Biden Announces COVID-19 Relief Plan

Yesterday, President-elect Joe Biden unveiled his COVID-19 relief plan. Costing around $1,900,000,000,000, this plan would approve another round of stimulus checks, raise the national minimum wage to $15 an hour, increase unemployment support, and more. While some on the left are already criticizing Biden’s plan, I’m thoroughly impressed with the proposed relief package that will help millions of Americans through this seemingly never-ending health crisis.

One of the biggest points of criticism Biden is receiving is his proposed $1,400 checks, which would complement the previous $600 stimulus payments to bring the grand total to $2,000. It seems that some were expecting a new set of $2,000 checks, but I never interpreted the proposed plans that way. Additionally, adult dependents will receive this payment, unlike previously. A large group of people previously forgotten will be assisted by this plan assuming it passes the Senate.

Biden’s plan will also provide $400 of unemployment insurance to Americans through September, which is roughly around the time I imagine enough Americans will be vaccinated to bring things back to a semblance of normalcy. If things go in the Democrats’ favor, which they should because they will have full government control, the federal minimum wage will be increased to $15 an hour. Finally, the minimum wage on a full-time schedule will be above the poverty line.

Importantly, the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums will be extended until September, ensuring that individuals and families struggling to make end’s meet won’t face the grim reality of homelessness in the coming months. A combined $70,000,000 will be spent on testing and vaccine funding, which will help mitigate further spread when paired with mask wearing, social distancing, and constant sanitization.

President-elect Biden is showing initiative early-on by announcing these proposals and his cabinet selections prior to even being inaugurated. I voted for Joe Biden because he was clearly the favorable choice when compared to Donald Trump, but I am now excited that Biden’s plans, including this one, are far more progressive and ambitious than I expected. Hopefully this plan does in fact bring relief to the millions of Americans desperate for help from their government.

Democracy's Darkest Day

Democracy had its darkest day yesterday. After Donald Trump incited violence by encouraging his supporters to head to the Capitol building after his misinformation rally, they did just that. Thousands of deplorable individuals were able to make their way inside the halls of Congress, which led to multiple gunfights and panic. This vitriolic attack took place while the House Of Representatives and Senate were counting the state-certified electoral college votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Although the Capitol was eventually cleared, four individuals died and more than fifty arrests were made. Meanwhile, Donald Trump took to video from the White House and unenthusiastically called for “peace” while simultaneously telling the individuals who partook in these demonstrations that he “loved them” and that they were “special.” Twitter has since removed these posts and locked his account for twelve hours, while Facebook and Instagram have banned him indefinitely. There are few dates that live in infamy in the United States, and unfortunately, 01/06/2021 is now one of them.

Although democracy had its darkest day yesterday, it also had one of its strongest nights last night. After the Capitol was cleared as safe, Congress resumed the procedural and necessary process of counting electoral votes on the same day that they were attacked by anti-American Trump supporters. A good portion of the Republican elected officials who were originally going to object to this process decided that because of the day’s events, that action was inappropriate. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s electoral votes have now been officially counted, which was the final step required by the United States Constitution before their inauguration later this month.

While I choose to believe that a majority of Americans stand strongly against yesterday’s domestic terrorism, I am disheartened to see ultra-conservative responses on social media today. These airheaded individuals are likening breaking and entering into the U.S. Capitol building based on unfounded claims of voter fraud to the Black Lives Matter protest that took place over the summer. The key difference is that one group (BLM) was protesting because members of their community were being unjustly murdered, and the other (Trump supporters) attacked one of the most sacred buildings in the country because their candidate lost a fair election that has been under scrutiny from election experts from both parties for months. It’s also worth noting that the individuals who stormed the Capitol were in large part allowed to leave freely after entering fairly easily, which definitely wouldn’t have been the case if they had different skin color. Once again, the systemic racism that defines our country has shown its ugly teeth.

If there was any doubt as to what we warned against when Donald Trump was elected, this is it. An egomaniac too self-absorbed and narcissistic to accept defeat has brainwashed some of his most loyal supporters into attacking their own country. There’s no wonder why so many of them also tout the Confederate flag - they are anti-American. It’s horrible that anyone died yesterday. That being said, those individuals shouldn’t have done what they did, because they crossed the line of protest into acts of sedition the second they stepped into the Capitol building and sought violence against American representatives. I sincerely hope that Donald Trump is removed before the end of his term by way of either a second impeachment or the 25th amendment, because he has proven himself a traitor to this country willing to attack our democracy for what he views as personal gain. His supporters the same for emboldening it. We need to be better than this. We need a better tomorrow.

Ossoff & Warnock Win Runoff Elections, Secure Democratic Senate

The world turned upside down. Last night, the polls closed for the 2021 Senate runoff elections here in Georgia. Incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler attempted to fend off challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively. After months of anticipation, polling, and campaigning, we finally have a definitive result and outcome for this all-important election. Both Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have been declared victors by Decision Desk HQ, securing a 50-50 Senate with Kamala Harris’s tiebreaking vote and a Democratic majority in the Senate. It feels like a dream.

Watching Georgia shift left over the years has been satisfying and inspiring. I never would have thought four or eight years ago that a Democratic presidential candidate would win this state, let alone win two Senate elections in the process. While I believe that time moves the country in the direction of progress, it’s interesting to try to unambiguously determine the factors that helped decide this election in favor of the Democratic candidates. I believe this can be credited to President Trump’s attacks on democracy, two largely unpopular Republican candidates in Perdue and Loeffler (especially the latter), and Stacey Abrams’ support of two solid candidates.

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 2020 Presidential election was rigged in Joe Biden’s favor. In doing so, he has delegitimized and negated the importance of each individual vote. Many of his supporters believed that their vote held no significance, and decided not to vote altogether. The rallies he held prior to the election, which were supposed to show support for the Republican candidates, wound up being complaining fests as Trump reflected on what he delusionally believes was a stolen election. That being said, even if he had shown more support for Perdue and Loeffler, it might not have made a difference.

Polls prior to the election showed that Perdue was trailing Ossoff less than Loeffler trailed Warnock. I credit this to Perdue’s actual incumbency, in that he had previously won an election to secure his seat in the Senate. Loeffler, on the other hand, was a Trump appointee who never won elected office, and instead was vying to secure her first victory in these runoffs. Both of these candidates made dubious and questionable decisions along the campaign trail, including when Loeffler likened herself to Atilla the Hun, when Perdue was photographed flashing a white power hand gesture, and when both candidates gave terrible debate performances and openly opposed further COVID-19 stimulus for Georgians, among many others. So the Republicans definitely messed things up for themselves, but how did Democrats break their runoff / mid-term dry spell habit of low voter turnout? Simple. Stacey Abrams.

The woman is a national treasure. Her ability to build a network of organizations dedicated to registering new voters from underrepresented communities ensured that over 800,000 Georgia residents were going to vote in these elections. With margins as small as the ones seen in Biden’s, Ossoff’s, and Warnock’s victories, it’s hard not to say that Abrams was a deciding factor. I hope that she decides to run for governor again in 2022 against Brian Kemp, and if she does, I like her odds. Georgia could be the next Virginia.

After growing up in Illinois and living in Georgia for the past eight or so years, it feels good to say I live in a blue state again. Attacks on Democracy, minorities, and common sense legislation just don’t work on an increasingly left-leaning population in Georgia anymore. I sincerely hope that a Democratic trifecta leads to the passing of meaningful and substantial legislation, and as a progressive, I won’t be afraid to call out the Democratic party if they stall on getting things done. For now, though, let’s celebrate the fact that Democrats took all three branches of government, and that they will take things over in just a couple weeks. Light at the end of the tunnel… finally.

My 2021 New Year's Resolution

The waking fever dream that was 2020 is now in the rearview mirror. While I’m keeping tempered expectations heading into the new year, it’s difficult to imagine a year as difficult as last year was given that a new president and a vaccine are on the way. I hope to not regret that sentence. To make the year better instead of just hoping that it is, I’ve decided to do something I usually choose not to: Make a New Year’s resolution.

I’m not going to ruthlessly and relentlessly hold myself to some impossible standard in hopes to accomplish an outlandishly difficult goal in 2021. Instead, my resolution is a simple one: Self-care. This next year is extremely exciting, but also dauntingly overwhelming in some ways. I will soon graduate college and begin “real” adult life, continuing to work full-time and manage expenses on my own. To make that process less stressful and more sustainable, I am going to make an effort to practice different methods of self-care. These include getting enough sleep, taking breaks from work (both professional and school), doing fun things with loved ones, eating well, and not beating myself up for any shortcomings, which is a tendency of mine occasionally. I often treat myself much more harshly and abrasively than I do anyone else, which is something I would like to fix this year. While I know that this “resolution” can’t really be measured empirically, I will feel better viewing the changing of the calendar year as a reset on mental health and practicing good habits.

I’m not usually one to make or stick to New Year’s resolutions, but I feel good about this new approach. Instead of making a hyper-specific goal to accomplish, I’m adjusting my frame of mind to better take on the challenges I face day-to-day. Do you have a New Year’s resolution? If so, what? If not, why not? Thanks for reading.

Top Songs Of 2020

Earlier this month, I revealed my top favorite albums of 2020. Luckily, in an otherwise tumultuous year, we were able to turn to music for relief. To hone in on these impressive releases in more detail, I will now be ranking my favorite songs of the year. These tracks all offer something different and unique, and there is a good variety of genres included here. Let’s jump right into it.

10. “Soul Control” - Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware’s infectious, ‘80s inspired dance anthems are what made What’s Your Pleasure? so special. “Soul Control” synthesizes all of the fantastic elements from this album into one track with Ware’s excellent vocal performance, an upbeat instrumental backing, and synth-pop inspiration, making this track instantly-lovable. How could you not dance along?

9. “WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” - Cardi B

Both an instant meme and an empowering statement for women around the world, the release of WAP took the internet by storm. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion let it all hang out on this track, bringing some of their strongest and most confidence verses to the table. Wonderfully vulgar and hilariously explicit, I had to recognize WAP’s significance on this list.

8. “Only The Strong” - Laura Marling

Laura Marling’s beautiful singer-songwriter album Song For Our Daughter is made up of one compelling track after another. Though I could choose many from this project, “Only The Strong” meant the most of them all to me this year. Marling’s delivery is more blunt and to-the-point than usual here, and the ambient acoustic and piano-backed folk instrumental is a feather in the wind. Fantastic song that reflects on a variety of topics.

7. “The Adults Are Talking” - The Strokes

The opening track to The Strokes’ most recent album The New Abnormal is exactly what I wanted from this band. Sonically similar to the fan favorite “Reptilia”, “The Adults Are Talking” utilizes Julian Casablancas’ recognizable vocals perfectly. The backing instrumentation is impressive, and the post-chorus call-and-response guitar riffs are simply addictive.

6. “Blinding Lights” - The Weeknd

This smash hit will define The Weeknd’s current era for years to come. Sparkling synth progressions, a bouncy and playful beat, and echoing vocals make for a return to popular ‘80s sounds. It’s no wonder why this track is as popular as it is. Abel’s vocal performance is up to his high standard, making this one of my favorite tracks off of After Hours.

5. “Aries (feat. Peter Hook and Georgia)” - Gorillaz

Gorillaz’ album release this year left me satisfied that they had finally returned to the sound that I fell in love with when I was younger. While a track like “Pac-Man (feat. ScHoolboy Q” follows the band’s formula more closely, I selected “Aries” because of its relaxing aura and genius feature implementation. Peter Hook, of New Order fame, brings his signature sound to this spectacular track, and Damon Albarn’s vocals are distorted perfectly. Great stuff.

4. “I Know The End” - Phoebe Bridgers

I said in my review for Punisher that “I Know The End” is one of the best closing tracks on any album in recent memory. Bridgers’ gentle vocal delivery haunts the first third of the track as the stage is set for the coming narrative: an apocalyptic reality. The second third of the song picks up tempo, and the narrative continues as Bridgers’ drives straight into the end of the world. The track crescendos into a loud and unsettling climax with multilayered instrumentation, as Bridgers screams quietly into the mic. Fantastic track.

3. “Shameika” - Fiona Apple

I recently upgraded Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters from a 9 to a 10 as I’ve come to better understand the closing tracks, which were the only thing stopping me from calling this album perfect. Its raw and chaotic energy are still enticing and fascinating, and no track embodies that more successfully than “Shameika.” Spastic piano backing, an overwhelming drum presence, and unsteady but controlled vocals help portray childhood uncertainty and insecurity. I love the story being told here.

2. “Good News” - Mac Miller

The first posthumous single after Mac Miller’s unexpected death hit me, and many others, like a ton of bricks. The tasteful music video accompaniment chillingly complements the almost prophetic lyrics in which Miller reflects on life more clearly than ever before. “Why does everybody need me to stay?”, “Maybe I’ll lay down for a little”, and “I wish that I could just get out my god damn way” eerily haunt the listener who knows Mac is now gone. The plucky and flowy instrumental is gentle, and the chorus tugs at the heartstrings. Miss him.

1. “walking in the snow” - Run The Jewels

I knew this was my song of the year on its first listen. Released right around the Civil Rights protests that helped define 2020, this track, recorded in 2019, reflects on many of these themes preemptively and accurately. This is less of a prediction and more of an indication that these topics, such as police brutality, are perpetual and are just now getting public attention in the U.S. El-P’s verse about the nature of oppression is strong, especially with the hard-hitting instrumental backing, but Killer Mike’s verse is one of the best rap verses in the past decade for me. Every bar is meaningful, impactful, and layered. It covers intergenerational wealth mobility, the education system, news programming, police brutality, performative activism, and systemic violence among other topics. “Until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper “I can’t breathe”” is the standout bone-chilling line, but Killer Mike’s entire verse is spectacular. This timely and grimy track is so potent that it is my favorite song of 2020.

I’m excited to see what kinds of releases we get, both songs and albums, in 2021. Hopefully artists who are overdue to release projects come through with strong offerings. Until then, these songs and tracks from my favorite albums of the year are on repeat. Thanks for reading.