Thursday, November 21
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, re-elected in New York's 14th congressional district, engaged with constituents who voted for both her and Donald Trump. She shared responses from voters citing reasons like Biden's policies, opposition to war, and a perceived shared concern for the working class. AOC emphasized the importance of direct voter engagement to understand diverse viewpoints.
New Zealand's Prime Minister issued a historic apology for the abuse suffered by an estimated 200,000 children and vulnerable adults in state and religious care facilities over 70 years. The apology follows a six-year inquiry that revealed horrific physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, disproportionately impacting the Māori community.
China's Singles Day, the world's largest online shopping festival, concluded its longest-ever run with analysts predicting sales of up to $167 billion. Despite the potential increase, growth is slowing as consumers become more frugal amidst economic uncertainty. The focus has shifted from luxury items to necessities and household appliances, reflecting changing spending habits.
Former President Donald Trump criticised the Democratic Party for involving former Republican Representative Liz Cheney and her father, Dick Cheney, in their 2024 campaign. Trump believes their involvement will negatively impact the Democrats and that bringing "losers" into a campaign is unwise. He also referred to Liz Cheney as a "war hawk" for her past support of military intervention.
Elon Musk has endorsed Republican Senator Rick Scott for Senate majority leader. Scott is vying for the position against Senators John Thune and John Cornyn. Trump stated that any Republican Senator seeking the leadership position must agree to recess appointments. Scott agreed and pledged to get Trump's nominations through quickly.
American YouTuber Johnny Somali faces backlash and a police investigation in South Korea after posting a video of himself kissing a statue honoring Korean victims of wartime sexual slavery. Despite issuing an apology, Somali's sincerity is questioned due to other controversial content remaining on his social media accounts.
Former US President Donald Trump announced that neither Nikki Haley nor Mike Pompeo will be part of his upcoming administration. Trump expressed gratitude for their past service but indicated they wouldn't be invited to serve in his potential 2025 White House team. Haley had criticized Trump during the GOP primaries, while Pompeo faced backlash for perceived disloyalty.
On his show "Real Time," Bill Maher challenged journalists' explanations for Kamala Harris's presidential loss to Donald Trump. He dismissed claims that Harris lacked time to connect with voters, arguing that Americans found her unfavorable. Maher criticized attempts to attribute her defeat to sexism or racism, asserting that the public simply wasn't impressed with her campaign.
US defense secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the strengthening of global security alliances, particularly highlighting the growth of the US-India partnership. He acknowledged the Pentagon's focus on various regions, including the Indo-Pacific, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and addressing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
