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Muslim American votes matter; Who do they vote for?

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After all, less than a week before the American elections, the efforts of the Democratic and Republican campaigns have been more focused on the key states or the main battlegrounds.  American strategists believe that the competition in the 2024 elections will be historic and very tight. In the highly competitive atmosphere of the US elections, the issue of the Muslim vote in the United States has become important and its influence on the fate of the outcome of this process has become unprecedentedly more prominent for both candidates.

According to the latest US census that was conducted in 2018, the American Muslim population is reported to be more than four million and 953 thousand people.

This population is mostly settled in the states of the east and west coasts of America. California, New York, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, Georgia and Pennsylvania are among the states that have the largest Muslim population.

Although Muslims make up only about one percent of the US population, they are an important voting block due to their concentration in key states such as Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, where they often win elections by narrow margins.

Muslim support was crucial to Biden’s victory in 2020

And in the 2020 election, Biden was able to win the election from Trump by getting 65pc of the Muslim votes in these states. Muslim support was crucial to Biden’s victory, as he won key states by narrow margins.

In the previous election, Joe Biden was able to win the state of Georgia by only 12,000 votes, a state where more than 61,000 Muslim voters live. Biden also won the 2020 Pennsylvania election with a difference of 81 thousand votes. The number of Muslim voters in this state reaches 125 thousand people.

On the other hand, according to the findings of the Pew Research Center, 62pc of the Muslim population has a traditional party preference for the Democrats, 17pc have a party affiliation with the Republicans, and the rest 21pc are independent. But apparently in this period the equations have changed and the figures have been messed up.

Why has Muslim support for Democrats diminished?

The Institute for the Study of Social Policy and Convergence, which is located in the state of Michigan, in its latest report stated that in this election, the Muslim community seems more united than ever on a political issue; And that is the US government’s stance on the Gaza war.

According to this institute, any candidate who hopes to win the support of large sections of Muslim voters must respond to the demands of Muslim voters to end the war in Gaza.

The broad political and military support of the Biden administration to Israel in the Gaza war has caused some Muslim communities to distance themselves from the Democrats.

But the war in Gaza is not the only issue for Muslim voters, the fight against Islamophobia, the policy of supporting traditional families and health insurance programs are among the things that Muslim Americans will consider in their choice.

Who is leading in the polls among Muslim voters?

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in a survey of 40,000 Muslim voters in six key states found that despite the dissatisfaction of the American Muslim community with the Democrats, among its voters, Harris leads Trump with 29.4 percent of votes while Trump stands on 11.2 percent.

What is important in this survey is the amount of Muslim support for Jill Stein, the candidate of the Green Party, at 29.1 percent. Most Muslim voters have called this support a form of protest against the Democrats’ policy towards the Gaza war.

Arab-American showed support to Trump

Amir Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, who is from Yemen, supported Donald Trump as the first Arab American and the first Muslim to manage the city, describing him as a “man of peace”.

This big turn in the position of Muslims and Trump shows significant changes. By getting the support of Amir Ghalib, Trump is trying to connect with the Muslim and Arab American community in this state and it seems that he intends to attract a significant number of Muslim voters in other states with this support.

Trump’s presence with a number of Muslim leaders in the state of Michigan was an unusual scene and indicates a change in his policies and the views of Muslims in this year’s presidential election compared to the previous one.

Anti-Muslim immigration law still on the table

One of the most important concerns among American Muslims is that with Trump’s victory, the “law prohibiting Muslim immigration” may be reinstated.

This is the reason Kamala Harris seeks to turn Muslims away from Trump. Former US President Barack Obama asked Muslims not to vote for Trump during Harris’ campaign in Pennsylvania.

During the campaign, Obama reminded Muslims that Trump had strict policies against them in the past and said “If you are an American Muslim and you are upset about what is happening in the Middle East, why would you vote for someone who approved the Muslim ban. Does it mean that you are not part of our American society?”.

The result of the US presidential election is not yet clear, but one thing is clear: The role of Muslims in this election can be decisive.

For years, Muslims in America have focused on improving and building institutional capacity to change the way Muslims engage in politics. It seems that significant progress has been made in this direction and the Muslim community is gradually trying to have more influence in the political arena.

AMERICA

Biden plans to write off Ukraine’s $4.6bn debt ahead of Trump

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President Joe Biden’s administration has officially notified Congress of its intention to forgive Ukraine’s $4.65 billion debt, a move tied to ongoing efforts to support the country amid its conflict with Russia.

This debt represents half of the $9 billion provided to Kyiv as part of the $61 billion aid package approved by Washington in April. Unlike other forms of assistance, this funding was issued as conditionally repayable loans, with provisions allowing the United States President to cancel up to 50% of the debt if deemed necessary.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department explained that the debt cancellation is intended to “help Ukraine win” and serves the national interests of the U.S., the EU, G7+, and NATO.”

According to Bloomberg, President Biden is determined to maximize aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. However, the decision to write off the debt has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans.

Republican Senator Rand Paul argued that the Biden administration’s decision places undue financial burden on the American public. He pledged to demand a vote in the Senate to challenge the proposal.

Despite this, Bloomberg notes that any effort to overturn the debt cancellation would require approval from both houses of Congress, a scenario that appears unlikely given the Democratic majority in the Senate. Furthermore, President Biden holds veto power, making reversal of the decision even more challenging.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced plans to exhaust all remaining aid approved by Congress before President Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that one of the administration’s key goals is to position Ukraine as strongly as possible—both militarily and at the negotiating table.

Pentagon officials reported that $9.3 billion in military aid is currently in the pipeline. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed plans for weekly arms deliveries to Kyiv, with the aim of expediting aid distribution before the presidential transition.

On November 20, the Pentagon unveiled an additional $275 million military aid package for Ukraine, further underscoring the administration’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

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AMERICA

Donald Trump taps Howard Lutnick to lead Commerce Department

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Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Wall Street investor and campaign donor Howard Lutnick as the new head of the U.S. Department of Commerce, placing the billionaire at the forefront of implementing the sweeping tariffs promised during his presidential campaign.

Lutnick, who co-chaired Trump’s transition team, had previously been considered for the role of Treasury Secretary. He is also the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a prominent investment firm.

In a statement on Tuesday, Trump declared that Lutnick would be “directly responsible” for leading the Commerce Department and overseeing the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

The USTR, established in 1974 to manage negotiations with U.S. trading partners, traditionally reports directly to the president. If confirmed by the Senate, the 63-year-old Lutnick will play a pivotal role in aiding U.S. businesses and executing Trump’s proposed tariffs on international trade partners.

Trump has outlined plans for a 60% tariff on imports from China and a global tariff of up to 20%, signaling a major shift in U.S. trade policy.

Lutnick, despite lacking prior government experience, has been a steadfast advocate for Trump’s economic agenda. During a New York campaign rally, Lutnick remarked, “When was America great? At the turn of the century, our economy was floundering! That was 125 years ago. We had no income tax and all we had were tariffs.”

While Lutnick has emerged as a major donor to Trump, he has also supported establishment Democrats and Republicans in the past, including Chuck Schumer and Jeb Bush. He contributed to both Hillary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 campaigns, hosting a fundraiser for her in 2015. Lutnick maintains a personal friendship with the Clintons, noting their attendance at a Cantor Fitzgerald fundraiser in September 2022.

Lutnick has also maintained a long-standing relationship with Trump, even appearing on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2008. He disclosed to the Financial Times in October that he has donated over $10 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and another $500,000 to the transition team, totaling approximately $75 million.

Treasury Secretary selection process still uncertain

The position of Treasury Secretary, one of the most significant roles in Trump’s administration, remains undecided. Lutnick’s name has been floated for the role, though he faces competition from hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, private equity billionaire Marc Rowan, and former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh.

Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, has emerged as a leading contender and is expected to meet with Trump to present his case. Rowan’s supporters cite his extensive expertise in financial markets, though competition remains fierce.

Forecasting site Polymarket currently lists Warsh as the favorite for Treasury Secretary, followed by Bessent, Rowan, and William Hagerty. If unsuccessful in his bid for Treasury Secretary, Bessent is reportedly vying for the chairmanship of the National Economic Council.

Trump names Mehmet Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid

Trump also announced on Tuesday his nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Describing Oz as “one of the most talented physicians” capable of “making America healthy again,” Trump expressed confidence in Oz’s ability to reduce waste and fraud within the nation’s largest government agency.

Dr. Oz, a former heart surgeon and Columbia University professor, rose to prominence as Oprah Winfrey’s health expert before hosting his own popular talk show. However, his career has been controversial, with critics accusing him of promoting scientifically dubious theories and unproven treatments.

Oz’s political experience includes a 2022 Senate race in Pennsylvania, where he was endorsed by Trump but ultimately lost to Democrat John Fetterman.

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U.S. may start its plan to separate Google from Chrome

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) may move forward with plans to force the sale of Google’s Chrome web browser as part of its ongoing antitrust case against Alphabet (Google).

According to sources familiar with the case, the department intends to ask the judge—who ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the search market—to address concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) and the Android smartphone operating system. This information was reported by Bloomberg.

Antitrust officials, along with participating state attorneys, are expected to recommend that federal Judge Amit Mehta impose data licensing requirements on Google. These officials have indicated that Chrome, the world’s most widely used browser, is a critical gateway for many users accessing Google Search. For this reason, they are urging the judge to mandate the sale of Chrome.

Officials stated that a Chrome sale could be considered later if other settlement measures fail to foster a more competitive market. Currently, Google Chrome commands a dominant 61% share of the U.S. browser market, according to StatCounter, a web traffic analysis service.

Over the past three months, state attorneys interviewed numerous companies to prepare their recommendations. Officials noted that some recommendations are still under review, and details may evolve before submission.

While a proposal to force Google to sell its Android platform was considered, officials have since stepped back from this more aggressive option.

If Judge Mehta adopts these recommendations, the ruling could significantly reshape the online search market and influence the emerging artificial intelligence industry.

The case, originally filed during the Trump administration and continued under President Joe Biden, represents one of the most aggressive efforts to regulate a major tech company in decades. The last comparable attempt was Washington’s unsuccessful bid to break up Microsoft in the early 2000s.

Chrome plays a crucial role in Google’s advertising business by providing user data that enhances ad targeting, a primary revenue source. Additionally, Google has been leveraging Chrome to promote Gemini, its new AI bot. Gemini has the potential to evolve from a simple answer bot to a comprehensive assistant, supporting users across the web.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh estimates that Chrome could be worth $15–20 billion if sold, considering its more than 3 billion monthly active users. However, Bob O’Donnell of TECHnalysis Research notes that Chrome’s value depends on its integration with other services, stating: “It’s not directly monetizable. It acts as a gateway to other things. Monetization would depend on how buyers link Chrome to their services.”

Google has strongly opposed the DOJ’s recommendations. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the move as government overreach, arguing: “This agenda goes far beyond the legal issues in this case and will harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership at a critical time.”

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt echoed this sentiment in an interview with CNBC. He emphasized the value of Chrome in enhancing the Google ecosystem, stating: “Singling out these companies won’t fundamentally solve the broader issues.”

In a blog post, Google warned that under new ownership, Chrome might no longer remain free or receive the same level of investment, potentially leading to a shift in its business model.

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