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Staying informed on the latest news is no easy task. That's why we've taken the liberty of gathering the most important, bizarre, or downright jaw-dropping stories of the week for you.
After dodging US politics for a few weeks, it's time for this column’s Midterms Extravaganza. As you probably know if you're aware of anything, American voters flocked to the polls this week to voice their opinions on the Trump administration. The outcomes were... complicated, to say the least. Both sides claimed victory, but each also received a warning of what might happen come 2020. Not a fan of US politics? We suggest you skip the first five sections below.
10. Democrats Secured the House
Although polls had been predicting it for months, it was still a massive sigh of relief for the left when it became reality. On Tuesday, the Democrats made their return to power after two years of being sidelined, reclaiming the House of Representatives. As of this moment, 420 of the 435 seats have been decided, giving the Democrats an unbeatable lead of 223 to the Republicans' 197. While full results won’t be available for a while, the party has already surpassed the 218 needed to take control of the chamber.
Ahead of Tuesday, some analysts had predicted a “Blue Wave” that could grant the Democrats an additional 50 seats. In the end, the party fell short of those expectations, instead likely to pick up around 35 seats. This gives them a solid majority, but not quite the overwhelming victory that many on the left had been hoping for.
Holding onto the House was a long shot for the GOP. In midterm elections, the ruling party often takes a beating, and 2018 was no different. Still, the Democrats can take comfort in the fact that the post-Hillary version of their party seems to have regained support in many of their traditional strongholds. Back in November 2016, these states seemed lost for good.
9. Republicans Strengthened Their Hold On The Senate
That was the good news for the Democrats, but what about the Republicans? On the other side of the aisle, the Grand Old Party had just as much to celebrate as their rivals. While they lost the House, the ruling party achieved something that hadn’t been done in a midterm for years—they not only kept their Senate majority, but they expanded it.
At least, that’s how it appears. Three seats are still officially undecided, with two races so close they may require a recount, and one in Mississippi going to a runoff on November 27. However, the Republican candidate is leading in all three. It seems likely that the Republican majority in the Senate will grow to a strong 54, enough to easily push through any appointments the party or the president might want to make.
While the Senate map was somewhat unfavorable for the Democrats, they had hoped to take advantage of the situation and win a few seats. In the end, they only gained Nevada, while losing Indiana, Missouri, and North Dakota. West Virginia’s Joe Manchin remarkably held onto his seat, but he has long been known as the most conservative Democrat in Congress. In Texas, Beto O’Rourke failed to unseat Ted Cruz. Overall, it was a remarkable night for the incumbent party, and the GOP has plenty to be proud of.
8. The Gubernatorial Races Were A Surprising Mixed Bag
While the House and Senate dominated the headlines, another crucial battle was unfolding on Tuesday night. In 2020, redistricting will redraw electoral boundaries across the United States. Whoever controls a state’s governor’s mansion will have significant power in shaping the new map, making the 2018 gubernatorial elections more important than usual. The results were mixed for both major parties.
The first big surprise was the Democrats' unexpected loss of support in several areas, failing to capture Florida and Ohio—two races they had been favored to win. The second surprise was that Georgia’s race was so tight that we still don't know the outcome. Once all mail ballots are counted, it’s likely the race will go to a December 5 runoff. If Democrat Stacey Abrams loses to Republican Brian Kemp, it will be a crushing blow to the party’s 2020 ambitions.
The third big story, however, was the unexpected trouble for the Republicans. Despite winning Florida, they had to watch as Scott Walker was ousted from Wisconsin’s governor’s mansion. Even more shocking was Laura Kelly’s surprising victory in Kansas over Secretary of State Kris Kobach. If Florida was the Dems’ unexpected defeat, Kansas was the state the GOP should have easily won.
7. Down-Ballot Election Surprises Led to Legal Marijuana and Voting Rights for Felons
For Michigan residents who’ve spent the last month glaring at Canadians enjoying legal weed, there was good news on Tuesday. The state also voted to legalize recreational marijuana, marking a major win for both marijuana enthusiasts and the industry at large. This victory signals yet another step forward, and it probably won’t be long before the “demon weed” is legalized nationwide.
But it wasn’t just marijuana that gained traction on Tuesday. In Florida, voters chose to restore voting rights to about 1.5 million felons who have completed their sentences (excluding those convicted of felony murder or sexual offenses). This marks the largest expansion of voting rights in decades. Now, only two states—Kentucky and Iowa—continue to permanently bar felons from voting. (Technically, Virginia does too, but both the current and former governors have used executive orders to bypass the law.)
In another landmark move, Massachusetts became the first state to vote on maintaining the transgender rights that were first granted in 2016. While the results are still unofficial, the “yes” side seems to have a commanding lead, with LGBT groups celebrating the outcome as a major victory.
6. So, What Does It All Mean?
After all the dust has settled, you might be asking: what does all this really mean in practical terms? Well... we don’t know yet. To be honest, no one does. It’s still all speculation at this point, especially since the 116th Congress hasn’t even taken office yet. But let’s have some fun and try to look into our crystal balls. Shall we?
The key takeaway from the night was that the much-hyped Blue Wave never materialized. The Democrats did as well as an opposition party typically does in the midterms, which suggests that 2020 might not be the easy win they had once hoped for.
On the Republican side, the takeaway seemed to be that Trumpism still holds considerable influence in many parts of the country... but perhaps not enough to let Mitch McConnell sleep soundly. If 2020 looks bleak for the Democrats, the GOP should be concerned about how many Midwest states turned blue on Tuesday, as Trump’s success in the Midwest was a key factor in the Republican wave of 2016. In short, the night was a win for both sides... and a potential warning.
Looking ahead, you can expect House Democrats to try and block the president’s agenda or at least push him towards their own priorities. (Trump has already suggested he might cooperate with the Dems on some bills.) However, if relations sour, get ready for two years of intense investigations and special committee hearings. Still, don’t expect an impeachment. Everyone remembers how Bill Clinton’s impeachment by Republicans led to a huge popularity boost for the Democrats in 1997.
And now, back to the world’s other problems.
5. We Uncovered ISIS’s Horrific Mass Graves in Iraq
For three full years, a large portion of Iraq was under the control of the most dreaded terrorist group of the 21st century. ISIS held sway over areas including Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, endangering millions of civilian lives. As we all remember, they exploited that power in the most horrific ways. Over the years, stories of Yazidi women being sexually enslaved, Christians being massacred, and Shia Muslims being executed circulated. (ISIS identified as Sunni.) These were truly dark and devastating times.
We may now finally be gaining a clearer understanding of the full extent of the suffering ISIS caused in the territories they held. This week, the UN revealed the discovery of 202 mass graves in regions once controlled by ISIS in Iraq. It is believed that between 6,000 and 12,000 bodies may be buried in these graves.
The level of violence and carnage witnessed here could be unmatched, comparable only to the horrors of the Bosnian civil war, particularly with its campaign of ethnic cleansing. And these are just the mass graves found in Iraq. ISIS also occupied vast areas of Syria for an even longer period.
International prosecutors are currently present in Iraq to gather evidence and build cases for war crimes and genocide against the surviving ISIS members.
4. The UK’s Unofficial Pro-Brexit Campaign Found Itself in Serious Legal Trouble
Describing the UK's 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union as controversial is an understatement akin to saying that bears enjoy being in the woods. During the fierce, often hostile campaign period, accusations of false information and blatant lies were exchanged frequently. However, actual criminal activity? That’s what emerged this week when the Leave.EU campaign and its main donor, Aaron Banks, were hit with a significant fine for violating data regulations.
It’s worth noting that the unofficial Remain campaign is also under investigation for potential data mishandling and may face its own fine. However, the timing for Banks couldn’t be worse. Last Thursday, the UK’s National Crime Agency announced an active investigation into Banks, suspecting he broke campaign donation laws by loaning $10.3 million to another anti-EU organization. This probe follows a yearlong investigation by the UK Electoral Commission.
At the heart of the issue is whether the $10.3 million actually came from Banks. The money has been traced back to a company in the Isle of Man, and authorities believe it may have come from foreign sources using Banks as a front. If confirmed, Banks could face serious legal repercussions.
3. Two Deadly Shootings Shaken The US
Another week, another roundup filled with tragic reports of mass shootings in America.
Last Friday, just after this column was released, a 40-year-old man stormed into a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, and opened fire. The attack left two women dead and six others wounded before the shooter, Scott Paul Beierle, took his own life. While it wasn’t the deadliest shooting of the year, the disturbing reasons behind the violence are hard to ignore.
Beierle, who had previously been dismissed from jobs due to accusations of groping women, openly identified as a misogynist. He also idolized Elliot Rodger, the so-called ‘incel’ shooter responsible for six deaths in 2014. Recently, Rodger was back in the spotlight for inspiring Alek Minassian, who used a van to kill ten people in Toronto in April. It’s becoming painfully clear that violent attacks linked to incel ideologies are becoming an unsettling reality.
However, even Beierle’s horrific attack paled in comparison to the tragedy that unfolded late Wednesday night. Ian David Long, a Marine veteran, entered a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, during a student country music event and opened fire. By the time of writing, 12 people are confirmed dead, including a police officer.
While the reasons behind Long’s actions are still unclear, this is just another tragic mass shooting in a year that has been plagued by such events. We hope this will be the last of its kind, but frankly, we’re not optimistic.
2. Deadly Storms And Floods Engulfed Italy’s Iconic Landmarks
A powerful series of storms battered Italy last week, triggering massive landslides and widespread flooding. As the weekend approached, the storms only grew stronger, resulting in some of the worst floods the country has experienced in decades. Venice’s iconic landmarks were submerged, and Sicily’s rivers swelled, flooding their banks in catastrophic fashion.
While the unusual weather made for striking photos that tourists eagerly shared on Instagram, it was also a tragedy. On Monday, two families drowned in Sicily, raising the death toll from the storms to over 30.
The destruction follows closely on the heels of the tragic Genoa bridge collapse just three months ago, where 43 people lost their lives in a rainstorm. While the weather likely didn’t play a role in that tragedy, the fact that these two devastating events happened so near each other has amplified the sense that Italy is enduring an unfair amount of hardship right now. We can only hope we won't be reporting on another disaster in the near future.
1. Nearly 80 Schoolchildren Abducted by Militias in Cameroon
The abduction of these children brings to mind the horrific kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria. On Monday, armed militias tied to Cameroon’s English-speaking separatist movement stormed Bamenda and abducted nearly 80 schoolchildren, along with several teachers and a bus driver. This shocking act took place amid rising tensions in the country.
Cameroon has been in turmoil ever since its English-speaking regions attempted to break away from the French-speaking majority. Armed separatist groups have waged a low-intensity war against the government, including kidnappings for ransom to fund their activities. The school that was attacked had already been targeted in October, when 11 children were held hostage until the school paid a $6,000 ransom.
Fortunately, this particular kidnapping concluded more favorably than it could have. By Wednesday, 78 children and their driver had been released after the military tracked down the militants and issued a stern ultimatum. However, several teachers and at least one child are still held by the captors.
