The Stakes

 Yglesias lays out what is at stake next Tuesday. I mostly agree, but would make some distinctions.

At the Federal level, maintaining control of the Senate is critical and still possible. Republicans will not confirm either judges or executive branch positions if Dems can't hold the chamber. Ideally, they add to their margins by defending Arizona, Georgia and Nevada (in ascending order of difficulty) and add to it in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida or Wisconsin. If Dems lose the House, we will be faced with the usual Republican fuckery surrounding the debt ceiling and government shut downs, but whatever, I guess. Stupid business as usual.

At the state level, electing election-deniers and Big Lie proponents is a real long term threat to the integrity of the 2024 election. Electing some Big Lie Secretary of State in Arizona won't "secure the border" or stop inflation, it will simply imperil democracy in this country.

Notably, Yglesias has a poll that asks what each side will do if they assume power. People say if Democrats gain control they will pass a national version of Roe. and increase Social Security benefits Yes, they will. They also say that - despite having the power to do so for two years and NOT doing it - they will "open the border" and cut police funding. The last two are solid Fox News talking points that have zero impact on actual governing realities. 

Meanwhile, if Republicans take over people think they will increase US energy production. No, they won't because we already ARE increasing energy production. They probably won't try to pass an national abortion ban, because they know it's unpopular and Biden will veto it anyway. Will they follow through on vague threats to impeach Biden? I'm guessing yes. Will they try and overturn Democratic wins in elections? Absolutely.

What's infuriating is that this sort of coverage is largely absent from the media. We get endless stories abut inflation, which is real, but also we are in a period of robust economic growth (plus a war and post-Covid disruptions). For many people, I'm guessing inflation is a nuisance rather than a crisis, but the non-stop drumbeat of inflation stories makes it feel like we are spiraling out of control.

Biden can give a speech talking about the very real threats to America's democracy and all the media can offer is theater criticism and the fact that he didn't mention inflation.

If democracy dies in this country, our news media will be the pallbearers at the funeral.