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4 September 2024
The 46th | Is Kamala's honeymoon over?
After a spell of positive media coverage, Vice President Kamala Harris has hit some headwinds with the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll showing that she didn’t receive a bounce after the Democratic National Convention, despite increasing her margin with female voters.
Harris has also faced some criticism over her first sit-down TV interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on 30 August, where she was pressed on her policy agenda and why she has moved away from her progressive stances on issues like fracking and border security.
Responses to the interview functioned like something of a Rorschach Test, with conservative writers saying it lacked substance while progressive columnists praised the interview and, at worst, said it did no harm.
After scooping the only interview with Harris to date, Bash came in for some scrutiny, with commentors saying she failed to ask hard-hitting questions. “Not a single question about abortion, Ukraine, the homeless, the opioid crisis, the national debt,” said Bill Maher.
With only 62 days left until the election, the CNN appearance is likely to be one of Harris’ only television interviews. She is due to debate Republican nominee Donald Trump on ABC News on 10 September.
NEWS WRAP
Democrats under pressure over Gaza
US citizen among murdered hostages | US prosecutors charged senior Hamas leaders with terrorism offences and killing US citizens during the October 7 attack in Israel, after the bodies of 6 Israeli hostages – including US-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin – were recovered in Rafah. The indictment is largely symbolic given Hamas’ leadership is either dead or in hiding and comes as the Biden administration mounts a final diplomatic push to end the war. READ MORE HERE
Governors’ aide worked for China | A former aide to New York governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo has been charged for working as a Chinese agent. Linda Sun, who was Hochul’s deputy chief of staff, allegedly blocked Taiwanese officials from accessing the governor’s office in exchange for gifts and kickbacks from China. READ MORE HERE
Sullivan meets with Xi | US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during rare talks in Beijing. The three-day talks addressed Taiwan and the South China Sea, but also issues like military communication and Chinese fentanyl. READ MORE HERE
Trump ramps up Afghanistan attacks | Donald Trump targeted Vice President Kamala Harris for her role in the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, following his controversial visit to the Arlington National Cemetery last week. Trump attended a service for the US service members killed at the Abbey Gate airport bombing during the exit on 26 August 2021. Harris dismissed it as a "political stunt.” READ MORE HERE
Trump trading cards a 'bad bet' | A new collection of digital trading cards released by Donald Trump will depreciate in value regardless of who wins the election, according to a sports memorabilia expert. Depicting Trump in various poses – dancing and in a superhero costume – the cards are currently selling for US$99 each. READ MORE HERE
“2024 will be won by who is fresh and who is rotten. It’s quite simple: The shepherd of tomorrow wins the sheep.”
Democratic strategist James Carville | 3 September 2024
EVENT
Allies and Partners Poll 2024 with former US Congresswoman Barbara Comstock
On 6 September, the United States Studies Centre will host a public discussion on its latest report, the 2024 Allies and Partners Poll, assessing the state of the US-Australia and US-Japan alliances.
USSC CEO Dr Michael Green will lead the first panel on the future of alliance cooperation, AUKUS and economic security. Former US Congresswoman Barbara Comstock will join the second panel discussion about the future of US democracy and a second Trump presidency.
WHEN
6 September 2024. 5.30pm–7.30pm AEST
WHERE
The Refectory, Level 3, Holme Building (A09), Science Road, The University of Sydney NSW 2006
COST
Free but registration is essential
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Did you USSC?
- COMMENTARY | What would a Harris administration do on foreign policy?
USSC CEO Dr Michael Green on Kamala Harris' worldview. READ HERE
- COMMENTARY | Why Australia’s Taiwan debate asks all the wrong questions
USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Professor Peter Dean on expanding the debate on Taiwan. READ HERE
- COMMENTARY | Harris is ahead in the polls, but she can’t afford to get comfortable yet
USSC Research Associate Ava Kalinauskas on the challenge ahead for Kamala Harris. READ HERE
- COMMENTARY | Why Americans do political speeches so well (and debates so badly)
USSC Associate Professor Dr David Smith on the differences in Australian and US political culture. READ HERE
- PODCAST | Tech and the alliance
Non-Resident Fellow Jennifer Jackett joined the USSC Briefing Room to discuss her research and the role of technology in the Australia-US alliance. LISTEN HERE
BY THE NUMBERS
Supply chain diversification tops economic security agenda
In July, the USSC held the first-of-its-kind conference, Economic Security in a Turbulent World, which brought together senior government officials and experts working on an ever-expanding economic security agenda.
Amid major global disruptions and rising geopolitical tension, polling of 100 attendees at the conference revealed that attendees view supply chain diversification as the top priority for addressing economic security concerns. This view strengthened over the two
days of the conference. Other issues, such as protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining a technological advantage, were considered important but secondary, with views on the importance of protecting criticial infrastructure declining slightly over the course of the conference.
A full summary of the conference by Dr John Kunkel and Georgia Edmonstone can be found here.
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
