Ted Dickens (C) assists a person to get their ballot to vote in the Michigan primary election at Chrysler Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Six more states will vote in the Democratic primary Tuesday night in the first contest since Senator Elizabeth Warren and former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg exited the field and prominent moderates coalesced around former Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will go head to head for the 352 delegates promised on what some are calling ‘Super Tuesday 2.0,’ with a focus on the battleground state of Michigan, where Biden is up by 24 points according to the last Detroit Free Press poll out today. FiveThirtyEight also has the former VP slated to win every state tonight.
Michigan, a blue state for Obama that voted for Trump in 2016, but also awarded Sanders a surprising primary victory the same year, is potentially showing signs it may again lean blue. One Republican mayor said he is backing Biden in the primary. Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights, in Macomb County, voted for John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012 and his county voted for Trump in 2016.
Some states voting today are battling coronavirus outbreaks like heavily stricken Washington, which promises the second-highest delegate haul. The state, which votes-by-mail, has asked voters to use water (instead of saliva) to seal ballot envelopes. As for Michigan, election officials are advising regular cleaning of voting machines and social distancing between voters.
Though campaign rallies are still on, staffers were using hand sanitizer on those entering rallies at a Biden event in Michigan. President Trump has also said he is not changing his own campaign plans, though public health officials worldwide are advising against public gatherings.
President Joe Biden announced Friday that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will revoke “most favored nation” trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The consumer price index jumped 7.9 percent in February, marking a 40-year high for inflation in the U.S. This report comes less than a week ahead of the Fed's all important meeting. Kayla Bruun, Economic Analyst, Morning Consult, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Markets opened lower amid hotter-than-expected inflation data, which surged to its highest level in nearly 40 years. Lisa Erickson, Senior Vice President and Co-Head, Public Markets Group, U.S. Bank joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the significance of this figure ahead of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting.
As the Russia-Ukraine war disrupts the global economy, sending markets on a roller coaster ride, gold remains hovering around $2,000 an ounce. Often seen as a safe haven in times of economic crisis, Jason Cozens, founder and CEO of gold-as-currency platform Glint Pay, joined Cheddar’s Opening Bell to discuss the latest gold rush, how the war is impacting prices, and how people can use Glint to trade in the precious metal. “You know the stock markets and cryptocurrencies are risky investments," he stated. "Whereas gold is just reliable money. It's no one else's liability if you own."
As Western sanctions weigh on Russia's economy, the country is at the risk of defaulting on its debt. Fitch ratings agency has downgraded Russia's debt for the second time in a week, warning a "sovereign default is imminent." Jesse Wheeler, Economic Analyst at Morning Consult, explains what that means, and how it could have ripple effects across the global economy.
Uber Lyft and Doordash are all set to spend $1 million dollars on a campaign and efforts to stop lawmakers from classifying their gig workers as employees. The campaign features TV and online ads highlighting Washington area workers who say they prefer the flexibility of being an independent contractor rather than following the model of a company employee. Professor at NYU. Stern School of Business and author of the sharing economy, Arun Sundararajan, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
President Biden is looking at unlikely partners to buy oil, after banning all Russian energy imports. Among them is Venezuela, a regime that has been sanctioned by the U.S. since 2019. Ariel Cohen of the Atlantic Council explains to Cheddar News why that might not be a bad choice.
