THE SHOW NOTES: Revolt in Kentucky, Toxic Masculinity, & The Pro-Hamas Ceasefire Demands
Welcome! The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% in October.
POLL: Republican Daniel Cameron just tied Democrat Andy Beshear in Kentucky’s race for Governor.
NEW: The FBI raided the home of NYC Mayor Eric Adam’s top fundraiser.
GUILTY: Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on seven counts relating to fraud and money laundering.
DUMBEST HEADLINE OF THE DAY: From 9/11 to Benjamin Netanyahu: The world is learning that toxic masculinity can't keep us safe - Salon
The Show Notes is my blueprint for radio but is only for subscribers. You can subscribe and listen here.
What’s Happening In Kentucky?
Kentucky Democrats are beginning to panic as new polling shows Republican Daniel Cameron in a dead heat with Democrat Andy Beshear ahead of next Tuesday’s election.
Big deal: As an incumbent, Andy Beshear has enjoyed a significant lead for the entirety of the race until Cameron’s campaign caught fire in recent weeks. A Soros-aligned group has released racist ads in Kentucky disparaging Daniel Cameron - an African American - claiming "all skinfolk ain't kinfolk." When Beshear’s campaign was asked about the Uncle Tom-style ads, a spokesperson told Fox News the ads were run by "an African American-led PAC, so we’ll let them comment for themselves."
Biden: The larger issue weighing on Beshear is the unpopularity of Joe Biden. While Beshear has a shockingly high 60% statewide approval rate and 43% among Republicans, Joe Biden has a paltry 22% approval rating in the state. The deciding question will be whether Cameron’s campaign can sufficiently tie Andy Beshear to Joe Biden.
Hezbollah
The head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah spoke out for the first time since the October 7th attacks praising Hamas for their work. Though Hassan Nasrallah claimed to be unaware of the Hamas attacks, Hezbollah has incrementally increased resistance with Israel across the Lebanese border and vowed further attacks if a ceasefire in Gaza was not reached.
Why this matters: While Hamas has less funding and fewer alliances across the broader Islamic collective, Hezbollah is well-connected, well-funded, and has a seasoned group of fighters thanks to years of war in Syria.
The bottom line: The resources and experience of Hezbollah greatly exceed Hamas and a two-front war is a significant possibility.
Ceasefire
When pressed on the prospect of a ceasefire from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly said, “Israel refuses a temporary cease-fire that does not include the return of our hostages.” The trip marked Blinken’s third appearance in Israel since the attacks and underscores the Biden administration’s growing priority of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas: One of the reasons a ceasefire is being demanded is because hospitals in northern Gaza are running low on fuel and cannot properly care for the wounded. But NBC reports that Hamas is hoarding 200,000 gallons of fuel to supply their rocket and support their fighters.
Evacuate: The Israeli President said 1 million leaflets, 6 million text messages, and 4 million phone calls have been sent to residents in northern Gaza urging them to evacuate.
Trending news:
Jeff Bezos is leaving Seattle for Miami - CNN
How the Democrats Lost the Working Class on Immigration - WSJ (paywall)
Youth Smoking Nears Zero - Reason
Ramaswamy drops an 8-figure ad buy to close out the primary - Politico
Virginia high school suffers 7 opioid-related overdoses in 3 weeks - Fox News
Bill Belichick’s empire has fallen. How will the Patriots pick up the pieces? - MSN
Taylor Swift Fans in Argentina Have Camped Out in Tents for Five Months in Order to Be Front Row at the Eras Tour - Variety
Video captures high-speed Porsche crash of Chinese woman who later fled US - NY Post
Matthew Perry reportedly got $20 million a year in 'Friends' residuals. - NBC
Black voters in Milwaukee list complaints on Biden, Democratic Party ahead of 2024 - Fox New
Market snapshot:
If Daniel Cameron wins in Kentucky, can Mitch McConnell please retire from the Senate? The only reason for McConnell to hold out has been that a Democratic governor would appoint a Democrat to the Senate. With a Republican, the seat is safe. Come on, Cameron. Win this!
Bezos leaving Seattle is a trend indicative of many other blue states. The Blue liberal elites flee the mess they helped to create. They then move to a red state or area because its more advantageous for them. But they then complain and don't change their voting habits and they bring a bunch of liberal voters with them. This is what is happening in Georgia and other red states. We need to build some walls.... around blue states to stop the liberal virus refugees from spreading.