Politics and views in the United States.

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2024 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I condemn political violence of any type, any time.

In fact, our founders really always believed that we should work out our differences at the ballot box peacefully.

And that's the American way and that's the way it should be.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, himself a subject of violent threats, is repeating that political violence is wrong.

Including an Alaska man being charged with threatening six Supreme Court justices.

Court filings say Panos Anastasios made hundreds of often racist or homophobic threats to kidnap, torture and execute the justices.

Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy is facing criticism for accusing an Arab-American leader for supporting terrorist groups and what he calls their allies during a congressional hearing.

Support Hamas.

I do not support Hamas.

You don't support UNRWA.

You don't support Hamas.

I was very clear in my support for UNRWA.

You don't support Hamas.

You should hide your head in a bag.

The Federal Reserve announced a long-anticipated shift, cutting interest rates by half a percentage point, the first cut in four years.

Chair Jerome Powell says inflation has eased and the labor market remains stable, though cooler.

This decision reflects our growing confidence that strength in the labor market can be maintained and inflation moving sustainably down to 2 percent.

Tax hit record highs on the news, but Mark Hayes with Americans for Financial Reform warns that a small group in the crypto industry is trying to use campaign donations to shape how that industry is regulated.

There's a small group of wealthy individuals tied to the crypto industry pouring unprecedented amounts of money into campaign spending to dictate policy outcome that will help them to continue to profit.

The controversial lieutenant governor of North Carolina is denying allegations and refusing to end his campaign for governor.

A CNN report says in the past Republican Mark Robinson called himself a black Nazi and defended slavery on a pornographic message board.

He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Republicans say the scandal could hurt him in the toss-up state.

Controversial remarks about Ohio immigrants have drawn attention, but the incumbent in one legislative race says abortion is more important there.

Democratic Representative Michelle Grimm serves a suburban Toledo district and describes herself as a woman's rights advocate.

It's really important that voters know the intent of the Republicans.

If we want to protect the right to reproductive access, we need to make sure that we do protect that.

But her opponent, Republican Wendy Hendricks, disagrees.

The people in Ohio spoke and answered how they want that to move forward.

So it's really a non-issue for this campaign.

I'm Farah Siddiqui for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.