Apple News Today: "What Trump Supporters Want on Day 1 — And What He Can Really Do"

Hosted by Sumita Basu | Release Date: November 11, 2024

In this insightful episode of Apple News Today, host Sumita Basu delves into the ramifications of President-elect Donald Trump's victory, exploring what his supporters expect to see immediately upon taking office and the realistic actions he can undertake. The episode also contextualizes Trump's win within a global trend of incumbent parties losing power and examines the shifting political landscape in the United States, particularly among minority voter groups. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

1. Trump's Electoral Victory and Mandate

Sumita Basu opens the discussion by highlighting Donald Trump's decisive win in the 2024 presidential election. Trump secured the Electoral College with 312 votes against Kamala Harris's 226, winning all seven swing states and leading the popular vote by over 4 million votes, with approximately 6% of ballots still pending (00:05).

2. Immediate Priorities of Trump Supporters

Basu presents perspectives from Trump supporters on what they anticipate Trump will address on his first day in office. A Trump supporter emphasizes key areas of focus:

“The first thing I wanted to do is pardon every single January 6th protester. I'm glad Trump is back. Let's fix this economy. Let's close this border. Let's combat this illegal immigration, immigration, trade and jobs, endless wars, ending the endless wars.”
— Trump Supporter (00:59)

These priorities illustrate a strong emphasis on economic stability, stringent immigration control, revising trade policies, and ending prolonged military engagements abroad.

3. President Trump's Promised Actions

Further exploring supporters' expectations, another Trump supporter outlines specific actions Trump intends to take immediately:

“One, we're doing two things, closing the border and drill, baby, drill.”
— Trump Supporter (01:25)

This statement underscores the administration's commitment to border security and expanding domestic energy production.

4. Immigration Policy Initiatives

Basu delves into Trump's ambitious immigration agenda, detailing several proposed measures:

• Largest Deportation Operation: Trump vows to initiate the most extensive deportation campaign in U.S. history.
• "Remain in Mexico" Policy: Reinstating the policy that mandates asylum seekers to stay in Mexico until their cases are adjudicated.
• Border Wall Construction: Resuming the building of the wall along the southern border.
• Ending Birthright Citizenship: Proposing to revoke citizenship for children born to individuals who illegally entered the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal notes that while some executive orders are pre-drafted, their implementation may face significant legal challenges and financial costs. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben offers a tempered perspective on these initiatives:

“None of it is to say that deportations won't happen. I'm not saying that at all, really. What I'm saying here is that those deportations might not be as rapid, as easy, or as big as he and his supporters hope. But you can bet he'll do something. This was central for him. It's just unclear what he'll be able to do.”
— Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR Political Correspondent (02:14)

5. Key Appointments and Energy Policy

Trump has appointed Tom Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as the new border czar (02:32). On energy policy, Trump advocates for the expansion of oil and gas drilling operations, promising to reduce American energy bills by half. The Wall Street Journal reports that an executive order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is ready to be signed. Additionally, The New York Times highlights plans to resize national monuments to facilitate drilling and mining in the western United States. The episode notes the commencement of the COP 29 climate conference, with Trump's election potentially jeopardizing global climate initiatives (Various timestamps around 02:32 to 04:55).

6. Legislative Support and Opposition

Basu discusses the political dynamics awaiting Trump, noting that Republicans in Congress are prepared to aggressively support his agenda. In contrast, Democrats and civil liberties groups like the ACLU are gearing up to challenge any perceived abuses of power through the courts. Jason Miller, Trump’s campaign adviser, comments to CNN:

“Trump's lead in the popular vote changes everything and gives him the mandate to enact his agenda with the confidence that most Americans support him.”
— Jason Miller, Trump’s Campaign Adviser (04:55)

7. Global Trend of Incumbent Losses

Connecting Trump's victory to a broader international pattern, Basu explains that incumbents are losing elections worldwide, citing examples from Poland, Argentina, Botswana, India, South Korea, South Africa, the UK, and North Macedonia. Vox's senior correspondent Zach Beacham provides insight into this phenomenon:

“Something has happened that has led to people not just in the US where this phenomenon is well documented, but everywhere being like, there's something wrong in the nature of governance right now. Something about we think that the people in power right now aren't doing the best possible job.”
— Zach Beacham, Senior Correspondent at Vox (05:07)

8. Voter Dissatisfaction and Political Science Perspectives

The episode explores voter dissatisfaction in the U.S., where over 70% of Americans expressed unhappiness with the country's direction ahead of the election. Beacham explains the concept of "thermostatic public opinion," where governing parties adjust their policies in response to public sentiment, often leading to electoral backlash:

“It is very normal in the United States for the governing party to push people away from its policy preferences and priorities. It's called thermostatic public opinion... Typically you see it in midterm elections. Right. That's why the President almost always loses ground historically in midterms, but it's less common in presidential election years.”
— Zach Beacham (05:49)

9. Shifts Among Muslim and Arab Voters

A significant shift occurred among Muslim and Arab American voters, who largely moved away from the Democratic Party, viewing this election as a referendum on the party's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In Dearborn, Michigan, Trump secured 42% of the vote compared to Harris's 36%, with the remaining votes favoring third-party candidate Jill Stein. The Council on American Islamic Relations reported that only 20% of surveyed Muslim voters supported Harris, a stark decline from nearly 70% who backed Joe Biden in 2020.

Imad Hamad from the American Human Rights Council attributes Trump's victory to this demographic shift:

“The Arab American vote, the Muslim American vote made a difference, and it's part of the President Trump victory.”
— Imad Hamad, American Human Rights Council (07:56)

Palestinian American voter Lexis Zaydan explains her decision not to vote for the Democrats:

“I could not get myself to bubble in Kamala Harris, who has repeatedly said over the last seven or eight months that she believes in Israel's right to defend itself.”
— Lexis Zaydan, Palestinian American Voter (08:17)

10. Implications for Middle East Policy

The episode examines the potential impact of a second Trump presidency on the Middle East. Trump’s previous administration took several pro-Israel actions, such as relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel. Dove Waxman, an Israel Studies professor at UCLA, warns:

“Trump's America first approach could cut both ways for Israel. On the one hand, he may be open to Israel seizing more Palestinian territory. On the other hand, we could see the US cut funding for Israel as Trump is generally against US money going to foreign wars.”
— Dove Waxman, Israel Studies Professor (09:18)

With ongoing conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas war, the episode highlights uncertainties regarding U.S. aid and military support contingent on Trump's policies, especially as Israeli airstrikes escalate and humanitarian crises worsen.

11. Election-Related Conspiracies and Harassment

Post-election, conspiracy theories emerged on both political spectrums. On the left, theories questioned missing Democratic votes, while the right speculated about fraud in the 2020 election. However, these claims are debunked as the Associated Press estimates a negligible decrease in voter turnout compared to 2020 (09:18).

Additionally, there has been a surge in harassment and racist messaging targeting minority communities. CBS News reports thousands of Black residents across at least 20 states receiving racist text messages, with phrases like “you were selected to pick cotton” circulating. Online harassment campaigns, including the phrase “your body, my choice,” propagated by figures like Nick Fuentes, have also been noted, though the extent of bot involvement remains unclear.

12. Veterans Day and Congressional Milestones

Concluding the episode, Basu highlights Veterans Day news, celebrating the election of the most women veterans in Congress's history. At least eight women veterans have secured their seats, joining numerous male veterans and contributing to a more diverse legislative body. Notably, JD Vance, a veteran elected as vice president, will be stepping down from Congress (09:18).

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the multifaceted discussions from the episode, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the immediate and broader implications of Donald Trump's election victory, the global political climate, and the shifting dynamics within U.S. voter demographics.