(The Epoch Times)—A Washington-based anti-Trump political group launched a $50 million election campaign on Tuesday to stop the former president from winning a second term, showcasing testimonials from former Trump supporters who do not plan on voting for him in 2024.
“The Republican Voters Against Trump campaign will target moderate Republican and Republican-leaning voters in key swing states with video testimonials of people sharing in their own words what caused them to break with Trump,” the Republican Accountability PAC said in a March 12 press release.
“Traditional Republican voters who have long supported the party but have concerns about Donald Trump proved decisive in the 2020 election. By targeting these voters and reaching them with credible messengers, the campaign will establish a permission structure for them to withhold their support from Trump again.”
Doing so will create an anti-Trump coalition that “holds the key” in the 2024 presidential election, the group said. In the 2020 race, the anti-Trump PAC ran a similar campaign that featured over 1,000 video testimonials. This time, the group will show over 100 testimonials.
The current campaign will feature one and two-time Trump voters who have decided not to support the former president due to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, the criminal cases against him totaling 91 felony counts, and other issues.
President Trump has pleaded not guilty to all four criminal indictments, and has repeatedly dismissed the charges as efforts by his political adversaries to jeopardize his 2024 presidential run.
Ethan, a Trump 2020 voter from Portage, Wisconsin, who is featured in the anti-Trump campaign, said in a testimonial: “I voted for Donald Trump in 2020. January 6 was the end of Donald Trump for me. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the defining pieces of our democracy, and I could not believe that someone I had formerly supported would get behind an effort that would throw that under the bus … There is no choice. Donald Trump is not a viable option. I will vote for Biden.”
President Trump has previously pointed out that he had urged people to be peaceful before, during, and after the Jan. 6 protests that took place at and around the U.S. Capitol, which Democrats have labeled an “insurrection.” Back in February 2021, President Trump was acquitted by the Senate of an insurrection incitement charge related to the events of Jan. 6.
The anti-Trump PAC intends to deploy ads on television, streaming, radio, billboards, and digital media, with the campaign running in six states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The group was founded by Republican strategist Sarah Longwell, a long-time critic of President Trump. It has the backing of multiple billionaires.
Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s co-founder, gave $4 million to the organization last year, according to a Forbes analysis of Federal Election Commission filings. He has donated to Democrat causes. Seth Klarman, who manages the Baupost hedge fund, donated $1 million.
“Former Republicans and Republican-leaning voters hold the key to 2024, and reaching them with credible, relatable messengers is essential to re-creating the anti-Trump coalition that made the difference in 2020,” said Ms. Longwell.
“It establishes a permission structure that says that—whatever their complaints about Joe Biden—Donald Trump is too dangerous and too unhinged to ever be president again. Who better to make this case than the voters who used to support him?”
Support for Former President
The campaign against President Trump comes at a time when he is leading the polls against Democrat rival, President Joe Biden.
According to a March 11 update from Morning Consult, 44 percent of registered U.S. voters in a survey said they will support President Trump in the 2024 election, a one percentage point lead over President Biden.
Among Independents, President Trump again has a one percentage point lead. The former president was more popular with his party members than President Biden. While 89 percent of Republican voters said they would choose President Trump, only 85 percent of Democrat voters opted for President Biden.
Among President Trump’s 2020 voters, 90 percent said they would vote for him again. For President Biden, only 84 percent of his 2020 voters said they would support him this time.
Currently, President Trump has the backing of 1,078 delegates to become the presumptive GOP nominee for the 2024 election. He needs the backing of 137 more delegates to hit the 1,215 threshold, a target that could be achieved this month.
President Trump recently notched a massive win on Super Tuesday, winning 14 out of the 15 contests against former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Following the results, Ms. Haley dropped out of the Republican primary race. After his dominating win on Super Tuesday, Republican lawmakers rallied behind President Trump.
“The @GOP presidential primary is over. President Trump’s resounding Super Tuesday victories have solidified it. It is time to listen to our voters and unite the Republican Party,” Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Ohio GOP, said in a post on X following the GOP primary. “We must get on to the work of ending the disastrous presidency of Joe Biden.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) in a post on X praised the former president, saying that he has “made history running the strongest Republican primary campaign ever.” She called for voters to “rally around President Trump as our Republican nominee who will defeat Joe Biden this November to #SaveAmerica.”
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) called President Trump’s Super Tuesday win a “rout” and asked donors and political professionals to “unite behind our nominee.”
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
Last week, the former president challenged President Biden for a debate on key issues facing America, saying that he is willing to take part in such debates “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”
“The debates can be run by the corrupt DNC, or their subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD),” he said.
During the 2020 election cycle, President Trump and President Biden debated each other twic.
In a post on Truth Social on March 12, President Trump outlined his priorities once he reenters the White House: “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!”
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
