As Americans anxiously await the final results of the election, all eyes are on six states that are still tallying up mail-in ballots. Arizona, a state that both the Associated Press and Fox News called Tuesday in favor of former Vice President Joe Biden, is still facing pressure from residents and the president who have questioned the validity of the counting process.
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said the state's priority right now is to be as transparent with the counting process as possible and to protect poll workers.
A group of Trump supporters gathered at the Maricopa County election center to protest overnight. Demonstrations have sparked nationwide as Americans have split, with some demanding states count all ballots and others calling for them to stop the process.
"These folks have been working hard around the clock to get their job done, which is counting all the ballots, and so, these protesters are really a distraction. They are calling for the county to count all the ballots and that's exactly what we're doing," Hobbs told Cheddar.
"Our tabulation process is really transparent. There's observers allowed in, although I think they, maybe, sent those people home yesterday out of concerns for safety; but there's cameras in every tabulation center," Hobbs explained. "Anyone can go to any of our counties' election websites, look for that link, and watch it from wherever they are to see that process as it happens."
Today, voters can expect a significant update in tallied ballots around 7 p.m. MST, Hobbs said, as Maricopa County becomes the focal point of the state's race. With about 450,000 ballots remaining, the count in Arizona is expected to wrap up some time this weekend.
But as The Trump administration continues to follow through on a promise to contest the election process in court, Hobbs said that based on the president's failed lawsuit in states like Georgia, the president should want counting to continue in the state given that the margin between the candidates is so narrow.
With Biden leading by just under 70,000 votes, the once red state is slowly experiencing a shift — one that Hobbs said has been years in the making.
"We've seen shifting demographics for the last 10 years in our state and there's been pushes from a lot of organizations, party-related progressive groups or otherwise, to really engage those new folks to Arizona, those changing demographic folks, and those changing demographics to be engaged, to register to vote and to vote, and it's been 10 years of doing that," the secretary noted.
Russia has defaulted on some of its foreign debt as a tidal wave of western sanctions threatens its economy. The credit ratings agency S&P has placed Russia under "selective default" after it tried to pay its latest obligations in rubles. Russia now has a 30-day grace period to resolve the issue, but Moscow is threatening to take legal action. George Seay, Annandale Capital's CEO, joined Cheddar to break down what this means, and how Russia defaulting on its debt might impact the global economy.
China's zero-covid policy may pose a wide-ranging threat to the local, and overseas economy. Analysts voicing concern on the strict lockdown in Shanghai as businesses and ports remain shuttered, potentially threatening the global supply chain. Shehzad H. Qazi, Managing Director, China Beige Book International joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The consumer price index in March rose by 8.5% from a year ago, the fastest annual gain since December 1981 and one-tenth of a percentage point above the estimate. The rise in prices is driven by strong consumer demand, supply-chain disruptions and skyrocketing energy costs related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Heather Boushey, Council of Economic Advisers Member for President Biden, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to give her reaction to the latest inflation numbers.
As China faces backlash from its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. is strengthening its relationship with India. India is expected to become one of the top three economic powers in the world over the next 10 to 15 years, bolstered by technological advances and the manufacturing sector. Samir Kapadia, CEO and Principal of The Vogel Group, joined Cheddar to discuss the state of India's economy, and how it can only grow from here.
With the midterms just a few months away, record-setting inflation is weighing on the minds of voters. According to a recent CNN poll, a majority of voters said the state of the economy will play a key role in how they cast their ballot, and 55% said the same of inflation. Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Economic Policy Reporter for Insider, joined Cheddar to discuss how inflation could shape the 2022 midterms, and ultimately determine the balance of power in Congress.
The Brooklyn subway attack is the latest in a string of high-profile crimes that have plagued New York City. The surge in crime comes as cities across the country are trying to recover from the pandemic and bring life back to a sense of normal. Joseph Giacalone, professor at John Jay College and retired NYPD sergeant, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to explain what's behind the rise in crime, and what can be done about it.
After failing to take control of northern and western Ukraine, Russia is shifting its focus to the east. As both sides continue to pour reinforcements into the region, officials are expecting more conventional combat involving tanks, artillery, and aircraft that could shape the war's biggest battles yet. Doug Collins, a former Georgia congressman, joined Cheddar to discuss the change in Russia's tactics.
Catching you up on what you need to know on Apr 14, 2022, with the U.S. sending $800M to Ukraine, updates on the subway shooting in Brooklyn, Gov. Abbott putting a pause on his southern border truck inspections, migrants being bused from Texas to Washington, DC, the travel mask mandate extending until May 3, and more.
This March 19, 2018, file photo shows the Yelp app on an iPad in Baltimore. Yelp reports financial results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. The online review service will cover the travel expenses of employees who have to travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by restrictions being placed on the procedure in Texas and other states. The benefit announced Tuesday, April 12, 2022 covers Yelp's entire workforce of 4,000 employees, but seems most likely to have its biggest immediate impact on its 200 workers in Texas, which has passed a law banning abortions within the state after six weeks of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
