With just days left in the 2020 presidential election season, former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci is doubling down on a Joe Biden win next Tuesday.
Scaramucci told Cheddar that "weapons-grade-style" propaganda and a focus on culture war issues, rather than his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, are the only reasons President Donald Trump has held onto his supporters.
"He's made us weaker, sicker, and poorer, but he's got a standing because of the way they've set this up as a culture war narrative," he said. "That's why he's still in the race. I mean, he's going to get annihilated, but he's still in the race."
Scaramucci also blamed Trump's own coronavirus diagnosis, and the erratic tweeting during his recovery, as one reason the administration was unable to push another stimulus package through Congress. He alleged that inconsistent messaging from the president gave House Speaker Nancy Pelosi an opening to delay the vote until after the election.
"He could have probably gotten one, but I think it was the unpredictability of his personality that led to where we are right now," he said of a fourth stimulus bill.
On the current polling, Scaramucci pointed out that results have been fairly consistent over the last year, as opposed to the "roller coaster movement" of the 2016 election season.
"If anything, they may tip more into [Biden's] favor because of what's going on with COVID-19 now," he said.
In the case of a loss for Trump, Scaramucci offered this insight on his former employer:
"I think he's going to surprise people because, listen, all that is bluster and overcompensation born from his personal insecurities," he said. "I think if he gets annihilated — I predict he will — he'll give a concession speech, and then he's got to figure out how to work with Vice President Biden."
The prospect of Trump denying the election results is "smoke and mirrors," he added.
President Trump appeared in Wisconsin on Thursday to praise Foxconn for its decision to build a manufacturing plant in the state. But many Wisconsin taxpayers are wary of the $4 billion in tax incentives that Gov. Scott Walker engineered to woo the Taiwan-based company. This comes just days after the president criticized Wisconsin-based Harley Davidson for moving some of its production abroad. "These new taxes on imports ... are driving other businesses away," says Eric Boehm, reporter at Reason.com.
If Republicans are able to force a vote before November on whoever is nominated to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court, it still may not affect midterm election results all that much. That's according to Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball. “Frankly, if the seat was open, it may be more of a motivator for Republicans to show up.”
The U.S. District Appeals Court Judge has a history of conservative, pro-business rulings and has “Republican partisan chops,” according to Heather Timmons, White House correspondent for Quartz. And while Democrats might try to delay confirming any nomination of another conservative judge, Timmons said “what they can do about it is pretty minimal.”
The White House announced plans to ease restrictions on Chinese investment in U.S. technology companies on Wednesday. The Trump administration won't block companies with 25 percent or more of Chinese ownership from buying into the U.S. tech sector. Markets rebounded on the news.
The results are in from Tuesday's primary elections. Zach Montellaro, campaign reporter at Politico, joins Cheddar to weigh in on the shocking political upset in New York's 14th district. Political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, the fourth most powerful Democrat in the House.
Plus, Conagra Brands is buying Pinnacle Foods in a cash-and-stock deal worth $10.9 billion. The deal will create the second largest frozen food company in the U.S., just behind Nestle. Conagra owns Healthy Choice and Pinnacle owns Birds Eye.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseated the incumbent Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley in the primary for New York's 14th District Tuesday. The 28-year-old progressive's victory came as a surprise to many, including President Trump who tweeted this was a “big one that nobody saw coming.”
The web hosting company, which in most cases supports a "free and open internet," made the "incredibly difficult" decision to pull the white supremacist organization's site last year. CEO Scott Wagner said it was a rare instance of content that promotes violence. GoDaddy ousted that website in the immediate aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, Vir.
President Trump attacked Harley-Davidson after the company decided to shift some of its motorcycle production overseas to avoid EU tariffs. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) gives us his take on Trump's comments.
The Missouri congressman and former Kansas City mayor said that Harley-Davidson's decision to move some of its motorcycle production abroad is just the first sign of a slowdown in the American economy and that President Trump's tariffs are to blame.
Instagram is now estimated at over $100 billion in value. Venmo rolls out an actual plastic debit card with Mastercard. The FDA approves its first marijuana-derived medication. The newest member of the Bush family is Sully the service dog. The yellow lab has been assigned to President George H.W. Bush, who is 94, and recovering from recent hospitalizations.
A UK court ruled that the company had made "substantial changes" to how it runs its business and is now "fit and proper" to operate in one of its largest markets. The court renewed Uber's license for 15 months, subject to strict conditions. London's transport authority refused to renew Uber's license in September, citing its working conditions and lack of strong safety measures.
