Whose Ground Zero? Competing Perspectives of the Israel-Hamas War

• Elaine Kamarck and William A. Galston at Brookings examine that the Republican National Convention highlighted a stark contrast between a verbose Trump and a struggling Biden, leading to widespread speculation about Biden's potential exit and Kamala Harris's possible rise as the Democratic candidate.
• The article argues that while Trump missed an opportunity to solidify his lead with a long-winded, undisciplined speech, Democratic officials and voters are increasingly viewing Biden as a weakened candidate, potentially paving the way for Harris to step in and challenge Trump's controversial policies.

• Elaine Kamarck at Brookings writes that Joe Biden's endorsement of Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party's nomination is due to her extensive presidential-level vetting, practical time constraints, and her robust political experience.

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• The article asserts that Harris' widespread delegate support, substantial financial backing, and the urgent need for party unity and focus on the general election are key reasons for the swift consolidation around her candidacy.

• Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy at Center for Strategic and International Studies analyze that Venezuela's recent elections showcased a blatant electoral theft by President Maduro, who manipulated election conditions, barred opposition candidates, and used repression to secure a disputed victory over Edmundo González.

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• The article asserts that the Maduro regime’s fraudulent actions, including blocking international observations and harassing opposition supporters, risk severe international isolation and a possible constitutional crisis if vote tabulations are not transparently released, undermining any claims to democratic legitimacy.

• Experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argue that China's Third Plenum communiqué remains vague on demand-side measures, even though boosting consumption is widely seen as crucial for sustainable growth.

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• The analysis suggests that despite consensus on the need for stronger consumer demand, Beijing faces challenges in shifting from an investment-driven economy due to long-standing transfers that benefit manufacturing, infrastructure, and local governments at the expense of households.

• Ilya Somin at Cato Institute argues that supporting globalization and opposing world government are not contradictory positions because a world government could worsen voter ignorance, hinder foot voting, and potentially spiral into catastrophic authoritarianism.
• The article asserts that world government is unnecessary for solving global issues and could suppress beneficial diversity and competition between nations. Instead, voluntary cooperation among major powers can address international challenges effectively.