The singular issue that may decide this election: The economy

This week, CNN traveled to the Trumpiest county in a swing state: Brantley County in southeast Georgia. In 2020, over 90% of the votes there went to Trump.

• Voters there reaffirmed what polls have shown—the economy (and the high cost of living) is the number one issue, especially among undecided voters.

Most voters—both in Brantley County and throughout the U.S.—trust Trump to better handle the economy than Kamala.

But why? People who actually know what they’re talking about when it comes to this stuff say Trump’s tariffs plans would raise costs for workers while devastating the world economy. 

• His lead may be explained by the fact that U.S. Americans tend to put a great deal of trust in business, compared to government or other institutions.
  

• For decades, Trump has been pumping out propaganda (including on NBC’s The Apprentice) that he’s a successful businessman, despite much evidence to the contrary.
  

• Plus, voters seem to have turned on Democratic politicians who supported Neoliberal policies in the 90s and 00s that devastated blue collar jobs.

The Big Picture: Recent polling suggests only 4% of U.S. Americans are still undecided, and that unlike committed voters, the economy is their #1 issue.

Unless Kamala can change the narrative and convince some of those swing voters she’s better for them than Trump, it just may cost her the election.

👀 Under the Radar

Here are some stories the algorithms might be keeping out of your feed.

• Three oligarchs (including Elon Musk) have pumped an insane amount of money into Trump’s campaign.

• Why are people leaving Trump rallies early? The answers may surprise you.

• Fox News is not happy that Kamala did so well in her interview with them yesterday.

• In the final stretch, this is the place Harris and Trump go to more than any other.

• To fix the housing crisis, Kamala says she will get 3 million new housing units built. Can she do it?

• The Biden Administration is threatening to cut handouts to Israel if they don’t make this concession.

• A global crisis is leaving half the world’s food production at risk over the next 25 years.

• Cynthia Erivo lashes out against the internet after an alteration of a Wicked poster goes viral.

Why Boeing is really laying off thousands of employees

Airplane manufacturer and military giant Boeing announced last week it was laying off 17,000 people after a year of turmoil—including a near-catastrophic mid-flight blowout, the continued delay of a new plane model, and an ongoing strike.

• The company’s new CEO said the move was a tough but necessary decision to “stay competitive and deliver for our customers over the long term.”

But but but: Critics say Boeing is in this position because it blew through millions of dollars in recent years enriching executives and Wall Street instead of investing in workers and safety.

• From 2010 to 2019, Boeing spent $68 billion on stock buybacks and dividends, according to CNBC.
  

• A stock buyback is when a company purchases sits own stock, causing the stock price to increase and making shareholder and executives exponentially richer.
  

• Stock buybacks were once considered illegal market manipulation but were deregulated in 1982 under President Regan.

Workers say Boeing should have kept that money for a rainy day (like now) or invested more in workers, research, and development, instead of making the non-working shareholders richer.

• Brian Bryant, the head of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said Boeing has “turned its back [on] its own workers—the same people who carried Boeing through crisis after crisis, year after year.”

The Big Picture: Boeing’s layoffs highlight a systemic issue: corporations prioritize short-term profits and executive enrichment over long-term investment in workers and safety, leaving employees to bear the brunt of this financial mismanagement.

✊ Get Involved

Here are some ways to get involved around this week’s major stories.

• Pick up that phone: Turn your nervousness into action and join a virtual phone bank calling voters in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. You can do it from your couch!
  

• Support striking workers at Boeing: If you’re in Washington state you can join a local picket line. If you’re not, consider donating to the workers hardship fund (the blue button halfway down the page) or add your name to the solidarity pledge.
  

• Let you dollars do the fighting: Make a donation to support Kamala against her fascist opponent.
  

Don’t just read the news, take action and shape it!