🗽🚕🇷🇺 Trump or Harris: Who do Russians prefer?

Sputnik decided to ask random Moscow taxi drivers who they want to become the next President of the United States.

Their answers may surprise you.

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Does Europe attempt to meddle in US presidential election?

The 2024 presidential election in the United States has been, among other things, marked by European politicians’ efforts to influence the vote.

European Green parties have issued a statement calling upon Jill Stein, presidential candidate from the US Green Party, to pull out and support Kamala Harris, “the only candidate who can block Donald Trump.”

The Green's concerns apparently stem from the fact that Stein polls over 1 percent “in almost every critical US state,” Politico points out, which may result in her accruing votes that Harris would have gained otherwise.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has previously sounded the alarm over the efforts of the UK Labour Party to assist Harris, complaining about Labour strategists working for her.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer himself confirmed the veracity of this claim but argued that this kind of assistance does not violate US laws as the strategists are working for Harris as volunteers.

Under US legislation, it is illegal for foreigners to make contributions or donations to elections in the United States.

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❗️Prisoner exchange processes are extremely difficult and slow due to the politicization of the issue by the Ukrainian side, Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova has said

Moskalkova called on the Ukrainian side to return to constructive dialogue and speed up prisoner exchanges.

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🗣 The main points from Russia's Foreign Ministry spokewoman Maria Zakharova's briefing on the topic of prisoners of war:

▪️Russia does not refuse dialogue on the exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine and does not try to benefit from the exchange;

▪️Kiev is currently sabotaging the process of exchanging prisoners of war, organizing a political performance around it;

▪️Kiev only received 279 prisoners of war out of the 935 that the Russian Defense Ministry offered it this year;

▪️Ukraine authorities create the appearance of efforts to return prisoners of war in order to put pressure on Russia;

▪️The intentions of "patronage" of other countries over prisoners of Ukrainian forces, as stated by the head of the Ukrainian FM Andrey Sybiga, are unknown;

▪️The statement by the head of the Ukrainian FM that Russia allegedly does not give doctors access to Ukrainian prisoners is false, as are the words about Russia’s alleged unwillingness to change the Ukrainian Marines.

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Trump vs Harris: Which interest groups, parties and PACs have spent the most during this election? Part 1 👉 Part 2

Over 11,000 US groups - including political action committees (PACs), super-PACs, candidates and parties - have spent a staggering $14.7 billion on this year's elections, Bloomberg has reported, referring to filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The news outlet expects that the election cycle, including congressional and presidential races, will cost a total of $16 billion.

As for the candidates, data from FEC indicates that the Harris campaign has outspent Trump's over two-to-one:

🔸Harris for President: $875 million
🔸Donald J. Trump for President 2024: $355 million

In addition, a number of rich donors poured tens of millions in PACs supporting Trump and Harris:

▪️For instance, Michael Bloomberg gave $50 million for Harris through Future Forward USA Action, called by the US media a "dark money arm" of the pro-Harris Future Forward super PAC. The dark money organization doesn't disclose its donors, according to the New York Times.

🔻Bill Gates donated $50 million for Harris through the same mechanism
🔻Elon Musk donated over $118 million into America PAC, a super PAC focused on Trump’s reelection
🔻Railroad magnate Timothy Mellon donated $150 million for Trump via Make America Great Again Inc.

Bloomberg lists the top 100 groups, which contribute 64.6% of all total spending in the 2023/2024 election cycle. The top ten behemoths are:

▫️Harris for President: $875 million
▫️Future Forward, a Democratic super-PAC: $621 million
▫️Make America Great Again Inc, a Republican super-PAC: $381 million
▫️Democratic National Committee: $368 million
▫️Donald J. Trump for President 2024: $355 million
▫️WinSenate, a Democratic super-PAC: $339 million
▫️Harris Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee: $321 million
▫️Republican National Committee: $274 million
▫️Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: $271 million
▫️House Majority PAC, a Democratic platform: $259 million

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Trump vs Harris: Which interest groups, parties and PACs have spent the most during this election? Part 2 👉 Part 1

What are PACs?

PACs provide financial support to candidates, raise funds and pay for political ads and other election-related activities. Raised money doesn't go directly to candidates or their campaigns.

There are three types of PACs regulated by the FEC:

🔺separate segregated funds (SSFs) are corporate- or labor organization-funded political committees

🔺non-connected committees accept money solely from individuals

🔺Super PACs can receive unlimited amounts of money from corporations, individuals, and unions

At the beginning of November, 2,457 groups organized as super PACs had raised $4.29 billion and reported a total independent expenditure of $2.67 billion in the 2023-2024 cycle, according to OpenSecrets, a DC-based non-profit, that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying.

According to OpenSecrets, the top five PACs by total money raised during the 2024 election are:

🔹ActBlue (Democrats)
🔹WinRed (Republicans)
🔹Senate Majority PAC (Democrats)
🔹Future Forward USA (Democrats)
🔹Make American Great Again Inc. (Republicans)

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South Korea’s possible pursuit of nuclear weaponry could ‘trigger off more nuclear proliferation’ in Asia

The US secretary of defense is “merely initiating a longer-term dialogue with South Korean counterparts” in these pre-election times, suggests Michael Madden, nonresident fellow at the Stimson Center and leading contributing analyst to 38 North.

“As you know, there is an election next week. It seems reasonable to assume that either victor, Trump or Harris, will make their own decisions and Austin was aware of that when he spoke,” Madden elaborates, deeming the prospects of South Korea launching its own nuclear weapon program as unlikely due to the lack of necessary infrastructure.

“I don't see the US substantively helping South Korea in that regard nor would they support it rhetorically particularly if it is against perceived threats from the DPRK—after all, if South Korea is given approval or assistance then other US allies might start seeking a similar dispensation,” he notes.

“The US might expand the so-called "nuclear umbrella" and there might be an uptick in port visits and the like. The intention is to placate an ally that seems to be overreacting,” Madden postulates.

Meanwhile, political scientist Dr. Victor Teo, who specializes in international relations of the Indo-Pacific region, argues that the rhetoric used during Austin’s meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Washington is “the usual war of words we see between North and South Korea since the South Koreans elected the current president and put the conservatives into power.”

If Seoul were to pursue the creation of its own nuclear arsenal, Teo warns, it would likely set a precedent that other countries – such as, for example, Japan, another close ally of the US in the East Asia region – may take note of, “and would likely trigger off more nuclear proliferation in the region if both South Korea and Japan undertake nuclear armament.”

Earlier, top US general, Lloyd Austin, declared that the US and South Korea are deepening their nuclear and strategic planning efforts and that Washington promises to back Seoul with nuclear capabilities.

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🚨🚨🚨 EXPOSED: Who Tried to Kill Trump?

Russian journalist Vladimir Soloviev investigates the deeper story behind Trump’s assassination attempt. Was Thomas Crooks a lone gunman or a hitman for the US Deep State? (English subnoscripts)

(1:58) How US Deep State sabotages Presidents
(3:40) How close Trump was to death
(8:40) Why US ruling class hates Trump
(19:00) Battle between Trump and US Deep State
(24:26) Rise of political violence in US
(27:26) Failures of US Secret Service
(32:29) Criminal negligence or conspiracy?
(37:30) US headed for major crisis

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BRICS to consider new member admissions in 2025 – Lavrov

The issue of full membership of countries interested in joining BRICS will be considered in 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the international network TV BRICS.

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▪️WATCH FULL: US citizen tells why he helps Russian military to liberate Donbass

▪️Trump or Harris: Whom do Russians prefer?

▪️Learn about Russian top-notch floatable armor vest Bor-M

▪️Which interest groups, parties and PACs have spent the most during this US election?

▪️What is wrong with the mail-in voting

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🇦🇺🪖 Australia is BURNING THROUGH its Abrams tanks reserves to help Ukraine.

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Key takeaways from Sergey Lavrov’s interview on the BRICS summit in Kazan

◾️ The summit’s declaration reflects a balance of interests, avoiding pressure tactics typical of Western forums. Consensus was reached on all major issues with mutually acceptable wording.

◾️ A core message was the need to significantly increase the representation of the Global South and East in global governance bodies like the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO.

◾️ Lavrov stressed the necessity for BRICS economies, representing some of the fastest-growing markets, to have voting power in the IMF and World Bank that mirrors their actual share in global GDP. The current imbalance, dominated by the US veto power, is seen as unjust.

◾️ The US has blocked the WTO dispute settlement body for over a decade, paralyzing its core function of handling trade conflicts. This issue remains unresolved, affecting fair global trade practices.

◾️ The collective BRICS initiative focuses on establishing alternative payment systems, such as interbank settlements using national currencies and independent insurance mechanisms. These systems are designed to coexist with the dollar-centric framework while protecting against economic weaponization.

◾️ The dollar's increasing use as a geopolitical tool prompts the need for parallel financial systems, offering economic security in light of US actions to maintain global hegemony.

◾️ Lavrov highlighted support for sector-specific initiatives, including the creation of a BRICS grain exchange and investment/geological platforms. These projects have largely been driven by African member countries.

◾️ Russia proposed working groups focusing on transportation and nuclear medicine, receiving backing during the summit and reflected in the final declaration.

◾️ The "BRICS Plus/Outreach" summit, involving 35 countries, underscored broad support for BRICS’ direction. This momentum reflects a growing perception of BRICS as a leader for a fairer world order and a counterbalance to Western dominance.

◾️ Despite progress, colonial and neocolonial practices persist in global trade, particularly in Western relations with Africa, where raw materials are extracted, but added value and profits remain with external powers.

#BRICS2024

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