Today In 2016: Watch Donald Trump's Hollywood Star Get Demolished
Welcome to Today In 2016, your daily digest of all things election. Today: Colin Powell goes with his girl, the Libertarian ticket is falling apart and Bill Clinton's ratings sink.
Today's Headlines
Colin Powell Reveals He Will Vote For Hillary Clinton At Private Dinner [The New York Times]
Libertarian VP Candidate Issues Statement Admitting He Won't Win, Emphasizing 'Power And Responsibility' Of One Vote [TPM]
Fake Construction Worker Destroys Donald Trump's Hollywood Star [Deadline]
Bill Clinton Takes A Popularity Hit After Trump Attacks [Morning Consult]
Donald Trump Take Campaign Break To Open His DC Hotel [ABC]
The Long And Short Takes
The Future Of Anger
As of late, anger has become passé in politics. To the establishment, the anger on the populist fringes of both parties represents hatred and conspiracy. But anger has historically been useful in the political arena — think of dissidents such as MLK or Marx and how they channeled their anger. Today, everyone has an anger problem. The angry fringe is struggling to turn their anger into something productive, while the establishment politicians are having trouble understanding and translating the legitimate grievances of the fringe. Can Hillary Clinton fix that?
The Toxic Mix Of Celebrity And Politics
In a world where one appearance on Fox News can do infinitely more for a reputation than 50 articles in the New York Times, celebrities can have an oversized influence when they enter politics. The success of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura and Donald Trump can all be attributed to the attention that they garnered simply because of their pre-existing, pre-political notoriety. So how do we stop these candidates from hijacking our democracy? Big, bad, party politics.
Hot Air
Newt Gingrich Attacks Megyn Kelly For Covering Rape Allegations
Last night, Megyn Kelly and Newt Gingrich were discussing the sexual assault allegations against Donald Trump, and then things went off the rails. Gingrich questioned the validity of the accusers claims first, and then questioned Megyn Kelly's media judgment, accusing her of being "fascinated by sex." If that wasn't enough, he then tried to twist her arm into saying that Bill Clinton was "a sexual predator." Megyn Kelly closed the show by telling Gingrich he needs to work on his "anger issues."
Poll Positions
Latest Polling Average
Clinton: 45.1%; Trump: 40.4%; Johnson: 5.8% [Real Clear Politics]
Latest Odds
Clinton: 84.7%; Trump: 15.3% [FiveThirtyEight]
Clinton: 92%; Trump: 8% [New York Times]
Clinton: 98%; Trump: 2% [Princeton Election Consortium]
That's it folks, be sure to make a wish upon a pulverized star tonight… for this election to be over very quickly.
Need more Election 2016 coverage? Jeez, you're insatiable! Check out our Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton channels.
