2024 US Elections: What Corporate Media Won’t Tell You

With this year’s US presidential elections days away, US voters are once again faced with two establishment candidates with the highest likelihood of winning.

During the last 8 years of the Trump and Biden administrations, working people have endured the COVID-19 crisis that resulted in over 1 million people dead and millions losing their jobs. The social protections implemented during the pandemic including an eviction moratorium, expanded public healthcare coverage, and increased unemployment insurance payments, were almost all scaled back during Biden’s term, which has been characterized by new crises of inflation and the complicity in Israel’s genocidal war.

There is much about this grim reality that the mainstream media has chosen to ignore. Peoples Dispatch has compiled a list of our coverage, from the frontlines of struggle to reports on the untold stories of poor and working class realities, to keep people across the world informed about what’s at stake in these next presidential elections from the belly of the beast.

What else is on the ballot?

Beyond the presidential race, there are 34 seats in the Senate that are up for election on November 5, as well as all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. The population that was eligible to vote in the US in 2020 was nearly 240 million, with 66% of those people turning out to vote for the highest office of President.

There are some notable ballot measures, which include ten states with ballot measures related to abortion rights. Only one of these measures, Nebraska Initiative 434, relates to the restriction, not the promotion, of abortion rights. 

Eight states will have ballot measures to add additional statewide bans on noncitizen voting, as conservatives have drummed up a significant controversy over the widely debunked theory that noncitizen voting has swayed elections to the Democratic Party. Only US citizens are permitted to vote in the US, and noncitizen voting is already banned nationwide.

There are six states that are deciding on ballot measures related to wages. Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, and Missouri have ballot measures to increase the minimum wage, and Nebraska is requiring employers to provide earned paid sick leave to their workers. Arizona’s Proposition 138, on the other hand, would actually lower the minimum wage for tipped workers. 

Slavery is on the ballot this year, with two states weighing in on the legality of forced labor in prisons. Prison labor is among the most controversial aspects of mass incarceration in the United States, with some argue that it perpetuates the long legacy of enslavement by forcing the disproportionately Black prison population to work for little to no wages.

Millions of people in the US have already voted in the early voting process, both by mail and in person. However, it is unlikely that final results will come out on election day itself, which is Tuesday, November 5. Full results might not come for days. A similar delay happened in the last presidential election of 2020, due to mail-in ballots and Trump’s allies requesting recounts after his loss. 

Who are the candidates?

Harris and Trump are the two front-runners representing the Democratic Party and Republican Party respectively. How are they making the case for themselves to working people in the US?

Trump and Harris spar in the second US presidential debate of the 2024 election year (Screenshot)

Kamala Harris is the current Vice President and a former Senator from California. Harris has a background in the criminal justice system as the California Attorney General and San Francisco District Attorney. Her record as prosecutor in California has come under fire for inflicting harsh punishments on parents whose children were not attending school. This law sought to make an example out of parents, who were often working people whose children could not attend school due to a variety of circumstances. These included a mother, Cheree Peoples, of Orange County, arrested and walked out of her home in her pajamas in front of cameras, whose daughter could not attend school regularly due to sickle cell anemia. Harris has also come under scrutiny for defying a Supreme Court ruling to decarcerate the state to maintain high levels of cheap and forced prison labor in California. With regards to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Harris has maintained that “Israel has a right to defend itself” and has rejected calls to condition aid or implement an arms embargo as it escalates the war.

• With Biden out, Kamala Harris becomes the new Democratic Party choice for President. The Democratic Party seeks to distance itself from the unpopular presidency of Joe Biden with his withdrawal from the upcoming elections, but does Harris really represent a significant change?
• Kamala Harris accepts nomination from Democratic Party National Convention. Harris’s speech set to differentiate her from Trump’s far-right, but instead highlighted notable similarities.

Former president and media personality Donald Trump has promised to implement a hardline conservative agenda if elected, including the mass deportation of 15 to 20 million people. Before entering the political arena, Trump was widely known for his borderline fascistic political views, which include calling for the death penalty for five Black men (the Central Park Five) who were falsely accused of rape, spreading claims that former President Barack Obama was actually born in Kenya, and promoting racist myths regarding migrants crossing the US-Mexico border.

As President, Trump implemented massive tax cuts for the wealthy in 2017, allowing many billionaires and corporations to pay lower taxes than working people. These “reforms” effectively transferred USD 2 trillion from workers to the ultra-rich.

• Trump makes more false promises to the working class. Former president Trump’s first speech following the attempted assassination against him was an appeal to workers from a pro-boss candidate.
• Presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to “lift up” workers. Here’s what he actually did in power. While announcing his candidacy for president, Donald Trump claimed to be pro-working class and a champion of the poor. However, his record as president shows otherwise.
• Harris and Trump fight over who is the most conservative candidate. How both candidates, who have already held some of the highest positions in the country, have failed the working class.

Jill Steins speaks at a demonstration protesting Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the UN General Assembly (Photo: Wyatt Souers)

Alternative candidates: With the dominance of the two-party system in the US, some candidates are seeking to break through the duopoly by running independently of either the Democratic or Republican Party. They’ve experienced serious attacks by establishment party operatives as a result. 

• Jill Stein refuses to take marching orders from political elites. Peoples Dispatch spoke to the Green Party candidate for US President on her candidacy and the establishment attacks against her.
• Amid war and natural disasters, capitalism is at root of crisis, says socialist candidate for president. “A third party option takes away that consent from the ruling class and gives power to working class people,” says Claudia De la Cruz, socialist candidate for president.
• The Democratic Party is trying to kick socialists off the ballot ahead of November elections. Democrats are waging legal battles in an attempt to limit ballot access.

Claudia De la Cruz at a campaign event in the Bronx, New York (Photo: the Party for Socialism and Liberation)

What are the key issues?

Cost of living: The economy and cost of living continues to be the top issue for the people of the US, who are struggling under astronomical housing and grocery costs.

• Working people place cost of living as top concern in US elections. The economy and cost of living continues to be the top issue for the people of the US, who are struggling under astronomical housing and grocery costs. 

Immigration: Establishment parties have scapegoated migrants as responsible for the problems of the average worker.

• On immigration, Harris and Trump have more similarities than one might think. Peoples Dispatch analyzes the continuity between Trump and Biden’s immigration policy.
• How a New York landlord exploited anti-immigrant propaganda in Aurora, Colorado. Peoples Dispatch spoke to Aurora community organizer Nate Kassa on CBZ Management’s weaponization of anti-migrant rhetoric.

Natural disasters: The US government has failed to allocate the necessary funds for the survivors of recent devastating hurricanes.

• Hurricane Milton wreaks havoc in US as FEMA begs for more government assistance. Florida residents denounce “every man for himself” style of hurricane response.
• US leaves Hurricane Helene survivors behind while funding Israel’s genocidal war. Congress has made no efforts to secure more disaster relief funding.
• Congress failed to allocate relief funding ahead of Hurricane Helene, then skipped town early due to the storm. Volunteers in the US South contend with the massive devastation and inadequate relief efforts, as climate change ensures that the worst is yet to come.

Harris speaks to Border Patrol agents on the campaign trail (Photo: @KamalaHarris/X)

Palestine solidarity: The vast majority of people in the US oppose aid to Israel, both candidates say they will continue to back Israel and refuse to support an arms embargo or even conditioning aid.

• Democrats propose no change on unflinching support for Israel in national convention. The Democratic Party’s National Convention convenes to formally nominate a candidate for President, with Kamala Harris the likely choice.
• One year of resistance to genocide. The mass movement for Palestine within the US has raised the consciousness of millions who have become outraged at how time and again, the US government has made genocide its top priority over its own people.
• Voices from the Palestine solidarity movement. Over the past year, the diverse sectors of the Palestine solidarity movement within the United States have united in opposition to the funding, support, and supply of genocide.
• Thousands march against Netanyahu’s UN Visit. As Israel’s aggression continues to isolate it on the world stage, people of conscience in the United States, Israel’s largest military and financial backer, attempt to isolate it in the belly of the beast.
• Conservative US lawmakers hound pro-Palestine organizations. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers launch direct attacks against organizations standing with Palestine.
• Seven major labor unions demand US end military aid to Israel. Major step taken in overcoming past divisions and uniting Palestine solidarity and labor movements in the United States.
• 61% in US are against sending aid to Israel. The movement for Palestine in the US has mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to oppose the US policy of unshakable support for Israel. Last Saturday, 100,000 surrounded the White House as part of the “people’s red line” against genocide.

Pro-Palestine protesters rally outside of the White House on June 8 (Photo: the Palestinian Youth Movement)

Foreign policy: US imperialism continues to be the default foreign policy of both major parties.

East Asia: How the US continues attempts to corner China.

• US begins another military exercise with the Philippines and other Asian allies near Taiwan strait. The US has increased joint military exercises in the last few years and built up its military infrastructure in the region.
• United States destabilizing East Asia: a regional perspective. Speakers from across East Asia and the Pacific participated in a webinar organized by No Cold War regarding the attempts by the US to destabilize and dominate the region.
• How Australia helps the US destabilize Asia. As the US ramps up its Cold War against China, Australia has been one of its key partners in increasing pressure, despite its strong economic links with China.

West Asia: The US continues to unconditionally support Israeli genocide.

• US sends THAAD missile defense system to Israel. The move is seen as an escalation of US involvement in Israel’s genocidal war against countries in the region at a time when Israel has rejected ceasefire talks.
• The United States has sent 17.9 billion dollars to Israel since October 7. Opposition to US aid to Israel continues within the belly of the beast as US continues to bankroll genocide.
• US-British warplanes launch airstrikes across Yemen. By attacking Yemen, the US, and its allies have tried to defend Israel, maintain their interests in West Asia region, and undermine the capabilities of the Axis of Resistance.
• US threatens “severe consequences” for Iran. The US military shot down Iranian missiles headed towards Tel Aviv, launched by Iran as part of a broader response against Israel’s aggression in Lebanon.

Demonstrators at the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in US history in Washington DC, on November 4 (Photo: Carolyn Yao/ANSWER Coalition)

Latin America and the Caribbean: The US continues to subvert democracy in the region.

• Dominican Republic in the crosshairs of the US imperialist ambitions in the Caribbean. Last month the Dominican President met with Antony Blinken in Santo Domingo, solidifying a crucial partnership for the US as it faces an uncertain political landscape in the region.
• As Cubans face blackouts, US-based activists organize material solidarity. Manolo De Los Santos of the People’s Forum discusses the solidarity efforts of the Let Cuba Live campaign.
• Puerto Ricans take to the streets against Kamala Harris’s visit. Puerto Ricans protested Harris’ visit citing the ongoing US occupation of Puerto Rico and support to Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.
• How billionaire Elon Musk is trying to buy political influence across the Americas. The world’s richest man has successfully adopted media, political, and economic strategies that allow him to be an influential figure inside and outside the United States.

Africa: People across the African continent have marked recent years by standing for sovereignty against neo-colonialism.

• Chagos Islands agreement keeps Diego Garcia base under US control. An agreement between the UK and Mauritius on the Chagos Archipelago is being hailed as a key step in decolonization, but the Diego Garcia island will remain a military base under US control.
• Why has Niger declared US military presence in its territory illegal?. Only months after forcing its former colonizer France to withdraw its troops, Niger, West Africa’s largest country, has said the presence of US troops is illegal. This could be a major blow to the US military’s power-projection capacity in the region.
• “France out of Africa, US and NATO too!” Activists picket the UNGA. US activists protested outside of the UN General Assembly against US and French imperialism and warmongering in the Sahel.

Europe: The war in Ukraine continues with the US standing firmly against peace.

• Peace is nowhere on the horizon as Ukraine war completes two years. Two years into the war, Ukraine has suffered a significant setback with the fall of Avdiivka. However, neither this defeat nor the failure of its counter-offensive has led to calls for peace, either from its rulers or western allies.

Climate change: How the US has not fulfilled its responsibility to people and the planet.

• The US is evading its responsibility on climate change. Eugene Puryear of BreakThrough News explains the failure of the United States to fulfill its responsibilities in combating climate change. He also talks about how its positions are hurting countries in the Global South.

(Photo: via ACLU)

Abortion rights: The Republicans successfully dismantled abortion rights, and the Democrats failed to fight back.

• Two years since abortion rights were overturned in the US, poor women bear the brunt of restrictions. How have poor and working women been affected by the overturning of nationwide abortion rights over the past two years?
• 50 years since Roe secured abortion rights, women across the US are left in the dust. Peoples Dispatch spoke to Jenice Fountain of the Yellowhammer Fund about the impact of Dobbs on those in the Deep South.
• The push-pull of the abortion rights struggle continues in the US. The struggle to regain abortion rights for millions of women in the US continues, while Biden makes repeated concessions to the right.

Issues you don’t hear about: These are issues that the corporate-owned media doesn’t talk about. Can you guess why?

• In the US, voting is a privilege, not a right. People in the US are set to head to the polls soon to decide their next president. But the country has yet to contend with a past and present reality of voter suppression.
• Has the two party system failed Black men? The potential for dwindling support among Black voters, particularly Black men, alarms Democratic Party operatives ahead of the election.