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The ‘third candidate’ in the U.S. elections: Jill Stein

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Although the U.S. political landscape is dominated by two major parties, “third candidates” or independent candidates have, at times, played significant roles in American politics.

Among the most notable of these “third candidates” was Eugene V. Debs, who began his career as a Democrat, later joined the trade union movement, and organized the historic Pullman Strike. This strike, which drew in hundreds of thousands across numerous states, incited such anxiety among the elite that then-President Grover Cleveland deployed the military to suppress it, leading to Debs’ imprisonment.

Debs ultimately ran as the Socialist Party of America’s presidential candidate in five elections, earning 6% of the vote in 1912. Notably, Debs received a 10-year prison sentence in 1918 due to his anti-war stance opposing U.S. involvement in World War I.

Presidential candidate for the third time

In the 2024 election, Green Party candidate Jill Stein continues the “third candidate” tradition by running for president a third time. First entering the race in 2012, Stein secured 0.4% of the vote, and in 2016, she improved to 1.6%. In current polling, Stein’s support ranges between 1.5% and 2%, with particular backing from Arab-Muslim voters due to her anti-war stance on Gaza.

According to recent updates, Stein, a physician from Massachusetts, will appear on ballots in Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Alaska, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Maine, Maryland, and Missouri. The Green Party will be listed on the ballot in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Hawaii.

Ballot access in each state varies; Stein’s campaign manager Jason Call explained to Newsweek that in some states, petitioning was required to gain access, either as the Green Party candidate or as an independent.

The campaign anticipates ballot access in 40 states and Washington D.C. by the end of the process, although Stein will not be on the ballot in Nevada, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Indiana.

Stein and the Green Party platform

Stein describes the Green Party as advocating for peace, environmental action, and the New Green Deal. In a recent CBS Pittsburgh interview, Stein expressed concern about the detrimental effects of fracking on air quality, especially in cities like Pittsburgh. She criticizes both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump for what she calls their alignment with “the endless war machine” and their support of Bibi Netanyahu’s military actions in Gaza.

Stein asserts that her environmental and anti-war positions distinguish her from Trump and Harris, positioning her as a genuine alternative. She pledges to end all new fracking operations immediately and phase out fracking over the next decade.

Calling for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza

On Ukraine and Palestine, Stein argues for an immediate end to both conflicts. She accuses the U.S. of provoking Russia by placing NATO nuclear weapons on its border. Stein proposes negotiation and diplomacy as alternatives, alleging that the U.S. missed opportunities for peaceful resolutions.

Stein has also stated that she is the only presidential candidate advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Gaza. She pledges to pressure Bibi Netanyahu for a ceasefire, emphasizing that most Americans support an end to what she describes as the genocidal assault on Gaza. “If you don’t comply with international law, we will cut off all U.S. aid until you do,” she insists.

Democrats accuse Stein of ‘splitting the vote’

Some Democrats contend that Stein could act as a “spoiler” by drawing votes from Kamala Harris and aiding Donald Trump in critical states like Pennsylvania. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Congresswoman from New York, criticized the Green Party’s electoral approach, stating on Instagram, “You show up every four years to stoke anger, but that’s not serious.”

Stein, however, disputes this view. “The anti-genocide vote isn’t going to Harris,” she argues.

European Greens against U.S. Greens

Notably, the European Green Parties have called on Stein to withdraw and support Kamala Harris, asserting that Harris is the only viable candidate to prevent Trump’s return to the White House. The U.S. Green Party has responded, accusing the European Greens of parroting Democratic Party rhetoric and stressing that many Americans seek an option outside of the two main parties.

“We invite the European Greens to engage with us directly, understand our positions, and support our call for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to eliminate the so-called vote-splitting factor,” the Green Party stated.

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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AMERICA

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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