The GPR Digest- November 11, 2024
Donald Trump's win, violence in Amsterdam, the Grammy Awards, and more!
GEORGIA
Governor Kemp declares state of emergency in flooded counties
On November 8, Governor Kemp declared a state of emergency in 23 Georgia counties swamped by rainstorms. These rainstorms prompted flooding by causing rivers to overflow. Although there were no reported injuries or deaths, the situation left many communities underwater and many citizens stranded.
These communities were some of the worst affected by Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. They included Evans County, which saw more than 10 inches of rain, and Valdosta, which saw more than 12 inches this week.
NATIONAL
Donald Trump wins presidency
After an eventful campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican candidate Donald Trump won his second term as the president of the United States.
Leading up to the election, the polls had predicted a coin toss election, but the final results were not as close as the country had anticipated. Trump won both the popular vote and the electoral college by fairly significant margins, beating Vice President Harris by almost five million popular votes. Democrats were banking on the seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, to secure their win. However, Trump has won or is very likely to have won all seven.
When compared to his performance in both 2016 and 2020, the president-elect performed better in every single demographic in almost every single county in the country. As of Friday afternoon, November 8, in 38 states where at least 95 percent of the vote is in, the vote margin for Trump has improved from his previous two campaigns, even in states that have historically favored Democrats. Latino men and women, two demographics Democrats hoped to ensure support from, both swung towards Trump.
President Biden and Vice President Harris both congratulated Trump on his win and have committed to a peaceful transfer of power. With a Republican Senate and a likely Republican House, the world may be at Trump’s feet once he steps into office.
Businesses and economists weary of tariffs in the wake of Trump’s reelection
The economy was a top issue for many voters in the 2024 presidential election. As part of his economic plan, Donald Trump has proposed large tariffs on foreign goods upon his return to office, hoping that US manufacturing and jobs will benefit. In simplest terms, tariffs are taxes on imported goods. Economists fear that these tariffs will raise prices for both US households and businesses.
US businesses have already begun making moves to mitigate these costs. Many businesses and business owners have begun stockpiling, including Rick Muskat, the co-owner of a shoe company called Deer Stags. Muskat requested that their factory in China produce as many pairs of shoes as possible by the Chinese New Year at the end of January. Elsewhere, businesses are making changes in production to avoid a 60% tariff on goods from China. Steve Madden has put a plan in motion to produce more shoes in Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico, and Brazil.
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistan railway bomb blast kills at least 25
On November 9, authorities reported at least 25 people dead after a bomb exploded at the Quetta station in Balochistan, a Pakistani province. At least 50 others were injured waiting for the train, with several taken to the hospital to treat their wounds.
A militant group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, has claimed responsibility for the bombing in what police are deeming a suicide attack against a Pakistani military unit returning from Quetta. Amongst those dead, including the suicide bomber, 14 of the individuals were military. Such an anti-government attack is driven by demands for independence and control over local resources, which many representatives of the Pakistani government have since condemned.
Dozens in Amsterdam detained after defying protest ban
This Thursday, November 7, saw the detainment of at least 62 people involved in violent attacks against Israel football fans. The attacks took place around a football match between Amsterdam’s Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. They saw illegal fireworks use, people being thrown into the city canals, vandalism, and physical assaults.
The attacks provoked international criticism for reports of Anti-Semitic motivation, though Amsterdam’s police chief, Peter Holla, claimed “incidents on both sides”. Such incidents began the day before, when Maccabi fans tore down a Palestinian flag, destroyed a taxi, and shouted vitriolic, anti-Palestinian statements.
CULTURE
UNESCO hosts the 2024 Global Education Meeting
This week, final news emerged from the 2024 Global Education Meeting, which was held late October in Fortaleza, Brazil. The meeting marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of education equity and financing, with the adoption of the Fortaleza Declaration by over 650 participants.
During the meeting, UNESCO also released its 2024/5 Global Education Monitoring Report, which has revealed stagnated global progress in schools since 2015. The meeting re-emphasized the need for financial resources allocated to education, a problem which the Fortaleza Declaration seeks to accentuate and address. The Declaration also addresses the need for innovative educational strategy. A copy of it can be found here.
The Recording Academy releases its 2025 Grammy Award nominations
The 2025 nominees for the Grammy Awards were named on Friday. Beyoncé reeled in 11 nominations, bringing her all-time record number of Grammy nominations to 99 (with 32 wins). Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish followed with seven nominations each. Former President Jimmy Carter even received a nomination (his 10th) for his spoken-word album “Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration.”
Notably absent from the Grammy nominations is Dua Lipa (“Radical Optimism”), Dolly Parton (“Rockstar”), Nicki Minaj (“Pink Friday 2”), and Justin Timberlake (“Everything I Thought It Was”). The 2025 Grammy Awards will be broadcasted live on CBS on Sunday, February 2nd 2025. The host and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Contributors: Sophia Nguyen, Aviella Schwartz, Jacob Weiszer, Marin Arvin