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Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris in 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Criticizes Trump’s AI Misinformation

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Pop superstar Taylor Swift has once again entered the political arena, announcing her support for U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In an Instagram post following Harris’ debate with former President Donald Trump, Swift shared her decision to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket, citing Harris’ leadership and advocacy for key social causes as reasons for her endorsement.

In her social media post, Swift expressed admiration for Harris, referring to her as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” and a “warrior” for the causes that matter to her. Swift, known for her influence both in the music industry and among her vast fan base, emphasized her belief that Harris is a strong leader who can guide the U.S. through challenging times.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift wrote. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader, and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

Swift added that Harris represents the values she holds dear, such as fighting for social justice, women’s rights, and other progressive causes. “She fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift said, showing her confidence in Harris’ ability to continue her advocacy for these issues if elected.

The Grammy-winning artist took the opportunity to clarify her stance in the 2024 election following an incident in which an AI-generated image falsely portrayed her endorsing Donald Trump. Swift condemned the spread of misinformation, highlighting the importance of being transparent in an age where fabricated content can easily mislead the public.

“It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” Swift wrote. “The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

Her decision to publicly endorse Harris and Walz was, in part, a direct response to these misleading tactics, which have become increasingly common in political discourse. Swift’s approach to the situation reflects her understanding of the need for honesty and openness in political communication.

Swift’s journey to becoming a vocal political advocate marks a significant shift from her earlier years, during which she often avoided expressing her views on political matters. However, she has recently embraced her platform to speak out on key issues, particularly those related to social justice and equality.

Her first major foray into politics came in 2018 when she urged her fans to vote in the U.S. midterm elections, supporting Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee. Two years later, she endorsed Joe Biden for president in the 2020 election. Since then, Swift has continued to use her influence to promote voter participation, particularly among young people, and to speak up about issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice.

In her endorsement of Harris, Swift also took a playful dig at recent comments made by Republican politician J.D. Vance, who had criticized Democratic leaders without biological children. Swift signed off her post as “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady,” humorously responding to the remark.

Despite Swift’s endorsement, the Trump campaign has shrugged off the singer’s support for Harris. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s team, framed Swift’s decision as evidence of the Democratic Party’s association with “wealthy elites,” dismissing the impact of her endorsement.

“There’s many Swifties for Trump out there in America,” Leavitt said, downplaying Swift’s influence on the broader electorate. Meanwhile, Trump himself, in an interview with Fox and Friends, criticized Swift’s endorsement, calling her “a very liberal person” and labeling the debate “rigged.”

“She always seems to endorse a Democrat, and she will probably pay the price for that in the market,” Trump remarked, casting doubt on the effects of her political stance on her career.

Swift’s endorsement is likely to have a significant impact, particularly among her young and diverse fan base. The “Swifties,” as her fans are known, are active on social media and highly engaged in political conversations, making Swift’s endorsement a powerful signal in a closely contested election. Moreover, her open criticism of misinformation in politics could further galvanize efforts to promote media literacy and critical thinking among voters.

While celebrity endorsements can be divisive, Swift’s willingness to take a stand has drawn praise from many who view her as an advocate for positive change. Her decision to voice her support for Harris, as well as her efforts to address misinformation head-on, reflect a broader movement toward greater transparency and integrity in political discourse.

As the 2024 election draws nearer, Swift’s endorsement is likely to continue sparking conversation about the role of celebrities in politics and the responsibility they hold in using their platforms to inform and influence public opinion.

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election underscores her continued evolution from a politically neutral pop star to a vocal advocate for social justice and progressive causes. By speaking out against misinformation and emphasizing the importance of making informed choices, Swift is contributing to a broader dialogue about transparency, integrity, and leadership in an increasingly complex political landscape.

Her influence among younger voters, combined with her willingness to take a stand, could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the election. At a time when the stakes are high and the political climate is charged, Swift’s endorsement highlights the critical intersection between politics, culture, and celebrity.

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S&P/TSX composite index gains more than 350 points, U.S. stock markets also rise

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index gained more than 350 points Thursday in a broad rally led by energy and technology stocks, while U.S. markets also rose, led by a one-per-cent gain on the Dow. 

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 354.22 points at 25,390.68.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 461.88 points at 43,870.35. The S&P 500 index was up 31.60 points at 5,948.71, while the Nasdaq composite was up 6.28 points at 18,972.42.

The Nasdaq lagged an otherwise decent day for Wall St., rising just 0.03 per cent as it was dragged down by Google parent Alphabet and some of its tech giant peers. 

The tech company’s stock fell 4.6 per cent after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break it up by forcing a sale of the Chrome web browser. 

Amazon shares traded down 2.2 per cent while Meta and Apple both moved lower as well. 

After a substantial run for major tech stocks this year, that kind of news “shakes people a bit,” said John Zechner, chairman and lead equity manager at J. Zechner Associates.

Meanwhile, semiconductor giant Nvidia saw its stock tick up modestly by 0.5 per cent after it reported earnings Wednesday evening.

The company yet again beat expectations for profit and revenue, and gave a better revenue forecast for the current quarter than expected. 

But expectations for Nvidia have been so high amid the optimism over artificial intelligence that even beating forecasts wasn’t enough to send its stock flying the way it has in previous quarters, said Zechner. 

Nvidia essentially caps earnings season in the U.S., with companies largely beating expectations, said Zechner — though those expectations weren’t exactly lofty for companies outside the tech and AI sphere, he added. 

The Dow led major U.S. markets as the post-election hopes for economic growth continued to fuel a broadening of market strength, said Zechner. 

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, said Zechner, and there’s no guarantee he will do what he’s promised.

“There’s a lot of unknowns, but for now the markets seem to be assuming that whatever comes of this, the U.S. will continue to lead global growth,” he said. 

However, some of Trump’s promises — chief among them widespread tariffs on imports — have sparked bets that inflation may rear its head again.

The market has pared back its expectations for interest rate cuts as a result, said Zechner. 

“Nobody’s talking about a half-point cut, that’s for sure,” he said. 

The Canadian dollar traded for 71.63 cents US compared with 71.46 cents US on Wednesday.

The January crude oil contract was up US$1.35 at US$70.10 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up nine cents at US$3.48 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$23.20 at US$2,674.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was down three cents at US$4.13 a pound.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) 

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Halifax security forum gathers as Trump’s support for Taiwan, Ukraine in question

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HALIFAX – Uncertainty is a key theme this year at the annual, three-day gathering in Halifax of political leaders, defence officials and policy analysts who aim to promote democratic values around the globe. 

The 300 delegates from 60 countries will take part in the Halifax International Security Forum, which begins Friday, less than three weeks after Donald Trump’s United States presidential election victory — a result that has raised questions about U.S. military support for the threatened democracies of Ukraine and Taiwan.

Over the past two years, Trump has repeatedly taken issue with the almost $60 billion in assistance to Ukraine provided by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, and he’s made vague vows to end the war. The president-elect has also been unclear if his upcoming administration would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China, and has suggested the self-governed island “should pay us for defence.”

Peter Van Praagh, president of the forum, said in an interview Wednesday that in November 2016 — after Trump’s first ascent to the White House — there was “a level of shock that this could happen,” but he said this year shock has been replaced with a feeling of incertitude.

“One of the things that the president-elect Trump brings to the table is a level of uncertainty …. Now everybody is looking to reduce that uncertainty and get some type of clarity on what his priorities will be,” he said.

Van Praagh expects the speakers at the 16th forum will present evidence justifying why the Trump administration must continue Biden’s financial and military support for Ukraine, arguing that the security of democracies around the globe depends on it.

He said he’s pleased former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen will deliver a speech Saturday, which is expected to emphasize how U.S. support for Ukraine is crucial to the security of her country and its democracy.

Tsai left office in May. During her two terms in office she came under frequent attack from China for her refusal to recognize Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over the island.

Van Praagh said the politician — who remains an influential figure in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party — is expected to describe how the threat from China isn’t isolated from the conflict in Central Europe. “All of these things are connected. Ukrainian security is connected with security in eastern Asia,” he said. 

Van Praagh said he hopes speakers at the forum help to influence members of the U.S. congressional delegation on the importance of backing Taiwan and Ukraine.

In 2016, former Republican Sen. John McCain was a prominent and influential figure in Washington, and he regularly attended the Halifax security forum — bringing the ideas he heard back to the Senate. An award has been given out in his name at the forum each year since he died in 2018.

This year, two Republican senators, James Risch of Idaho — who may chair the influential foreign relations committee after Trump takes office — and Mike Rounds from South Dakota are attending as part of the U.S. congressional delegation, along with four Democratic Party senators.

“These guys not only have a say, they have a vote,” said Van Praagh.

Risch will be a speaker at the opening session of the conference on Friday, along with Democratic Party Sen. Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, as they discuss America’s role in the world. The opening day will also hear from Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, who will sit on a panel titled “Victory in Ukraine” alongside Rounds.

Other invited guests include Gen. Jennie Carignan, head of the Canadian Armed Forces, who will sit on a panel with U.S. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific command, and Andrew Shearer, director of Australia’s Office of National Intelligence, on Saturday.

Many of the events over the forum’s three days, including a plenary session on threats to the Canadian Arctic from Russia and China, tie back to the conflict in Ukraine, and to whether Western democracies should continue to back the country.

“Should we succeed in Ukraine and push Russia out of Ukraine, every other international challenge becomes easier,” Van Praagh said. “If Russia succeeds, everything becomes more difficult.”

“The alternative is chaos and more war.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.



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50-50 chance: After tie vote, Cape Breton-area councillor to be chosen by random draw

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HALIFAX – It will be the luck of the draw that chooses the next councillor for a district in northern Cape Breton after two candidates earned the same number of votes in a recent municipal election.

Amy MacKinnon and Wanda Hennick both received 145 votes on Oct. 19 in the district that includes the Victoria County communities of Dingwall, Aspy Bay and Bay St. Lawrence. To break the tie, the winner will be chosen on Friday by random draw — a selection process stipulated in the Nova Scotia Municipal Elections Act.

Hennick said the voting results were a “shock” to everyone in the district. The random draw is undemocratic, she said, and makes some people in her district feel like their votes won’t count. The winner should be determined in a byelection, she added.

“I’m not happy about it,” she said in an interview. “We owe our constituents an actual election. They didn’t vote to have someone’s name pulled out of a box. If that was the case, why didn’t they do that from the beginning? They feel like their votes were taken from them.”

MacKinnon couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.

Each province has its own rules about what to do if a municipal election ends in a tie. Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick follow the same procedure as Nova Scotia. In Prince Edward Island, a coin-flip determines the winner, while in Ontario, the deciding vote is cast by the returning officer. 

Blair Gallop, Victoria County’s returning officer, says the Oct. 19 election isn’t the only time a tie has been recorded in Nova Scotia municipal politics; in 1979, Harvey Lewis became mayor of Louisbourg after his name was picked from a hat.

Hennick said she will travel to Sydney, N.S., for the recount, though she initially thought about boycotting it. Regardless of Friday’s outcome, she thinks her district will be in good hands. 

“It’s 50-50. We’re both strong women in this district and we do a lot for our community here, so I feel confident if I don’t get (elected), the district is going to be looked after very well with Amy. If I win, then perfect.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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