How Fear And Menace Are Transforming Politics

“After a crushing defeat in the European Parliament election on Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron plunged France into political uncertainty with a snap legislative ballot that re-stages his perennial battle with far-right rival, Marine Le Pen,” Bloomberg reports. “While Macron’s position as head of state won’t be directly affected by the upcoming vote, his ability to push through legislation, the power to choose a like-minded prime minister and the credibility of his political project will all be on the line in an election that Sunday’s results suggest he’ll likely lose.”

“Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to solidify her power after winning the vote in Italy for the European Parliament as far-right parties gained across the union,” Bloomberg reports. “Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party was on course to be the winner, according to a poll by Swg, published by La7, with the party expected to gain 27% to 31% compared to just over 6% in 2019.”

“Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition is on course for another drubbing in September when elections are held in three eastern regions where the far-right Alternative for Germany is the strongest party,” Bloomberg reports.

“Biden administration officials have discussed potentially negotiating a unilateral deal with Hamas to secure the release of five Americans being held hostage in Gaza if current cease-fire talks involving Israel fail,” NBC News reports. “Such negotiations would not include Israel and would be conducted through Qatari interlocutors, as current talks have been.”

A new American Jewish Committee poll finds that President Joe Biden is maintaining most of his support within the Jewish community in anticipation of a 2024 presidential rematch against Donald Trump. Sixty-one percent of respondents said they plan to vote for Biden, roughly in line with the 64% who reported, in the same poll, having voted for Biden in 2020.

The Biden campaign is pouring money into a unprecedented field operation in Wisconsin in an effort to win over white voters without a college degree, the Washington Post reports. Former Gov. Scott Walker (R) is worried: “The Trump campaign, the state and national Republicans need to step up and find a way to not just open up more offices, but particularly get more boots on the ground to knock on more doors and make more calls.”