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The road to the White House is getting more intense each day. With only five days left until the election, both President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, are putting on the full press. The goal at this point in the game is to get out the vote for their respective support base. Wednesday was yet another busy day in the world of politics. Here are just a few of the headlines dominating the news cycle as each campaign forges ahead to the finish line.
“Anonymous” Revealed: The White House insider known as “Anonymous” is not so anonymous any longer. On Wednesday, the author of the scathing 2018 book by the same name came forward to reveal his identity. Miles Taylor is the former chief of staff to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Two years ago, he penned an op-ed in the New York Times strongly criticizing the president for his ineptitude in the highest office in the land.
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As the anonymous source, Taylor declared that he was part of a resistance working inside the Trump administration to hinder the president’s ability to advance his agenda. Not surprisingly, the op-ed and resulting book led to much speculation within the White House with Trump determined to uncover who he deemed to be a traitor.
One year later, Taylor wrote another anonymous book titled “A Warning.” This equally scathing book featured new details, including the fact that many members of the Trump team kept letters of resignation ready to go on their laptops for when the time came to finally walk out.
After two years of intense investigation by the White House, Taylor revealed himself as the author of both books and the op-ed that started it all. While outing himself, Taylor said that he had decided to stay anonymous for so long because he wanted the attention to be on the arguments he was making and not on him as a whistle-blower.
While Taylor had previously denied being the anonymous writer, he has since had a change of heart. Despite being an ardent Republican, Taylor has officially endorsed Biden for president. When speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Taylor went on to criticize Trump for cultivating a culture in which staffers are too intimidated to ever disagree with the president for fear of losing their job.
Trump Supporters Left Stranded After Bus Fiasco: Some of the Trump supporters who showed up for the president’s Tuesday night rally in Omaha stayed much longer than anticipated. Due to a snafu with bus transportation, hundreds of rally attendees were left stranded in the freezing temperatures outside at Eppley Field.
According to the Omaha Police Department, seven people were transported to hospitals for a variety of conditions, including hypothermia. Temperatures in the area at that time were hovering in the mid-30s with a wind chill reading of just 27 degrees. Some supporters gave up waiting for transportation and walked approximately three miles to find a bus.
The Trump campaign defended the incident, saying that they had allocated double the normal amount of bus transportation and that road closures caused the delays. The statement also said that the campaign provided tents, heaters, hand warmers, and hot cocoa for rally attendees.
Record Voter Turnout Continues: If there is one silver lining in this contentious election, it is that voter turnout is already at record highs. As of Wednesday night, over 75 million Americans have already cast their votes. This number equates to approximately 36% of all registered voters. This figure also represents about 56% of the over 136.5 million total votes during the 2016 presidential election. According to recent data, 42 states plus the District of Columbia have exceeded the pre-election voting turnout during 2016.
It is difficult to say what is the root cause of the high early turnout. It is likely that it is a combination of factors that are leading to the increased vigor at the polls. Here are a few reasons to explain the turnout.
- Ongoing Global Pandemic – There is no doubt that the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis has drastically changed the way that people vote. In an effort to avoid having to stand in line with crowds on Election Day, many Americans are choosing to take advantage of their state’s early voting opportunities to reduce their risk of contracting the deadly virus.
- Emphasis on Mail-in Voting – In order to help constituents to avoid large gatherings, many states have instilled a more robust mail-in voting system. It is no surprise to learn that voters are taking advantage of this convenience.
- Unbridled Enthusiasm – Probably the most likely factor for the significant increase in turnout is that voters are simply more enthusiastic about this election. Regardless of what side of the political aisle you fall on, there is no denying that Trump is a divisive figure. His rabid supporters are more motivated than ever to keep him in office for four more years while the Biden fans are enthusiastic about voting the president out. Together, these two camps are extremely motivated, driving the turnout to record high levels in nearly every state.
