From Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Alexandra Marquez
Friday, December 01, 2023
FIRST READ
DeSantis vs. Newsom underscores 2024 as a status-quo election
Christian Monterrosa / AFP - Getty Images
Happening this Friday: Israel resumes military operations as truce with Hamas ends… Biden administration faces growing internal dissent over the war, NBC's Abigail Williams and Dan De Luce report… House expected to expel indicted Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y.… DeSantis campaigns in South Carolina; Vivek Ramaswamy is in Iowa; and Chris Christie stumps in New Hampshire… And on Saturday, both DeSantis and Donald Trump hit Iowa.
But FIRST… Even when you swap out 2024's frontrunning candidates, you wind up with pretty much the same overall race.
That's our takeaway from last night's debate between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, which featured disagreements on abortion, crime, taxes and – of course – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
"What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids," DeSantis said at the debate.
Newsom later shot back, "I know Nikki Haley's campaign is asking: When are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump in this nomination?"
Earlier this week, our colleague Chuck Todd wrote about how American voters are screaming for change – but are instead getting what looks to be a rematch between Biden and Trump.
Call it "the status-quo election," in which neither of the frontrunners is offering real change from either 2021-2023 or from 2017-2020.
And the status quo was evident at last night's DeSantis vs. Newsom debate, too.
In fact, it seemed more like a 2024 surrogate debate than a showdown of 2028's possible presidential election.
"I will tell you why I'm here. I'm here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record – and also compare and contrast Ron DeSantis' record and the Republican Party's record as a point of contrast," Newsom said.
"Joe Biden is in the pocket of the teachers' union, and so is Kamala Harris," DeSantis said.
"It's Kamala Harris, Ron," Newsom interjected, correcting DeSantis' pronunciation of the vice president's first name. "It's Kamala Harris, Madam Vice President to you."
The push to expel Santos gained momentum, and more Republican support, after the Ethics Committee released a scathing report detailing Santos' misuse of campaign funds. Santos has been defiant ahead of the vote, refusing to resign and accusing those trying to expel him of "bullying."
For more on what to expect from the expulsion vote, and what comes next, check out this explainer from Stewart.
Eyes on 2024: GOP hopefuls hit the airwaves, but outside groups still dominate
Eva Marie Uzcategui / Bloomberg via Getty Images file
Two GOP presidential candidates launched new TV ads on Thursday, but candidates are largely still depending on outside groups to shoulder the bulk of the ad spending.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley launched her first TV ad of the 2024 race, calling for "a new generation of conservative leadership."
Haley does not name former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden in the spot, but she makes a veiled reference to them by saying, "We have to leave behind the chaos and drama of the past and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose," per NBC's Greg Hyatt.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also launched a new TV ad on Thursday in Iowa and New Hampshire, per the ad tracking firm AdImpact. The 30-second spot features Ramaswamy's former piano teacher, who said she taught Ramaswamy about the Constitution after his lessons, and likened Ramaswamy to Trump and former President Ronald Reagan.
Even as candidates ramp up their own ad spending, outside groups continue to dominate the airwaves, with Haley and Florida Gov. DeSantis particularly relying on outside groups as they take on Trump, per the Associated Press.
DeSantis' struggles: The Washington Post details Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign challenges, including internal drama and a struggle to win over Trump supporters who are still enthusiastic about the former president.
No Democratic primary in the Sunshine State: Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., who is mounting a longshot primary bid against President Joe Biden, was "enraged" Thursday after Florida Democrats only submitted Biden's name as a candidate for nomination, effectively canceling the Democratic presidential primary there, Politico reports.
Speaking of Phillips: The Trump campaign believes the pro-Philips super PAC's ads knocking Biden could give Trump a boost in New Hampshire since the ads note Trump's strength against Biden in a general election, per Politico.
Trump talk: In former President Donald Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial, an appeals court on Thursday reinstated a gag order preventing Trump and his attorneys from publicly talking about court staff. And, in the same trial, a financial watchdog informed the court that the defendants had violated a requirement to report any cash transfers amounting to more than $5 million.
No Labels, no in-person convention: No Labels, a group weighing a third-party presidential bid next year, will no longer host an in-person nominating convention in Dallas next year, opting instead for a virtual convention, Axios reports.
Concrete stocks include companies that make the finished product (I.e. concrete) that is used to pour foundations and construct roads and bridges. And it also includes the companies that make cement which will ultimately turn into concrete.
These stocks do carry some seasonal and macroeconomic risks. But in general, demand remains relatively constant.
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That’s why we’ve prepared this special presentation that looks at seven of the leading companies in the concrete industry. Many of these stocks are low beta stocks, but that shouldn’t steer you away. In many cases, these stocks offer a dividend that can boost your total return in both bull and bear markets.
If you’re looking for some foundational stocks for your long-term growth portfolio, these are some names to consider.
Porter Stansberry warned of the 1998 banking crisis, the Dot Com blow up, and the 2008 financial collapse… Today, he's issuing a different kind of warning.
Investing in concrete stocks involves considering companies related to the production and distribution of concrete and construction materials. This sector is influenced by construction activity, infrastructure development, and real estate trends. As a foundational industry, concrete stocks can benefit from increased demand during economic expansions and government-led infrastructure projects. Key factors to assess include a company's market position, financial health, and exposure to regional construction trends. Additionally, understanding the broader economic environment, such as interest rates and government spending on infrastructure, is crucial. While the concrete industry may experience cyclicality, it plays a pivotal role in various construction projects, making it an essential component of a diversified investment portfolio. Thorough research and monitoring construction trends are vital for investors interested in this sector.
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