is worth bringing home," said Debra Tice, mother of freelance journalist Austin Tice who pleaded o President Biden for help. Mr. Tice has been detained in Syria for 11 years. Ms. Tice spoke about her son's captivity during a conversation hosted by the National Press Club. The discussion focused on journalists detained internationally, and strategies the government can use to bring them home. Washington Post writer Jason Rezaian, who was detained in Iran for a year and a half before his release in January 2016 also participated in the discussion.
2024 Republican presidential candidate and Governor Ron DeSantis (FL) spoke with Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) at the Iowa State Fair in the capital of Des Moines. He promoted his record as governor, including his handling of fiscal policy and the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussed his plans for the nation if elected president, such as expanding school choice and decreasing the size of federal government.
2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy spoke with Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) at the Iowa State Fair in the capital of Des Moines. He said he would abolish government agencies and departments that he believes should not exist, saying, "from the FBI, to the IRS, to the ATF, to the CDC, to the Department of Education--get in there and shut them down." Mr. Ramaswamy also said his campaign is about reviving pride in America's national identity. He finished his event by rapping along to a recording of rap star Eminem's "Lose Yourself."
2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley spoke with Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) at the Iowa State Fair in the capital of Des Moines. She discussed why she is running to be president, saying, "It is time for a new generational leader. It is time that we lead the negativity behind, the drama behind, and we focus on real solutions." Ms. Haley, who is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor, also spoke about how China is the United States' biggest national security threat and her belief that biological males should not compete in girls' school sports.
Democratic presidential hopefuls Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Marianne Williamson spoke at the Des Moines Register political soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Kennedy said he was running for president in order to "challenge the corrupt merger of state and corporate power," which he said was destroying the American middle-class. He alleged that companies such as BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard are using their power to control politics and keep wealth from the public. Ms. Williamson called for "fundamental economic reform," universal health care, and more urgent action on climate change. Ms. Williamson also reflected on U.S. history and connected it to the present era.
2024 Republican presidential candidate Gov. Doug Burgum (ND) spoke with Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) at the Iowa State Fair as part of her "Fair-Side Chats" series. He talked about his life and his path to the North Dakota governorship as well as his economic record in the state. The GOP hopeful also outlined his priorities if elected president, including a focus on job growth and streamlined government.
2024 Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence outlined why he's running and what he'd hope to achieve in the White House during a conversation with Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Topics included border security, foreign policy, and the economy. In addition, the former VP spoke about his funniest campaign moments which included people telling him he looked like Gov. Reynold's husband and his favorite fair foods which included the corn dog.
University of Richmond journalism professor Shahan Mufti discusses his book "American Caliph", about the 1977 siege of three buildings in Washington, DC, by a group of Hanafi Muslims. Hostages were taken at all three locations - the B'nai B'rith headquarters, the Islamic Center, and the District Building. The demands made by the leader of the group, Hamaas Khaalis included stopping the release of a movie about the Prophet Muhammad and the handing over of Nation of Islam members who Khaalis claimed were involved in the 1973 killing of his family and the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X.
David Gergen, a former adviser to four presidents - Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton - said President Biden and former President Trump should step aside and not run in 2024 for the good of the country. Mr. Gergen spoke about the 2024 presidential field, former President Trump's legal troubles, and the congressional agenda as he assessed the state of the nation during a virtual conversation hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice.
