Tag: US

Situation Brief: The Democratic Party’s Leadership Crisis

Summary

  • Lesson for All Political Parties: The Democratic Party’s leadership crisis highlights the necessity of generational change and staying connected with party members, activists, and the public to remain relevant and effective. Failure to adapt to shifting voter expectations can lead to declining support and internal turmoil.
  • Strategic Divisions: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to support a Republican-led funding bill exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party. While Schumer framed it as a necessary compromise, many Democrats saw it as capitulation, fuelling accusations of weak opposition to Trump.
  • Declining Favourability: Democratic Party approval ratings have reached historic lows, with many voters feeling that their leaders are not fighting hard enough against the Republican agenda. Internal dissatisfaction has led to growing support for primary challenges and calls for Schumer’s resignation.
  • Leadership Vacuum: Despite widespread frustration, there is no clear consensus on who should replace Schumer, as much of the party’s leadership consists of long-time figures considered too cautious. This uncertainty complicates the party’s ability to present a unified and effective opposition to the Trump-led Republican Party.
  • Future Implications: The Democratic Party risks further alienating its base and losing electoral momentum if it fails to resolve its internal conflicts. The 2026 midterms will test whether the party can unify under new leadership or remain fragmented, potentially giving Republicans an advantage.
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Youth and the protests of 1968 & 2024


Recent protests on American campuses regarding the situation in Gaza have been marked by widespread student activism and institutional responses. These protests have seen students engage in various forms of activism, including walkouts, sit-ins, and the establishment of “Solidarity Encampments.” For example, at the University of Pittsburgh, students declared a “Liberation Zone,” while at the University of Texas at Austin, a significant walkout and sit-in led to the deployment of state troopers and arrests of students. Similarly, at Yale University, a group of graduate students initiated a hunger strike to protest the university’s investments related to the conflict​.

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Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential campaign: flashback

With interest in third-party and insurgent presidential candidates in the US at a high point, our team thought it would be fun to do a series diving into some outsider candidates from previous campaigns, both presidential and primary runs. Today, we’re looking at Ross Perot’s 1992 run for the presidency.

Ross Perot was born on June 27, 1930, in Texarkana, Texas, and made a name for himself not just as a successful businessman and billionaire, but also as a noteworthy political figure. He was the driving force behind Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962 and later, Perot Systems in 1988, both big hits in the IT world.

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