NewsNation Chief Washington Correspondent and The Hill on NewsNation moderator Blake Burman shares his political reporting and campaign viewpoints leading into the 2024 election. Subscribe here.
You asked, and we are starting to answer! We’d like to start incorporating some of your questions into “The Hill” on NewsNation. As you might know, Nikki Haley joined us Tuesday. She says she’s not bowing out of the race anytime soon, which we pressed her about (more below). Here is one reader question the panel took up during the show.
Have any questions involving the presidential race you’d like to ask? Email us here, and we’ll try to get to as many as we can. (link…can you please add a CTA button… this is much more effective, thank you).
Mr. Wonderful Joins The Hill
The famed investor and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary (aka Mr. Wonderful) joined the panel for about 20 minutes Wednesday. He’s been pretty outspoken in recent days about the $355 million verdict imposed against Donald Trump, citing how it could lead to an adverse business climate in New York. However, something else he said caught my attention. O’Leary told us he is advising his portfolio companies to prepare for the possibility that the Federal Reserve will not cut interest rates this year. “They’ll be no relief from the Fed this summer. I don’t even think we’ll get rate cuts at all this year.”
“Food is a killer for any incumbent. It doesn’t matter what party you’re in. When food inflates and you’re in an election cycle, this is the enemy of the incumbent because every day people deal with this every single day,” O’Leary went on to say.
He also continued his criticism of the New York civil fraud fine against Trump and the direction of the state: “I think the management of New York, the City and the state are not the best that people could hire, and that’s a policy guy, I would hire a better manager.” You can watch the full clip of Mr. Wonderful joining the panel here:
Question to consider: What if O’Leary is right? What if the Fed doesn’t cut interest rates this year, or barely cuts at all? How would that shape the economy, and with it, the election later this year?
Haley’s Brutal Homecoming?
We are days away from the South Carolina primary, and the question seems to be how big could Haley lose in her home state? Haley remains steadfast about staying in the race, no matter what happens next. According to the polls, which were largely on point in Iowa and New Hampshire, Haley could lose her home state by 20-30 points.
Haley joined the show Tuesday, and I asked her how she’d explain to the casual viewer why she’s down in her home state. “You know, what I would tell them is that they said I wouldn’t make it to Iowa, and we defeated a dozen other fellas … we’re getting people to the polls. And that’s what matters,” said Haley.
You can watch our full interview with Nikki Haley here:
Question to consider: If she loses by 20+ in her some state, will the donor money start to dry up for Haley?
Biden’s Michigan Problem?
Next week’s primary in Michigan is shaping up to be quite interesting. Arab American and Muslim groups, who represent a significant portion of the Michigan population, are urging Democrats to vote “uncommitted” instead of voting for President Biden. This is due to his support of Israel in its war against Hamas.
So, what does all of this mean for the president? NewsNation Political Editor Chris Stirewalt joined the show Wednesday to break it down. “Combined with a significant population of young progressives in Metro Detroit, and the college towns of East Lansing in Ann Arbor, it’s a big problem for Democrats, even if they just stay home,” said Stirewalt.
You can watch the full video here:
Question to consider: How many of those Democrats urging other Democrats to vote uncommitted will eventually come back home and vote for President Biden in November?
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The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.