Hawaii's Congressional Race Sparks Tension Among Democrats
*By Christian Smith*
Self-proclaimed socialist and candidate for Hawaii's First Congressional District, Kaniela Ing, says that warnings from former FBI Director James Comey and Democratic leaders about electing progressives don't phase him.
His words to Cheddar came in response to a [tweet on Sunday](https://twitter.com/Comey/status/1021132108381683712), in which Comey told democrats not "to lose your minds and rush to the socialist left." He continued: "America’s great middle wants sensible, balanced, ethical leadership."
In Ing's view, supporting and promoting more liberal candidates is precisely what the party needs after decades of alienating much of the countryーthe South, in particular.
"These are states that were rooted in the workers' movement that were Democrats for generations and, all of a sudden, from Reagan to now, they've only been talked to by one side," the Hawaiian State Representative said in an interview on Cheddar Monday.
Comey's tweet followed a surge in support for more socialist-leaning, progressive candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who upset 20-year incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) in their June primary race. During her campaign, Ocasio-Cortez refused donations from the wealthy and focused on mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to canvass and pass out campaign materials around New York City.
Ocasio-Cortez's grassroots strategy is exactly what Ing wants to emulate in his Oahu-based district.
"We're not relying on the typical DCCC Democratic campaign where you just call a bunch of rich people, ask them for thousands of dollars, and then just run a bunch of TV ads," Ing said. "We knock on doors every single day. We have volunteers out there making calls, sending textsーthat's the way we're going to win."
Ing and six other Democrats are battling for the party's House seat nomination being vacated by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), who is running governor.
Former Rep. Ed Case currently leads in the latest [poll numbers](http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/07/17/hawaii-news/ed-case-far-ahead-in-race-for-congressional-seat/) from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, with 36 percent of respondents preferring Case. That same poll placed Ing in fourth, with 6 percent.
Ing says he isn't worried about the latest poll numbers, because they are based on "likely voters," which often don't apply to groups like college students that his campaign is courting.
Hawaii will hold its Congressional primary races on August 11.
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/hawaiian-congressional-candidate-kaniela-ing-is-progressive-and-proud-of-it)
President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a long-awaited executive order on cryptocurrencies, striking a careful balance between highlighting the risks of digital assets and touting their potential benefits.
McDonald’s said Tuesday it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine. The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia.
The price of nickel, one of the key minerals needed to produce stainless steel and lithium-ion batteries, saw an unprecedented surge Tuesday amid fears that Western sanctions could cut off Russian supplies of the crucial commodity.
As Western companies cut ties with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, there's a possibility their Chinese rivals could move in and fill the void. Major corporations such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, and more have halted sales in Russia in hopes of encouraging Putin to back down, but now it seems those sanctions could be presenting a unique opportunity for China. Michael Friedson, Co-founder and Executive Editor of The Media Line News Agency, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss how these Western boycotts are reshaping geopolitical alignments, the global economy, and international trade.
Gas prices have reached their highest level since 2008, topping an average of $4 across the country. The surge comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggers supply concerns in what was already an extremely tight oil market. Jay Hatfield, Chief Investment Officer at ICAP, breaks down why costs at the pump are so high right now, and just how high they could go.
President Joe Biden has announced that the U.S. will ban all Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine.
If confirmed, judge Ketanji Brown Jackson could become the first black woman on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court. Cheddar News speaks with Katie Barlow, Chief Legal Correspondent at Fox 5 to discuss the significance of the nomination.
The European Union is historically divided and slow when it comes to decision-making, but in the recent weeks, the 27 members have agreed upon several sanctions and decisions regarding foreign policy and defense. The EU has cut off Russian banks from the swift payment system, blocked Russian propaganda channels, and closed European skies for air travel to and from Russia. Germany, for example, who has refused to send any deadly weapons to conflict zones, has now agreed to send lethal weapons to Ukraine. Rupert Steiner, London Bureau Chief at Barron's, joins cheddar news to discuss.
Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at CFRA Research, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell where he dives into the factors contributing to Monday's market plunge and what could be in store when February's CPI data comes out on Tuesday.
Derek Shearer, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland and contributing writer for Washington Monthly, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
