US midterm elections 2022: How crowd’s treatment of heckler at Trump rally reveals a deeply divided America
Over the space of just a few hours and within just 50 miles of each other, I’ve seen two entirely different visions for America this weekend.
In the unseasonably warm afternoon sun in Pittsburgh, a crowd had gathered to listen to their hero Barack Obama.
The Democratic Party is in trouble, perhaps big trouble, in Tuesday’s midterm elections. They stand to lose both the Senate and the House of Representatives in Washington DC and maybe see Republican governors win power in several states.
The implications for the Democrats’ domestic policies on the economy, healthcare, abortion rights, immigration and the climate would be profound. American foreign policy would shift more inward too.
And so the orator Obama, with a sparkle that President Joe Biden lacks, was out to gee up a lacklustre Democratic Party base.
His focus was the now-familiar warnings of the threat to democracy which Democrats say is posed by the election-denying Trumpian Republicans.
Dangerous divisions
He warned about divisions which fuel a “dangerous climate”, citing the hammer attack on the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
As it is so often in American election cycles, Pennsylvania is key for both parties.
It could tip the balance in a pivotal midterm US Senate race between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz.
“This habit we have of demonising political opponents, of saying crazy stuff. It creates a dangerous climate,” Mr Obama said.
“You’ve got politicians who work not to bring people together but to stir up division and to make us angry and afraid of one another just for their own advantage, so they can take power.”
In the crowd, there was a clear recognition of the importance of this midterm take on the country’s direction.
“This midterm is the most important midterm I think that we’ve ever had during my life for sure,” voter Alex told me.
Another said: “It feels good to hear a sane speech. Measured and balanced and says the right things and the things that people need to hear and that this country needs to hear is refreshing.”
Leeanna McKibben said: “I think it’s critical that we exercise our right to vote and that we eliminate the incivility that’s happening. We can have two-party politics, but it’s got to happen with respect and civility. And that’s not what’s happening right now.”
The key state of Pennsylvania
While Nevada and Georgia are both key senate races too, much of the focus is on Pennsylvania because of its history of swinging from the left to the right.
In the 2016 presidential election it swung to Donald Trump, delivering him the White House. Four years later it edged back to Mr Biden and the Democrats.
No wonder so much campaign money has ploughed into the campaigns here, and no wonder all the big hitters are criss-crossing the state.
A key problem for the Democrats is Mr Biden. His approval rating is just 40% according to the most recent polling. It’s another reason Mr Obama is out – a reminder that there is more to the Democrats than Mr Biden.
Trump’s red wave?
Fifty miles down the road at an airport, another former president was out too – Mr Trump, a man who hasn’t stopped campaigning since he lost the election two years ago.
“The election was rigged and stolen and we’re not going to let it happen again,” he told a huge crowd of his most faithful.
There is no evidence at all for his claim of election fraud. Audits, recounts and court cases across America have confirmed Mr Biden as the winner in 2020, yet Mr Trump has managed to sow doubt into the fabric of society.
Pic: AP
The false claim remains his core message for a 2024 presidential campaign everyone expects him to announce any day.
“I love Trump!” supporter Lory Randall told me. “Best president ever.”
“Trump’s my guy because he’s honest, he doesn’t sugar coat anything, he doesn’t put up with anything and he puts America first,” Aaron Hoffman said.
Another said: “I’m here to see Donald Trump because I believe he should be our president and Joe Biden is destroying America.”
The vibe, the energy, the branding – it’s all here for the man who seems to command near-total control of today’s Republican Party.
For all that the Democratic Party and a minority of anti-Trump Republicans have done to try to discredit him, to expose him as a liar and a crook, to try to make sure he’s history, it really doesn’t feel like he is the past at all.
He hopes that this week’s midterm elections will provide a “red wave” confirming that his appeal stretches beyond this core and that election-denying candidates across the country, who he has endorsed, will win.
Remember – if they win, many of them will be responsible for judging the validity of the 2024 presidential election.
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How do midterm elections work?
The lone heckler
As Mr Trump spoke a lone voice piped up from the crowd.
“He’s a liar,” she screamed.
Her heckling, and the reaction from around her, was a neat glimpse of the deep angry divisions, up close.
“Lock her up! Lock her up!” the crowd shouted, borrowing a chant they used for Mr Trump’s 2016 rival Hilary Clinton.
“Go home. Go to your rally and brag about your Obama and brag about the inflation,” a man shouted into her face.
With some considerable force and with her arms locked into a hold behind her, she was then carted out by police.
Beyond the perimeter they released her and we chatted briefly.
“We know full well that the election was not stolen. It was fair, it was safe, it was secure…” she said before the police returned and resumed their eviction.
She never did tell us her name, but she spoke for many millions in the other America.
It’s hard to see how these two starkly different visions for these supposedly United States can be reconciled.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has defeated one of the greatest-ever fighters, former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, who’s more than twice his age.
The bout was won on a unanimous points decision at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – home of the Dallas Cowboys and the biggest NFL stadium in the US.
The fight was already controversial but then arguably failed to live up to the hype. Boos were heard from the crowd in the final two rounds, after a perceived lack of action.
The heavyweight boxing match took place in Arlington, Texas. Pic: AP
Boxing careers compared
This was not Paul’s first professional fight. The 27-year-old American YouTube star made his debut in 2020 with his most high-profile clash against Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury last year, which he lost by a split decision.
The so-called “Problem Child” has since defeated former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August, former Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland and most recently MMA fighter Mike Perry.
In contrast, “Iron Mike” Tyson, 58, was ranked among the best heavyweight boxers of all time.
During his career, he knocked out 44 opponents – retiring from professional boxing in 2005 after defeat against Kevin McBride.
He returned to the ring in 2020 for a bout against fellow boxing icon Roy Jones, which ended in an unofficial draw.
Mike Tyson struggled at times against Jake Paul, 31 years his junior. Pic: AP
‘Someone’s getting put to sleep’
Earlier this week, Paul said he believed the bout would not go the distance. “No, someone’s getting put to sleep,” he said. “It’s going to be a war, and we’re both heavy hitters. It’s not going the full 16 minutes.”
Tyson was more reflective: “I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” he said.
“I’ve been in rehab. I’ve been in prison, been locked up. Never in a million years did I believe I’d be doing this.”
Several states would not allow the bout to go ahead, and the Texas Athletic Commission only agreed to the fight if there were changes, due to Tyson’s age.
It limited the contest to eight rounds lasting a maximum of two minutes instead of three. Both boxers were also required to wear heavier gloves, designed to lessen the force of punches.
The fight was initially scheduled for 20 July, but was postponed when Tyson suffered an ulcer flareup.
Taylor defends title
Katie Taylor celebrates after defeating Amanda Serrano in Texas. Pic: AP
Meanwhile, among the undercard fights, Irish boxer Katie Taylor successfully defended her super lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
But it was tight. Taylor claimed the rematch 95-94 for all three judges in an epic battle.
The bout came two and a half years after the pair fought at Madison Square Garden, which Taylor won on a split decision.
Bout suffered from buffering
Earlier in the evening thousands of Netflix users in the US reported problems seeing the coverage, with some posting on social media about buffering.
At one point, more than 98,000 people had reported issues according to Downdetector, which tracks outages.
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US
Matt Gaetz: Speaker Mike Johnson will request report into Trump’s attorney general pick is kept secret
US House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he will “strongly request” a report into allegations of sex trafficking against Matt Gaetz, who is the president-elect’s choice of attorney general, should not be released.
Mr Johnson said he was against publishing the House Ethics Committee report on Mr Gaetz, 42, who if approved by the Senate will become the nation’s top prosecutor once Donald Trump is sworn in as president on 20 January.
That’s despite Mr Gaetz having previously faced a nearly three-year Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl. He denies the allegations and has not faced criminal charges.
Mr Gaetz has also never worked as a prosecutor and has only worked in law for a few years at a local level.
He stepped down from Congress after Mr Trump announced him as his attorney general pick.
His resignation brought the investigation by the House Ethics Committee to an end – two days before it had been expected to release its report into the trafficking claims.
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Why is Matt Gaetz a controversial pick?
House Speaker Mr Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said of the probe: “I’m going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report, because that is not the way we do things in the House.”
Politicians of both parties on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they want to see the report on Mr Gaetz, as part of a Senate confirmation process for cabinet nominees that would start next year with public hearings.
Democrats have described the MAGA loyalist as “a gonzo agent of chaos” and his appointment a “red alert moment for our democracy”, while some Republican senators have also raised doubts about his suitability for the role.
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Mr Johnson said he planned to urge House Ethics Committee chairman Michael Guest not to provide the report to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee,” said Mr Johnson, who returned on Friday morning from meeting Mr Trump at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
“I think it’s a terrible breach of protocol and tradition and the spirit of the rule,” he added. “I think that would be a terrible precedent to set.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Mr Johnson had said on Wednesday that as Speaker he could not be involved in deciding whether or not to release the report.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is taking on one of boxing’s greatest-ever fighters tonight in former undisputed world champion Mike Tyson.
The heavyweight bout is being labelled by some as Paul’s toughest test yet, despite the 30-year age gap between him and Tyson.
The fight was originally scheduled for 20 July, but was delayed after Tyson fell ill on a flight due to an ulcer flare up in May.
It’s going to be a co-main event alongside a highly-anticipated rematch between undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor and unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano.
(Left to right) Katie Taylor, Mike Tyson, Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano. Pic: AP
Here’s everything you need to know about the hotly anticipated fight and how to watch.
Who are the fighters?
Jake Paul, 27, is an American YouTube star who made a name for himself on social media platform Vine. He made his professional boxing debut in 2020.
His most high-profile fight so far was his clash with Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury last year, which he lost by split decision.
“The Problem Child” has since defeated former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August, former Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland and most recently MMA fighter Mike Perry to earn himself a boxing record of 10-1.
“Iron Mike” Tyson, 58, retired from professional boxing in 2005 with a 50-6 record and as a former undisputed heavyweight champion.
The legendary fighter, who knocked out 44 opponents during his career, returned to the ring after 15 years in 2020 for a bout against fellow boxing icon Roy Jones, which ended in an unofficial draw.
Mike Tyson (left) fights Roy Jones Jr in 2020 bout. Pic: Joe Scarnici/USA Today Sports via Reuters
Tyson’s fighting skills place him among the best heavyweight boxers of all time, but the age gap between him and Paul along with some potential ring rust are expected to level the playing field.
When is the fight and where will it be?
The bout is due to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday 15 November. The 80,000-seat capacity stadium is home of the Dallas Cowboys and is the biggest NFL stadium in the US.
The event is set to begin at 1am GMT on 16 November, with Taylor v Serrano scheduled for 3am GMT and Tyson v Paul at 4am GMT.
AT&T Stadium. Pic: AP
How can I watch it?
It will be aired on Netflix in what will be the first live fight ever on the streaming platform.
Jake Paul, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in 2021, said his company signed with Netflix because it is “the biggest streaming platform in the world”.
Fellow MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian added: “Partnering with Netflix for this deal presents an unparalleled opportunity to bring Jake Paul v Mike Tyson to the world on an unprecedented scale.”
Do I need to pay for the fight?
Some good news for Netflix users; there is no additional cost for the streaming platform’s subscribers.
It’s not a pay-per-view event, but you won’t be able to watch it unless you have a Netflix account, which costs between £4.99 and £17.99 depending on what sort of plan you subscribe to.
Can I buy tickets?
Tickets are still available throughout the stadium via SeatGeek, with prices for regular seats ranging from $60 (£47.32) to about $7,400 (£5,914).
What are the rules?
The Texas Athletic Commission has sanctioned it as a professional fight which will count on the pair’s boxing records, but it has put some sanctions in place due to Tyson’s age.
There will be eight rounds lasting a maximum of two minutes rather than three, and both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves, heavier than the usual 10-ounce.
What you need to know about Taylor v Serrano
Taylor and Serrano produced an epic when they became the first ever women fighters to headline at Madison Square Garden back in 2022, with the former edging a split decision that could have arguably fallen either way after 10 rounds.
Now over two years on from one of the greatest fights in the history of female boxing, undisputed super-lightweight world champion Taylor, 38, will put her belts on the line against unified featherweight champion Serrano, 36.
Katie Taylor (left) and Amanda Serrano during a news conference in May. Pic: AP
The contest will mark a step in three weight classes from Serrano’s usual featherweight division as she seeks the biggest win of her glittering career.
Taylor will enter 23-1 having avenged her loss to Chantelle Cameron in May last year by winning November’s rematch via majority decision to become undisputed super-lightweight champion and a two-weight undisputed champion.
Serrano is meanwhile 46-2-1 having won all four of her fights since losing to Taylor, most recently beating Danila Ramos via unanimous decision after their 12-rounder in October.
Who is on the undercard?
There are five other fights on the bill besides the two co-main events – and two of them will see titles on the line. Here’s how it looks:
- Mario Barrios v Abel Ramos – WBC welterweight title
- Shadasia Green v Melinda Watpool – WBO super-middleweight title
- Lucas Bahdi v Corey Marksman – lightweight
- Bruce Carrington v Dana Coolwell – featherweight
- Neeraj Goyat v Whindersson Nunes – middleweight
‘The fight of a lifetime’
Paul is not typically known for showing respect to his opponents. In the lead-up to his last fight against Tommy Fury, which he lost on points, Paul said Tyson Fury’s brother “boxes because he was told to do so by his dad”.
“He doesn’t have that real heart, that real fighter inside of him,” he added.
Few, however, would question Mike Tyson’s credentials, with Paul having adopted a more respectful approach to promoting the fight so far.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever – the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time,” he said, adding: “This will be the fight of a lifetime.”
In a face-to-face posted on his YouTube channel on 10 November, Paul said winning would be “bittersweet” due to the respect he has for Tyson, but said it was “my time to shine”.
‘I plan to finish him’
Critics of the fight have said there is simply too big of an age gap between the two, with Tyson falling ill in May stoking talks over the fight being a mistake for the 58-year-old.
But the veteran has insisted he still has fuel left in the tank, claiming his body is “in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s”.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul,” Tyson said – promising to “finish him” and his boxing career.
During the face-to-face, Tyson warned: “I’m not going to lose. I can’t even fathom losing.
“I think he thinks this is going to be a very easy night. It’s not going to be an easy night.”
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