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21 August 2024
The 46th | Biden's long goodbye
President Joe Biden gave an impassioned farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago yesterday, bowing out of the presidential race and handing the baton to Kamala Harris in a curtain call signaling the end of a 50-year career in public office.
President Biden used his speech to give a forceful defence of his presidency, touting his administration’s signature achievements and praising important Democratic Party interest groups like teachers and unions – while giving the occasional nod to Harris who grinned appreciatively on camera.
Dropping out of the presidential race just over a month ago, President Biden made no mention of his party's campaign to oust him, instead telling the country: “America, I gave my best to you.”
“I’ve been too young to be in the Senate … and too old to stay as president. But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you,” said President Biden.
Despite protests over the war in Gaza outside – an issue that has threatened to fracture the party – the convention delivered a show of unity for Harris with rousing speeches from progressives and centrists alike, including ‘Squad’ leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
The Obamas also threw their weight and star power behind the Harris-Walz ticket, cementing a decades-long alliance with Harris and lending her the central 'Hope and Change' message of their 2008 campaign. "Hope is making a comeback," Michelle Obama told the DNC.
While the DNC caps a month of momentum for Harris who is nudging ahead of Trump in some polls, analysts note that her lead remains tenuous. Harris still has an uphill fight with issues like the economy and inflation dominating voter concerns.
NEWS WRAP
Blinken treads water in the Middle East
Gaza talks at standstill | US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken continued an intensive, yet so far illusive, diplomatic push to end the war in Gaza, visiting Egypt after extensive talks in Israel. While Blinken announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to the US-led deal, Israeli and Hamas officials indicated that their concerns remain unresolved. Blinken's tour comes as Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza. READ MORE HERE
US nuclear strategy shifts to face China | President Joe Biden signed off on a highly classified strategic plan to reorient US nuclear deterrence toward countering China's growing nuclear threat, reports the New York Times. The strategy underscores “the need to deter Russia, the PRC and North Korea simultaneously,” said a National Security Council official. READ MORE HERE
FBI names Iran in campaign hacks | Iran was behind attempted hacks on the Trump and Harris campaigns, the FBI and US intelligence agencies have confirmed. The ‘phishing’ scams targeted senior Trump advisors among others, seeking access to their internal communication. READ MORE HERE
Ukrainians sabotaged Nord Stream | A group of 6 Ukrainians on a “small rented yacht” blew up Russia’s Nord Stream pipeline, a German investigation has found. One of the yachters was a woman, there to give the impression they were “on a pleasure cruise.” The operation was allegedly initially approved by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. READ MORE HERE
Vance’s tech bro army | A right-wing donor organisation co-founded by JD Vance and funded by tech investors has amassed a $75 million budget to support the Trump campaign this year. Funded by Silicon Valley investors who heavily favour deregulation, the organisation Rockbridge, illustrates the sector’s “growing influence in conservative politics.” READ MORE HERE
"I’m feeling hopeful, because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible."
President Barack Obama at the DNC | 20 August 2024
EVENT
Inside the Republican Party: In conversation with Barbara Comstock
For the last 8 years, the GOP has been subsumed by the personality cult of Donald Trump. Party leaders have largely fallen in lockstep with his agenda, with dissenters retreating to the shadows. Trump's selection of a younger ideologue, JD Vance, as his running mate however, has ignited discussions about the future of Trumpism, the America First movement and American democracy itself.
Where is the Grand Old Party headed?
To answer these questions, the United States Studies Centre (USSC) will host former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock in conversation with Australian Financial Review senior editor Emma Connors.
WHEN
28 August 2024, 6.00pm–7.30pm AEST
WHERE
Level 5 Function Room, The Michael Spence Building (F23) at the corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney
COST
Free but registration is essential
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Did you USSC?
- PODCAST | New Cold Wars
New York Times journalist David Sanger joined the USSC Briefing Room podcast to discuss his latest book, New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West. LISTEN HERE
- PODCAST | Modi’s future after the Indian election
USSC 2024 Maitri Fellow Riya Sinha joined the USSC Briefing Room to discuss the significance of India's 2024 election. LISTEN HERE
- COMMENTARY | Kamala Harris is ascendant, but these minefields could deny her victory
USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe on Kamala Harris' road ahead. READ HERE
- COMMENTARY | Kishida’s departure is not all bad news for Australia
USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben and Ryosuke Hanada on the implications of the Japanese prime minister's impending resignation. READ HERE
- VIDEO | Election Watch 2024: New Cold Wars in a year like no other
USSC CEO Dr Michael Green in conversation with NYT journalist David Sanger. WATCH HERE
BY THE NUMBERS
AUKUS defence trade reforms don't go far enough
On 1 September, 2024, new defence technology sharing rules will go into effect between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, removing licensing requirements for a significant segment of bilateral defence trade. In this US-Australia context, this will see licences lifted for 70-80% of US defence exports subject to onerous US Government regulations. The changes bring AUKUS countries closer to creating a ‘defence free-trade zone,’ however, as Dr William Greenwalt and Tom Corben explore in their new USSC report, AUKUS Enablers? Assessing defence trade control reforms in Australia and the United States, AUKUS defence technology innovation will be hindered without further reform.
Twenty to thirty percent of US defence exports – services and technologies of acute relevance to AUKUS Pillar I and Pillar II projects – will remain on the United States’ Excluded Technologies List (ETL). Further amendments to the ETL will be required to facilitate AUKUS defence technology innovation.
Read the full report here.
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Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
