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Florida’s Abortion Rights Battle: Mucarsel-Powell Challenges Rick Scott

Published

5 months ago

2024-06-26

Ana Wong

Florida's Abortion Rights Battle Mucarsel-Powell Challenges Rick Scott

(CTN News) – Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the leading Democratic candidate to unseat Republican Sen. Rick Scott, rallied health-care workers in front of Jackson Memorial Hospital on a recent weekday morning and made the pitch that has become central to her campaign: Floridians should vote in November to protect abortion rights in a referendum — and if they care about that, they should vote for her as well.

“Access to abortion is on the ballot this November,” Mucarsel-Powell, a former South Florida congresswoman who lost her seat to a Republican in 2020, told the audience gathered to watch her accept the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union’s local and state chapters. “And if we want to stop these extreme bans, we have to stop the extremists that are pushing them.”

Mucarsel-Powell and her fellow Florida Democrats have not won a United States Senate contest or an electoral vote in this once-purple state since 2012. They believe they have found something that would draw voters to the polls and help her and President Biden win the state: a November referendum that would entrench abortion access in the state’s constitution, thereby overturning a near-total abortion prohibition that went into effect earlier this year.

Polls reveal that the referendum is quite popular. However, several Democrats and voting experts in Florida worry that the proposal will assist increase Democratic turnout in a presidential election year.

They point to Republicans’ sizable lead over Democrats in registered Florida voters, certain Republicans’ willingness to support the abortion amendment alongside their party’s candidates, and Mucarsel-Powell’s relative lack of statewide prominence.

“It’s going to be really difficult, I think, for this measure to be the magic bullet to help Democrats,” said Dan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida who has long studied the influence of ballot initiatives. “I don’t see a lot of Republicans breaking rank and supporting Democratic candidates up and down the ballot over this issue.”

And the groups pushing for the referendum, which rely on independent and Republican support to secure the 60 percent vote required to pass, are staying away from partisan politics.

“This work is completely distinct. This is a basic human rights initiative. “It is not a political campaign,” said Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for Yes on 4, the coalition advocating for the amendment.

Abortion rights campaigners have seen electoral victory in the two years since Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized the procedure nationwide. Voters defeated anti-abortion ballot proposals in Republican states such as Kansas and Kentucky, while Democrats won midterm elections in campaigns centered on reproductive rights.

Abortion Rights and Elections

However, this year’s presidential election, the first in the post-Roe era, will put Democrats and abortion rights supporters to the test.

Mucarsel-Powell, who served one term in Congress before being defeated in a close race in 2020, has made abortion access a cornerstone of her campaign, frequently citing the state’s six-week abortion ban as an example of how Scott and Republicans are undermining the freedom her family sought when they immigrated from Ecuador to the United States.

Her campaign has held roundtables with Floridians, released digital advertising, and discussed the subject on social media ahead of her August primary. Mucarsel-Powell raises more money and receives more endorsements than her opponents.

Mucarsel-Powell, 53, agreed that abortion rights are not a party issue, which is why she hopes to persuade people from all sides of the political spectrum that if they support the ballot referendum to repeal the abortion restriction, they should also support her.

“The choice is going to be so clear that if they’re coming out to vote to protect access to abortion, they’re going to vote for the candidate that’s going to make sure that we protect access to abortion at the federal level — not for the man that wants to pass a national abortion ban and has his name on the bill,” Mucarsel-Powell said in an interview, referring to Scott’s previous support for a nationwide prohibition.

“They need 60 percent,” she said, referring to the ballot proposal backers. “I think they’ll get 60 percent of the vote. “I need fifty plus one.”

Scott, who is running for another term and to succeed Mitch McConnell (Ky.) as Senate Republican leader, has sought to soften his stance on abortion as Republicans across the country grapple with the issue’s power in driving Democratic victories in the years since Roe was overturned.

Scott, 71, is opposed to Florida’s ballot measure and has stated that if he were still governor, he would have signed the state’s six-week moratorium into law. He has also shown support for in vitro fertilization and feels that abortion access should be determined by individual states.

Even if the abortion referendum is approved, “it doesn’t really matter for the Senate race if nobody knows who Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is,” said Chris Hartline, Scott’s senior strategist. “And that’s the problem that she has right now.”

Some Democratic operatives contend that the ballot proposal alone will not have a revolutionary impact in the state, especially as economic anxiety remains high across the country and voters continue to tell pollsters that the economy is the most pressing problem on their minds.

Democrats in the state likewise believe that turning around the party’s fortunes will take time, money, and organization. So far, longtime party operatives say they haven’t seen anything that suggests a real campaign to win a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 900,000 in voter registration.

Florida has become a “mecca for MAGA.” It’s quite tough to locate and seek out any kind of silver lining,” said Fernand Amandi, who shaped former President Barack Obama’s Hispanic outreach in Florida and nationally in 2008 and 2012.

The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee have consistently said that Donald Trump’s home state is in play, and they intend to invest money there this year.

However, when Puck News recently questioned Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon whether Florida is a battleground state, she responded with a single word: “No.”

Dan Kanninen, the Biden-Harris battleground states director, then walked back O’Malley Dillon’s statement, saying that the campaign feels Florida is “in play for President Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot.”

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

8 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

9 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland

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News

Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

9 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)