5 Stories to Watch Next Week | October 31, 2020

5 Stories to Watch Next Week Presidential Election Between Trump and Biden The 2020 general election campaign comes to an end on Tuesday, when voters will head to the polls to determine our next president. With millions of Americans having voted early or by mail due to COVID-19 concerns, it is likely that the United States will see record turnout for this general election. Given the sharp contrast between the platforms of the two major party nominees, this election will likely have massive implications for American domestic and foreign policy for many years to come. However, given that states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina will be counting mail-in ballots days after Election Day, it is unclear if the outcome of the presidential election will be known on Nov. 3. Watch to find out whether Trump or Biden emerges victorious in this general election and what kind of vision they lay out for the country. Also, look to find out which party wins the down-ballot races to control the House and the Senate. Landmark Religious Liberty Case to Be Argued Before Supreme Court On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, one of the few religious liberty cases on the Supreme Court’s current docket. The lawsuit was brought by Catholic Social Services (CSS), a foster-care agency associated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The agency has, so far, refused to certify prospective foster parents who were unmarried or were same-sex couples, arguing that doing so would violate a tenet of their religious faith. As a result, the City of Philadelphia barred CSS from placing children in foster homes in March 2018. The district court denied CSS’s motion for an injunction and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision, claiming that the city’s policy was neutral and did not target CSS specifically due to their religious faith. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the case and will hear arguments next week. Watch to find out how the opposing counsels reconcile the religious liberty interests with the state interest in protecting same-sex couples. Also, look to find out if newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett plays a role in questioning during the oral arguments. US to Withdraw Formally from Paris Climate Accords In 2017, President Trump announced his intention to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords, a non-binding agreement between 189 nations to prevent a two-degrees Celsius rise in global temperatures. That action initiated a mandatory three-year waiting period, which is set to expire on Wednesday, the day after the general election. President Trump has argued that the deal is overly favorable to major polluters like China and India and imposes unreasonable restrictions on American businesses. Other nations such as Brazil and Turkey have also signaled their willingness to pull out of the agreement, following America’s lead. Given that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been clear about their intention to reenter the agreement, watch to find out if they reopen climate negotiations should they get elected. Also, look to find out if other nations follow the American example and begin the three-year wait period to exit the agreement. Chinese Leadership Meeting to Formulate New Five-Year Plan for Economy This week, the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is meeting in Beijing to incorporate economic and political goals for China for the next five years. As the world reels from the COVID-19 pandemic, CCP leaders sense an opportunity to increase Chinese geopolitical dominance and will likely incorporate measures to do so in this five-year plan. The plan is likely to include measures to increase domestic consumption and improve technology, with some focus on environmental policy as well. While the final plan will be released next year, watch out for CCP officials laying out some basic goals that they will attempt to meet in the plan next week. Also, look out for reaction from Taiwan, India, Japan, and the United States, especially if any military actions are included in policy announcements from Chinese leadership. Germany to Impose Nationwide Lockdown as COVID-19 Surges Across Europe Starting Monday, Germany will enter a strict nationwide, four-week lockdown as new COVID-19 infections hit a record 14,964 as of this writing, bringing the national total to just under 450,000. This policy will entail the closure of all bars, restaurants, and public events, while schools and certain shops will be permitted to stay open. The European Union, as a whole, has reported 1.3 million new cases in the past week per the World Health Organization, representing a 40 percent jump from previous numbers. The move has prompted nations such as France and Italy to impose similar shutdowns in the hope that such a move will slow the spread. Watch to find out the impact of the closures on the global economy next week, especially given the uniform nature of the lockdowns. Also, look to find out if certain American states enact similar policies if cases within their borders increase dramatically. Newt's Latest Podcasts: Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future

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