The Topline: May 3, 2021
Democracy is fragile, and if not cared for, it can fail. Recent events such as the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and efforts to spread the Big Lie about the 2020 election results have left American democracy on shaky ground. But despite what one might hear on cable news or read online, there are reasons for optimism about our democracy. The 2020 election saw a record 159.6 million Americans turn out to vote. Never in the history of our country have so many people voted in an election. Yes, after the election, belief that the vote was free and fair went down among some groups, but this was caused almost entirely by the election lies spread by the former president. With Trump gone and the growing recognition that the 2020 election was secure, beliefs that the election wasn't free and fair can be remedied. Efforts to suppress the vote will sadly continue, but the resolve and the strength of those defending the right to vote has only grown. We should have every reason to believe that more and more Americans will continue to head to the polls, knowing their vote will count, and by doing so, strengthen our democracy. —Bryant Holloway, Program Associate, Stand Up Republic
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Florida man strikes again
— Big-time fines. The bill, SB 7072, calls for fining social media companies $25,000 per day for banning a political candidate and $250,000 if the candidate is running for election. It also prohibits a social media bogeyman known as "shadow-banning." Users must be allowed to opt out of shadow-banning, and platforms can't shadow-ban political candidates or news websites.
— A few exceptions. The law won't apply to temporary social media bans or to instances where a platform removes specific posts that violate its terms of service. But any social media ban that lasts longer than 60 days would result in a fine, and the platforms would have to make available any content the candidate posted before the ban.
— The Mickey Mouse exemption. The bill excludes any "information service, system, internet search engine, or access software provider operated by a company that owns and operates" a theme park or large entertainment complex. Why? Walt Disney World in Orlando brings in significant tax revenue for the state, which relies heavily on tourism dollars. —The Verge
MORE: To fight media disinformation, look at algorithms, say experts —Governing
Eisen: Accountability for Giuliani slow but sure
"If the elements of bribery or other crimes can be established, then Rudy Giuliani could also have potential exposure as a co-conspirator under the federal conspiracy statute. It creates an offense if 'two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose.' To the extent that Giuliani was a part of the alleged scheme—and the public evidence seems to suggest a unity of purpose with his client—he's at risk." —Norman Eisen in USA Today
Norman Eisen is an attorney, former ambassador and ethics czar during the Obama Administration, and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
MORE: Newsmax apologizes to employee of Dominion Voting Systems over false election accusations —The Verge
The vaccine dilemma
As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine levels off and the U.S. begins to wind down its mass vaccination program, counties with the sickest residents are still lagging behind and making only incremental progress in reaching vulnerable populations. A ProPublica analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that early attempts to prioritize people with chronic illnesses have faltered, while healthier, often wealthier counties moved faster in vaccinating residents, especially those 65 and over. Counties with high levels of chronic illness had immunized 57% of their seniors by April 25, compared to 65% of seniors in counties with low comorbidity risk. —ProPublica
MORE: Fauci vs. Rogan: White House works to stomp out misinformation —The Hill
No deal with Iran
An Iranian state-run television announcement declaring that Iran had struck a deal with the U.S. and the United Kingdom regarding the release of prisoners is untrue, according to U.S. officials. State Department spokesman Ned Price immediately denied the report, which claimed that a deal for the Islamic Republic to release U.S. and British prisoners in exchange for Tehran receiving billions of dollars had been struck. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain reiterated, "There is no agreement to release these four Americans." However, talks remain active between the countries. "We always raise the cases of Americans detained or missing in Iran," Price said. "We will not stop until we are able to reunite them with their families." —Associated Press
MORE: National security adviser says deal with Iran far from done —Politico
WaPo Ed Board: Where does the farcical Arizona 'recount' end?
"The danger is not only that they will succeed in passing more restrictive laws, but that every time voters make a decision a partisan state legislature dislikes, lawmakers will seize the ballots from people who know what they are doing, conduct their own slanted count, and declare the will of the voters to be fraudulent. If it works in Arizona, expect Trump allies to push for similar efforts in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and elsewhere." —The Washington Post
MORE: GOP seeks to empower poll watchers, raising intimidation worries —The New York Times
Focus on the Texas special election
— Wright and Ellzey will face each other in a runoff vote. Wright is backed by most of the Texas GOP establishment as well as Donald Trump, who endorsed her in a tele-town hall meeting a few days before the election. Trump's support did not net her enough votes to avoid a runoff, however.
— Ellzey, who ran unsuccessfully against Ron Wright in 2018, is supported by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The anti-tax Club for Growth has run media ads casting Ellzey as being anti-Trump, but Perry came to Ellzey's defense and campaigned with him on the eve of the election.
— Marine veteran Michael Wood campaigned as an anti-Trump Republican and received the endorsement of Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who has been vehemently opposed to Trump. But Wood's crusade, while gaining him national attention, didn't play well in a Republican arena still dominated by Trump. —The Dallas Morning News
MORE: GOP leaders who defy Trump feel the heat from his base —CNN
Kilgore: The delegitimization remains strong
"[Y]ou have to worry about today's GOP mistrust in democracy becoming permanent. In 2024, how much of a Democratic margin will be necessary to give a Democratic winner truly bipartisan legitimacy? 10%? A minimum of 5% in every battleground state? Does the loser get to decide if the winner can actually claim victory? How about if the loser has said for months that any defeat must be the product of a 'rigged' election? What if the Republican candidate is again Donald Trump? In the long run, this phenomenon is a bigger threat to democracy than the thuggish but sometimes farcical insurrection on Jan. 6. And like a slow-motion riot, the threat remains ongoing." —Ed Kilgore in New York Magazine
Ed Kilgore is a political analyst and columnist for New York Magazine.
MORE: Cheney slams Trump on 'big lie' over election —The Hill
Regarding Frida Ghitis' article on Friday, why not have two commissions—one for Jan. 6 and one for the summer protests and riots? —John H., Minnesota
The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.
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