What You Need to Know: Friday, March 22
Trump invokes a “bloodbath” in the auto industry, SCOTUS weighs in on immigration, Kate Middleton disappears, Boeing faces problems, and NC voters nominate Mark Robinson
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Content advisory: Sections in today’s newsletter on Boeing and Mark Robinson include discussion of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Wait…What did Trump say about a bloodbath?
What happened? During a campaign event with Michigan auto workers on March 16, Donald Trump expressed disapproval of Joe Biden’s support for electric vehicles. Trump claimed that he would place a 100 percent tariff on cars imported from Mexico and China if he’s elected in November. He followed up on his initial comments, stating, “Now if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it,” asserting “they’re [China and Mexico] not going to sell those cars.”
What was the response? Trump maintained that media headlines following the rally only circulated part of what he said, emphasizing “...if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath…” Trump expressed his anger on TruthSocial on Monday, writing, “The Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH…I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry.” Other conservative commentators, such as Benny Johnson and Ben Shapiro, echoed Trump’s point, claiming the media is biased against the former president and looking for any reason to discredit him.
The Biden campaign commented on Trump’s statement, claiming Trump “wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.” Those supporting the Biden administration’s interpretation of Trump’s words maintained Trump consistently utilizes violent rhetoric and is further polarizing the country with inflammatory jargon.
What’s the latest on immigration?
What did SCOTUS say? On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas can enforce S.B. 4, a statewide bill that “makes it a state crime for migrants to illegally cross the border and allows Texas officials to deport undocumented individuals.” Gov. Greg Abbott introduced the legislation last year following a record number of border crossings. Initially, a lower court blocked S.B. 4 from going into effect, only to have the decision reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The Biden administration, in collaboration with immigration advocacy organizations, sued to block the law until the Supreme Court could review it. The recent decision to permit the law to go into effect drew criticism from liberal justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor, the latter writing, “The Court gives a green light to a law that will upend the longstanding federal-state balance of power and sow chaos.”
How will this impact migrants at the southern border? Texas law enforcement will now be able to detain individuals they suspect entered the country without permission and recommend their removal. Opponents of the law claim that it delegates too much power to state governments, allowing Texas the right to authorize the entry and removal of noncitizens, a power that previously resided with the federal government. Others argue that S.B. 4 could result in racial profiling and may lead to civil rights violations. Those favoring the bill claim that the Biden administration has failed to take decisive enough action in securing the southern border, necessitating such forceful state legislation. Texas also argues that S.B. 4 aligns with the state’s constitution, asserting that Texas maintains the right to protect itself when “invaded.” Proponents assert that the term “invasion” could reference a surge of migrants across the border.
What’s the current status? Things have changed quickly. SCOTUS did not specifically rule on S.B. 4’s constitutionality and a lower court blocked the rule from going into effect as of Tuesday.
Is it just me…or is there a suspicious number of issues with planes lately?
What’s going on? Since 2018, Boeing, an American aerospace company, has faced criticism for its safety protocols and operational practices. This scrutiny, as reported by Vox, revolves around the allegation that "Boeing occasionally prioritized cost-saving and expedient solutions, disregarding concerns raised by its workforce." In 2018 and 2019, two Boeing planes crashed, killing 189 and 157 individuals, respectively. The airline again made headlines in early 2024 when an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight had a rear door plug blow out mid-flight, creating a large hole in the side of the plane. The investigation found that the door that flew off left the “Boeing factory in October missing the four bolts.” The latest incident, reported on March 11, occurred when a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 flight experienced a drop in altitude, causing several passengers to be launched about the cabin, sustaining injuries.
News outlets have reported other aviation-related issues this month. Last week, a Boeing 737-900 lost its wheel during takeoff in Osaka, Japan; an Airbus A320 was diverted mid-trip to address an issue with the aircraft’s hydraulic system; and a third aircraft, a Boeing 737, engine caught fire after accidentally sucking in discarded bubble wrap.
Is flying dangerous? Despite a seemingly disproportionate number of aircraft malfunctions, airline executive and director of the International Air Transport Association, Willie Walsh, maintained that “accidents are rare in aviation,” asserting, “There were five fatal accidents among 32.2 million flights in 2022. That tells us that flying is among the safest activities a person can engage in.” Currently, there is a higher risk of being killed in a shark attack or giving birth to quadruplets than being in a fatal plane crash.
Have any false claims or conspiracy theories emerged from these stories? Conservatives who have voiced opposition to diversity initiatives have spread unfounded claims that suggest that Boeing's mechanical problems are a result of prioritizing diversity and inclusion efforts above safety and quality. Some have even claimed that Boeing’s DEI initiatives promote a larger agenda to undermine Western democracy in favor of communism. James Lindsay, who has spread anti-LGBTQ rhetoric previously, suggested on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that “Boeing … could be deliberately committing suicide as an organization…It’s cutting corners, it’s locked in by this ESG/DEI stuff.” Lindsay suggested that a Chinese plane, Comac C919, would eventually replace the Boeing 737, stating, “Maybe you kill Boeing, and you allow American manufacturing of high-quality aircraft to fall, and then the Chinese competitor is now the thing on the market.” Donald Trump, Jr., on his Thursday night podcast, asserted that Boeing’s problems were the result of diversity and part of larger issues, stating, “This is happening across our country. This is because of ridiculous policies, stupidity, DEI, and everything. This is what's happening to America in a broad-spectrum way.”
Where’s Kate Middleton?
What are the facts? On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales and future Queen consort of England, was admitted to the hospital to undergo planned abdominal surgery. The palace updated the public on Kate’s surgery on January 29, writing she was recuperating and doing well. As February approached, conspiracy theorists became skeptical that Kate was at home, as the princess had not been seen publicly since December. Suspicions heightened when, on March 10, Kate posted the first image since her surgery, showing her smiling with her children. Account followers soon noticed the picture was heavily edited, causing more suspicion about the princess's well-being. On March 18, Kate was photographed by TMZ, a celebrity tabloid, shopping near her home.
Why have conspiracy theories about her disappearance spread? Kate's planned absence following her surgery fueled rampant speculation and conspiracy theories about her disappearance from public life. Some falsely claimed that the royal family was attempting to cover up her death following surgery, creating the illusion that she was alive and well. Others claimed, without evidence, that the royal family was trying to conceal that Kate Middleton was suffering side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Alternative conspiracy theories claimed that the most recent photograph of Kate, as captured by TMZ, was not Kate but a doppelgänger.
For more, we recommend this episode of Vox’s Today Explained, “Where’s Kate?!?”
Who is Mark Robinson?
How did Mark Robinson get into politics? Mark Robinson, the 55-year-old lieutenant governor of North Carolina, recently became the state’s Republican nominee for governor. Robinson, who previously worked in a furniture factory, rose to internet fame in 2018 after his impassioned speech defending gun rights at a city council meeting in Greensboro, NC, went viral. Capitalizing on his fame, he began to speak at gun rights rallies and won the election for lieutenant governor of North Carolina in 2020.
What kinds of policies does he promote? Robinson is known for his evangelical Christian beliefs and his inflammatory statements about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and race. Robinson, in an October speech, denounced the separation of church and state, concluding, “I’m trying to find that phrase somewhere in our Constitution…and I cannot because it does not exist. There is no separation of church and state.” Robinson referred to LGBTQ+ individuals as “filth,” described Parkland shooting survivors as “spoiled, angry, know-it-all all children,” claimed that Black Americans are “hypocrites who remain silent while they murder each other,” and denounced women having abortions, stating, “if you kill that child, you’re guilty of murder.” Robinson has also taken a firm stand against the discussion of racial and LGBTQ+ issues in schools, utilizing his seat on the State Board of Education to falsely claim that racial and sexual “indoctrination” is rampant in North Carolina schools. He has made strange statements about preventing school shootings, claiming “if in the homeroom, before school started every day, if you were singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ giving God some praises… maybe them schools wouldn’t be getting shot up to begin with?”
Why is this relevant now? Mark Robinson emerged victorious from North Carolina’s primary on March 5, receiving 66 percent of the vote. He will face off against Democratic candidate Josh Stein, the state’s attorney general, in November. Although North Carolina is a historically right-leaning state, voting Republican in every presidential election since 2008, many political commentators view the state as increasingly competitive.