Senator Claire McCaskill on The Daily Podcast

The Daily, a New York Times podcast, offers an informative peek into the world and thoughts of Claire McCaskill, Missouri's Democratic Senator who just lost her seat to Republican Josh Hawley in the 2018 midterm elections. Senator McCaskill is a former prosecutor and auditor and was most recently the ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security Committee as well as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Finance. She is sharp, informed, solidly-grounded, and surprisingly progressive in the face of this recent outcome. She provides a strong analysis of this election, the current political landscape, and is well-worth a listen.

This ladies and gentlemen is a gathering of the smartest best staff on the planet. They have come in from all over the country to hug and celebrate all the important work we have done over the last 12 years. Oh and also dance our asses off. pic.twitter.com/Ut8RbAuWfM

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) December 1, 2018

Mexico's New President AMLO; also the War on Drugs

AMLO sworn in as Mexico's new President;
Source: Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP

On Saturday, December 1st Mexico's new president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO, took office. AMLO is a former mayor of Mexico City and a populist leftist from the Moreno party, who had run for President two times before. It has been over 30 years since a left-leaning politician has been in office. The Moreno party, founded in 2014, and its allies have majorities in both houses of Congress.

President Andrés Manuel ran on a platform for cutting corruption, crime, and economic turbulence. The murder rate in Mexico is currently the highest on record and 40% of Mexicans are considered poor by the government's standard.

AMLO has put forth new initiatives including 50 ideas to curb corruption and promote public sector thrift. He is cutting his own salary by 60% and has proposed a crime-fighting 50,000-strong military-controlled National Guard. His party has also proposed a bill to legalize cannabis and he is working to match apprenticeships with the youth and give higher pensions to the aged.

The BBC has a 2:47 minute video titled "Mexico's drug war: Has the tide been turned?" that is an interesting watch.

Article resources:
The Atlantic "The U.S.-Mexico Relationship Is About to Get Weirder"
The Economist "AMLO will be the most powerful Mexican president in decades"
The Washington Post "López Obrador promised a lot. Now he’s starting to deliver, and that’s making some Mexicans anxious."

Mexico's new President Lopez Obrador says he's going to deploy the military for public security #AMLO pic.twitter.com/cdDa5is2UI

— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) December 3, 2018