2024 Elections News, Analysis, Articles

Joe Biden

Democrat

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Donald Trump

Republican

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Ron DeSantis

Republican

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Economy

Signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and the $485 billion Inflation Reduction Plan, adding millions from the Treasury into the economy.
Has overseen a federal reserve rate hike of 5 percent in attempts to quell inflation, which hit 9.1 percent at its highest point. Consumer prices have increased 4.5 percent.
Supports raising the debt ceiling.
Canceled the Keystone XL pipeline project and provided incentives to "green energy" initiatives that focus on reducing carbon emissions.
Raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour for federal contractors.
Has pledged to "invest in racial justice."
Is exploring a central bank digital currency.

Taxes

Hikes the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent.
Raises the capital gains tax on incomes greater than $1 million from 20 percent to 39.6 percent.
Increases the income tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent for Americans earning more than $400,000.
Hikes the tax rate on foreign earnings of U.S. companies from 10.5 percent to 21 percent.
Debuts a 25 percent minimum tax on people with income and assets of more than $100 million.
Proposes an excise tax to charge cryptomining operations 30 percent of their energy costs.
Added 87,000 IRS agents.

Governance

Has signed 114 executive orders as of May 7, 2023—a similar number per year as Trump.
Imposed a vaccine mandate on all federal employees and castigated unvaccinated people.
Imposed a mask-wearing mandate in all federal spaces.
Banned entry into the United States for foreign visitors who were unvaccinated. This wasn't enforced for illegal border-crossers.
Supports "diversity, equity, inclusion" goals and quotas for government agencies.
Opposes voter ID laws and supports automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, early voting, and universal vote-from-home and vote-by-mail options.
Supports making the District of Columbia the 51st state.

First Amendment

Created the short-lived "Disinformation Governance Board" in April 2022 under the Department of Homeland Security, to combat online “disinformation” on COVID-19 and election issues.
The Department of Justice was accused of targeting parents who protested at school board meetings and labeling them as "domestic terrorists," which Attorney General Merrick Garland denied.
According to the Twitter Files, the Biden administration has participated in a clandestine censorship arrangement with social media companies.

Second Amendment

Called for Congress to send him "a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers," adding that he would "sign it immediately.”
Signed a bill into law in June 2022 that includes the expansion of federal background checks for buyers aged 18 to 21 and adds incentives for states to adopt so-called red flag laws. It also provides $15 billion over the next five years to expand access to mental health programs and enhance school security. Parts of the law are being challenged in court.
Biden's ATF enacted a pistol brace rule, which is being challenged. It also banned firearms and firearms kits without serial numbers.

Health Care

Says health care is a "right, not a privilege."
Expanded the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid by executive order to provide free coverage to more low-income and uninsured people.
Increased funding to the U.N. Sustainable Development Agenda for global "universal health coverage."
Supports a federal law codifying abortion as a woman's right, and restored federal funding to Planned Parenthood.
Added $200 million to scale up the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
Signed a bill funding the expansion of mental health services at schools.
Opposes any state government restrictions to "gender-affirming care" for minors.

Education

Is pushing for billions in student loan forgiveness, including canceling debt for 20 million borrowers. The move is currently being litigated.
Advocated to keep schools closed during COVID-19.
Supports universal, free preschool and an expansion to the Head Start program.
Supports an increase in Pell grant funding for low- and middle-income college students.
Supports expansion of free community college.
Directed schools to allow students to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and join sports teams that correspond with their "gender identity." Was blocked by a judge.

Border Security & Immigration

Signed a handful of executive orders on his first day in office that halted border wall construction, reversed the ban on travel from terror-prone countries, suspended deportations of illegal immigrants, stopped the “Remain in Mexico” program, and strengthened the DACA program for children who were brought over illegally.
Released a sweeping immigration package to Congress that included amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.
Has overseen the largest influx of illegal immigrants in U.S. history. More than 1.6 million illegal aliens were apprehended in fiscal 2021 and 2.2 million in fiscal 2022. In fiscal 2020, there were just over 400,000 apprehensions.
Has largely taken the position that the border is secure.

Foreign Affairs

Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord that Trump had exited.
Rejoined WHO and increased U.S. funding to it. Biden supports ceding authority to WHO during a pandemic or "potential" global health crisis.
Rejoined the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Population Fund.
Expanded international aid and committed to the U.N. sustainable development goals.
Supports rejoining the Iran nuclear deal, if Iran is in compliance.
Has overseen the largest move away from the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency, with the new BRICS nations pledging to support the Chinese yuan.
Does not support Taiwan independence from China.

China

Biden promotes “strategic competition” with China while pursuing cooperation in some areas, particularly climate change.
He has approved billions of dollars to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, kept many of Trump’s restrictions on China, and tightened controls on the flow of sensitive technology that aids China’s military.
Diplomatic channels between the two countries have mostly frozen up after a Chinese spy balloon breached U.S. airspace in February, but Biden in May 2023 said he expects the relationship to “begin to thaw.”
Regarding Taiwan, in May 2023 Biden said, "There is clear understanding among most of our allies that in fact, if China were to act unilaterally, there would be a response.”
The DOJ has continued a Trump-era initiative to crack down on CCP espionage, transnational repression, and tech theft.

Military

Continues to face criticism for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of troops and personnel from Afghanistan, where 13 Americans were killed and hundreds more were stranded.
Left behind $7 billion worth of military weapons and equipment in Afghanistan.
Is pushing for the U.S. military to have an all-electric fleet by 2030 as part of an initiative to make vehicles “climate friendly.”
Reversed Trump’s ban on people who identify as transgender joining the military.
Has overseen recruitment decline in some branches of the military; lowered entry standards.

War in Ukraine

Biden has unreservedly supported Ukraine and has favored arming Ukraine rather than prioritizing peace talks.
Under Biden, the United States is the primary source of arms for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Congress has approved more than $113 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the war began in February 2021.
Biden said in March 2022 that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," which the White House later walked back.

Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice

Signed three bipartisan bills in November 2021 that support law enforcement and first responders. The measures include support for mental health resources for law enforcement and support for firefighters, EMTs, and other law enforcement who are disabled or killed in the line of duty.
Signed an executive order in 2022 that includes a ban on chokeholds, tightens use-of-force criteria, launches a federal use-of-force and misconduct database, and mandates anti-bias training.
Urged Congress to pass the Democrat-led George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. It would have eliminated qualified immunity for law enforcement and addressed use-of-force issues and "racial bias" in policing.

Environment

Has placed "climate change" and "climate justice" as centerpieces of his administration.
Pledges to cut emissions in half by 2030 and become net-zero by 2050.
Is mandating an all-electric federal vehicle fleet.
Wants to build a national charging network for electric vehicles.
Has placed strict emissions caps on light- and medium-duty vehicles by 2027 to force electric vehicle transition.
Is accelerating offshore wind projects, as well as expanded solar.
Canceled the Keystone XL pipeline project and restricted the fossil fuel industry.
Reinstated and expanded the EPA's "Waters of the United States" rule, which federally regulates waterways, including on private land. Most states have sued over it.

Infrastructure & Housing

Signed the $1 trillion INVEST in America Act in November 2021. The legislation includes $110 billion to build and repair bridges and roads, $66 billion to refurbish passenger and freight railways, $65 billion to expand high-speed internet, $65 billion to update power grids, and $42 billion to modernize airports and ports.
Plans to build a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
Has overseen a doubling of mortgage interest rates.
Launched a new measure on May 1, 2023, that forces homebuyers with higher credit scores to pay higher mortgage rates and fees to subsidize homebuyers who have riskier credit ratings.
Invested $2.5 billion in projects focused on reducing and preventing homelessness.
Increased funding and incentives for affordable housing.

Economy

Focus on "America's economic revival," including lower taxes, higher earnings, and more jobs.
Wants the US to be a dominant producer of oil and natural gas again.
Plans to implement a 4-year national reshoring plan to end reliance on China for essential medical and national security goods.
During his presidency, Trump focused on deregulation.
Created "nearly 9,000 Opportunity Zones to revitalize neglected communities."
Facilitated record low unemployment for blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and women.
Signed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020.

Taxes

Signed a tax reform bill in December 2017 that cut the corporate tax rate by 40 percent, reduced individual tax rates, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction.
It also limited deductions on state and local income taxes to $10,000, limited the mortgage interest deduction to the first $750,000 in debt, reduced the alternative minimum tax for individuals, and repealed Obamacare’s individual health care mandate.
Cut capital gains tax to 15 percent.
Increased the estate tax basic exemption amount from $5 million to $10 million.

Governance

Focused heavily on trade deals, tax cuts, the border, and the economy during his presidency.
Oversaw the federal response to the pandemic during 2020.
Followed advice from federal agencies during the pandemic, but left states to make their own decisions beyond the "15 days to slow the spread," which started on March 16, 2020.
Launched Operation Warp Speed, which funded pharmaceutical companies to quickly develop vaccines for COVID-19.
For years, was placed under investigation for collusion with Russia during the 2020 election, which turned out to be fabricated.
Says in 2024 he wants to:

Restore free speech
Secure the border
Address the Ukraine war and China's threat to Taiwan
Reduce crime
Rejuvenate the economy

First Amendment

Has been subject to censorship and banned from social media.
Launched his own social media company, Truth Social, in February 2022.
Has criticized Big Tech and the legacy media for their censorship of Americans or conservative voices.
Vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2020 because it didn't include a repeal of Section 230 protections for social media giants. Congress ultimately overrode the veto.

Second Amendment

Says he will "always defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms."
Banned bump stocks in late 2018, which was overturned in January 2023 by a federal appeals court.
Repealed law that required the Social Security Administration to send mental health information to the national background check system.
In February 2018, Trump expressed support for "red flag" gun laws, stating: "take the guns first, go through due process second."
However, in June 2022, he bashed Republicans who supported a gun control bill that included red flag laws.

Health Care

Vows to "always protect" Medicare, Social Security, and patients with preexisting conditions.
Eliminated the Obamacare individual mandate.
Signed the Right to Try law, which gives terminally ill patients access to potential lifesaving cures.
Finalized the Most Favored Nation Rule that forced pharmaceutical companies to offer the same discounts to the United States as they do to other nations. It was rescinded in 2021.
Intends to further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums.
Supports health care price transparency.
Heavily promoted the COVID-19 vaccine.
Curbed federal spending that even indirectly supported abortion.

Education

Supports school choice and expanding access to charter schools.
Has argued that teaching the concept of systemic racism is "a form of child abuse" and has advocated for "patriotic education" and teaching "American exceptionalism" in schools.
In 2020, he announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities would fund a "pro-American curriculum."
His proposed 2021 budget included significant cuts and restrictions to federal student loan programs.

Border Security & Immigration

Will end catch-and-release for illegal immigrants.
Will restore the Remain in Mexico program that makes asylum seekers wait in Mexico for their case to be adjudicated.
Intends to eliminate asylum fraud, but doesn't detail how.
Will deputize the National Guard and local law enforcement (in cooperative states) to help remove illegal alien gang members and criminals.
Proposes a merit-based immigration system.
Will designate cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Will ask Congress to allow drug smugglers and traffickers to receive the death penalty.
Will ban children born to illegal immigrants from automatically becoming U.S. citizens.

Foreign Affairs

Brokered four Middle East peace deals, known as the Abraham Accords.
Facilitated a larger contribution from countries to NATO.
Signed a trade deal with China.
Replaced the NAFTA trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
Negotiated a new trade deal with South Korea.
Withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, Paris climate accord, Iran nuclear deal, UN human rights council, UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization, and the International Criminal Court.
Escalated sanctions on Iran and Russia.
Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Outspoken about China being responsible for the Wuhan virus.

China

Signed a first-phase trade deal with China in early 2020. The CCP subsequently fell short of its promised purchases of U.S. goods and services.
Imposed tariffs on China for certain goods, most of which still remain.
Will implement a 4-year reshoring plan to ensure the United States doesn't rely on China for essential medical and national security goods.
Will ban Chinese ownership of all critical infrastructure and farmland in the United States.
Vows to break up China and Russia's growing alliance.

War In Ukraine

Says he will end the war between Ukraine and Russia "in one day."
Said "That deal will be easy, a lot of it has to do with money, a lot of it has to do with the military that we are giving. I would get that deal done within 24 hours. That war has to be stopped. That war is a disaster."

Military

Approach to the military was "peace through strength."
Launched the Space Force branch of the military.
Signed a reform of the Department of Veterans Affairs that included VA Accountability and VA Choice.
Oversaw the deaths of ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and "the world's No. 1 terrorist" Qasem Soleimani.
The United States didn't enter a war during Trump's presidency and he vows to keep the nation out of "unnecessary foreign wars."

Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice

Says he will "quickly restore law and order" and public safety in the United States, and he "stands with the heroes of law enforcement."
Will deliver "record funding" to hire and retrain police officers, enhance qualified immunity and other protections for police officers, strengthen penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and "surge federal prosecutors and the National Guard into high-crime communities."
Signed the First Step Act that has allowed for the early release of some criminals.

Environment

Advocates for clean air and clean water.
Hasn't subscribed to "climate change." He said, "It'll start getting cooler. You just watch ... I don't think science knows, actually."
Signed the Great American Outdoors Act, which National Parks Conservation Association President and Chief Executive Theresa Pierno called "the largest investment our country has made in our national parks and public lands in more than 50 years."
Would support the elimination of any "Socialist Green New Deal."

Infrastructure & Housing

Energy independence is a key part of his infrastructure strategy.
Approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
Will "unleash the production of domestic energy resources, reduce the soaring price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas; promote energy security."
Will eliminate the Green New Deal.
As president was unable to get an infrastructure bill passed, but issued an executive order encouraging the purchase of U.S.-made construction materials for public infrastructure projects.
Launched the Opportunity Zones project that supported investment in lower-income areas.

Economy

Touts Florida's economic security and freedom during the pandemic.
Initially imposed shutdowns and restrictions on "non-essential" businesses in 2020 but soon reversed course to make Florida one of the first states to broadly reopen businesses and schools.
Florida gained about 1.4 million in population since the pandemic’s beginning and has become the fastest-growing state.
Proposed a $114.8 billion state budget for 2023–2024, which includes more than $250 million in teacher raises and $695 million for Everglades restoration. He signed special legislation in December authorizing more than $100 million to repair beaches damaged by hurricanes.
Signed bill banning the use of a central bank digital currency in Florida.
Will "embrace American energy independence."

Taxes

The state budget proposal for 2024 includes four permanent and more than 10 temporary tax cuts.
Proposes permanent or temporary sales tax exemptions for a wide range of child or pet-related goods, household goods costing under $25, a 50 percent rebate on commuter tolls, and a permanent sales tax exemption on gas stoves.
Florida has the second lowest tax burden and debt burden per capita in the country and the largest budget surplus in Florida's history, DeSantis said at an April appearance in Ohio.
Said the end of Disney’s self-governing status will raise the amount of taxes it pays.

Governance

Ordered the closure of bars, fitness clubs, "non-essential" retail, beaches, and vacation rentals during the first two months of the pandemic in 2020.
Re-opened schools in August 2020.
Admitted closing down the state was a mistake and signed post-Covid bills protecting workers against vaccine mandates and protecting parental choice on masks, vaccines, and quarantine.
Signed a bill stating that no state or local governments can close businesses or keep students out of in-person instruction at Florida schools, except for hurricane emergencies.
Will reestablish "integrity to our institutions" and ensure there's no social or economic transformation without representation.

First Amendment

Signed a bill in May 2023 that prohibits political loyalty tests at universities.
The state’s 2024 budget puts $150 million largely toward restoring classical and civics education and intellectual diversity at universities.
Signed a bill in May 2023 that protects students and teachers from being forced to use pronouns not based on biological sex.
Signed a bill that prohibits financial companies from punishing customers for their religious or political beliefs.
Signed a bill protecting physicians from being forced to prescribe or participate in treatments to which they object.
Is being sued by Disney for allegedly impinging on the company’s freedom of speech.
Supports a bill that strengthens the subjects of news stories’ protection from defamation.

Second Amendment

Signed a “permitless carry” bill into law in April 2023. “You don’t need a permission slip from the government to be able to exercise your constitutional rights,” he said.
Says he would have vetoed the firearms restrictions passed by the Florida legislature after the Parkland shootings and signed by former Gov. Rick Scott.
Signed a bill forbidding credit card companies from flagging gun manufacturers and retailers with special codes, and maintaining registries of gun owners.

Health Care

Signed legislation in May 2023 designed to lower prescription drug prices.
The legislation also requires public price lists for drugs and bans the pricing of drugs higher than the customer’s co-pay.
Signed four medical freedom bills in May 2023. One bans “gain of function” research such as that believed to have bred the CCP virus in a Wuhan lab. Another prohibits businesses and governments from requiring vaccine passports or discriminating based on vaccination status.
The 2023-24 budget contains more than $47 billion for health care, raises Medicaid reimbursement for pediatricians, and provides almost $300 million to address opioid addiction.
Is allowing hospitals' controversial immunity from liability for COVID-19 claims to expire in June 2023.

Education

Signed two laws in 2021 to strengthen civics instruction and civics literacy education in Florida’s kindergarten through postsecondary public schools.
Signed a law in March 2022 that bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Expanded the law to all grades in April 2023.
Signed a law in April 2022 that bans educators from teaching critical race theory.
Signed three bills in May 2023 that prohibit institutions from spending federal or state dollars on initiatives, such as so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” programs, prohibit Florida’s public institutions from requiring students, faculty, or staff to take political loyalty tests, and expanded workforce education programs.

Border Security & Immigration

Backs construction of a border wall and the use of military force to stop illegal immigration.
Flew 50 illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard in 2022.
Signed a law in May 2023 requiring Florida employers with more than 25 employees to check their immigration status using E-Verify, a federal database.
Urged the legislature to give him $12 million to ship illegal immigrants out of Florida.
Supports increasing penalties for human smuggling.
Advocates a ban on local governments issuing ID cards to people who are not lawfully in the country.
Supports the elimination of out-of-state tuition fee waivers for illegal immigrant students.

Foreign Affairs

DeSantis embarked on a multicountry tour to Japan, South Korea, Israel, and the United Kingdom in May to promote economic ties between Florida and those nations.
Florida has the 15th-largest economy in the world.
Bilateral trade between Florida and Japan exceeds $6.6 billion, and Japan is Florida’s second-largest bilateral merchandise trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region, the governor’s office said.
Merchandise trade between Florida and South Korea is more than $1.3 billion, while Florida and Israel reached $651 million in bilateral trade in 2022.
The UK is Florida’s eighth-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching $5.8 billion in 2022.

China

Signed three bills on May 8, 2023, which limit CCP influence in Florida.
The first prohibits the CCP—and other foreign countries of concern—from buying agricultural land anywhere in Florida or making land purchases within 10 miles of sensitive locations such as military bases, ports, or power plants.
The second prohibits state universities and colleges from accepting any grant or participating in any agreement or partnership with a foreign country of concern. Additionally, their officials may not accept gifts from the CCP or countries of concern.
The third bans the use of TikTok at government and educational institutions.

War In Ukraine

Said "without question, peace should be the objective," in response to Tucker Carlson’s questionnaire on Ukraine in March 2023.
Said: “While the U.S. has many vital national interests—securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party—becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.”
Says Americans are entitled to know how the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are being utilized in Ukraine.

Military

Was commissioned as a Navy officer while at Harvard Law School, and served as a JAG military lawyer) in Florida and Guantanamo Bay.
Deployed to Iraq as a legal advisor to the SEAL Team One commander in Fallujah.
Wrote in his book of the “folly” of trying to nation-build Western-style democracy in a vastly different culture and that American liberty does not depend “on whether liberty succeeds in Djibouti.”
Will eliminate "ideological agendas from the military, focus on the military's core mission, and reverse the poor recruiting trends."

Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice

Has chastised government prosecutors who subscribe to the “woke agenda.” He has said they have been “aiding and abetting” public disorder and by doing so are “hugely detrimental to the safety and security” of Americans.
Removed a state attorney for allegedly refusing to prosecute violators of abortion laws in Florida.
Offers recruiting bonuses for law enforcement officers from other states who want to work in Florida.
Toughened penalties for human trafficking, instituted the death penalty for child rape, made death sentences easier to get for capital crimes, and improved support for families of crime victims.
Will repeal First Step Act.

Environment

Supports the pending 2024 budget, which includes: More than $614 million for Everglades restoration projects. Up to $3.4 million for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remove pythons from the Everglades. $370 million for targeted water quality improvements. More than $2.7 billion for Florida’s agricultural industry. In 2022, he had the state’s pension system divest from ESG—environmental, social and governance—funds. Signed a bill in May 2023 that curbs financial companies’ use of ESG principles to govern investment or lending decisions in Florida.

Infrastructure & Housing

Announced a $7 billion initiative in January 2023 to expedite 20 infrastructure projects over the next four years. It uses $4 billion from the budget surplus. Signed the Live Local Act in March 2023, a bipartisan measure that sets aside $711 million for affordable housing. The legislation builds on the state’s Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which launched in June 2022 and provides down-payment and closing-cost help for teachers, first responders, veterans, or active-duty military who are first-time homebuyers. It makes available lower-interest mortgages from federal programs such as FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. It also includes $259 million for low-interest loans to developers building workforce housing.

Joe BidenDonald TrumpRon DeSantis Robert F. Kennedy JrVivek RamaswamyMike PenceNikki HaleyTim ScottMarianne WilliamsonOther Candidates

Joe Biden

Democrat

Economy

Signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and the $485 billion Inflation Reduction Plan, adding millions from the Treasury into the economy.
Has overseen a federal reserve rate hike of 5 percent in attempts to quell inflation, which hit 9.1 percent at its highest point. Consumer prices have increased 4.5 percent.
Supports raising the debt ceiling.
Canceled the Keystone XL pipeline project and provided incentives to "green energy" initiatives that focus on reducing carbon emissions.
Raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour for federal contractors.
Has pledged to "invest in racial justice."
Is exploring a central bank digital currency.

Taxes

Hikes the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent.
Raises the capital gains tax on incomes greater than $1 million from 20 percent to 39.6 percent.
Increases the income tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent for Americans earning more than $400,000.
Hikes the tax rate on foreign earnings of U.S. companies from 10.5 percent to 21 percent.
Debuts a 25 percent minimum tax on people with income and assets of more than $100 million.
Proposes an excise tax to charge cryptomining operations 30 percent of their energy costs.
Added 87,000 IRS agents.

Governance

Has signed 114 executive orders as of May 7, 2023—a similar number per year as Trump.
Imposed a vaccine mandate on all federal employees and castigated unvaccinated people.
Imposed a mask-wearing mandate in all federal spaces.
Banned entry into the United States for foreign visitors who were unvaccinated. This wasn't enforced for illegal border-crossers.
Supports "diversity, equity, inclusion" goals and quotas for government agencies.
Opposes voter ID laws and supports automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, early voting, and universal vote-from-home and vote-by-mail options.
Supports making the District of Columbia the 51st state.

First Amendment

Created the short-lived "Disinformation Governance Board" in April 2022 under the Department of Homeland Security, to combat online “disinformation” on COVID-19 and election issues.
The Department of Justice was accused of targeting parents who protested at school board meetings and labeling them as "domestic terrorists," which Attorney General Merrick Garland denied.
According to the Twitter Files, the Biden administration has participated in a clandestine censorship arrangement with social media companies.

Second Amendment

Called for Congress to send him "a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers," adding that he would "sign it immediately.”
Signed a bill into law in June 2022 that includes the expansion of federal background checks for buyers aged 18 to 21 and adds incentives for states to adopt so-called red flag laws. It also provides $15 billion over the next five years to expand access to mental health programs and enhance school security. Parts of the law are being challenged in court.
Biden's ATF enacted a pistol brace rule, which is being challenged. It also banned firearms and firearms kits without serial numbers.

Health Care

Says health care is a "right, not a privilege."
Expanded the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid by executive order to provide free coverage to more low-income and uninsured people.
Increased funding to the U.N. Sustainable Development Agenda for global "universal health coverage."
Supports a federal law codifying abortion as a woman's right, and restored federal funding to Planned Parenthood.
Added $200 million to scale up the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
Signed a bill funding the expansion of mental health services at schools.
Opposes any state government restrictions to "gender-affirming care" for minors.

Education

Is pushing for billions in student loan forgiveness, including canceling debt for 20 million borrowers. The move is currently being litigated.
Advocated to keep schools closed during COVID-19.
Supports universal, free preschool and an expansion to the Head Start program.
Supports an increase in Pell grant funding for low- and middle-income college students.
Supports expansion of free community college.
Directed schools to allow students to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and join sports teams that correspond with their "gender identity." Was blocked by a judge.

Border Security & Immigration

Signed a handful of executive orders on his first day in office that halted border wall construction, reversed the ban on travel from terror-prone countries, suspended deportations of illegal immigrants, stopped the “Remain in Mexico” program, and strengthened the DACA program for children who were brought over illegally.
Released a sweeping immigration package to Congress that included amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.
Has overseen the largest influx of illegal immigrants in U.S. history. More than 1.6 million illegal aliens were apprehended in fiscal 2021 and 2.2 million in fiscal 2022. In fiscal 2020, there were just over 400,000 apprehensions.
Has largely taken the position that the border is secure.

Foreign Affairs

Rejoined the Paris Climate Accord that Trump had exited.
Rejoined WHO and increased U.S. funding to it. Biden supports ceding authority to WHO during a pandemic or "potential" global health crisis.
Rejoined the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. Population Fund.
Expanded international aid and committed to the U.N. sustainable development goals.
Supports rejoining the Iran nuclear deal, if Iran is in compliance.
Has overseen the largest move away from the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency, with the new BRICS nations pledging to support the Chinese yuan.
Does not support Taiwan independence from China.

China

Biden promotes “strategic competition” with China while pursuing cooperation in some areas, particularly climate change.
He has approved billions of dollars to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, kept many of Trump’s restrictions on China, and tightened controls on the flow of sensitive technology that aids China’s military.
Diplomatic channels between the two countries have mostly frozen up after a Chinese spy balloon breached U.S. airspace in February, but Biden in May 2023 said he expects the relationship to “begin to thaw.”
Regarding Taiwan, in May 2023 Biden said, "There is clear understanding among most of our allies that in fact, if China were to act unilaterally, there would be a response.”
The DOJ has continued a Trump-era initiative to crack down on CCP espionage, transnational repression, and tech theft.

Military

Continues to face criticism for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of troops and personnel from Afghanistan, where 13 Americans were killed and hundreds more were stranded.
Left behind $7 billion worth of military weapons and equipment in Afghanistan.
Is pushing for the U.S. military to have an all-electric fleet by 2030 as part of an initiative to make vehicles “climate friendly.”
Reversed Trump’s ban on people who identify as transgender joining the military.
Has overseen recruitment decline in some branches of the military; lowered entry standards.

War in Ukraine

Biden has unreservedly supported Ukraine and has favored arming Ukraine rather than prioritizing peace talks.
Under Biden, the United States is the primary source of arms for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Congress has approved more than $113 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the war began in February 2021.
Biden said in March 2022 that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," which the White House later walked back.

Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice

Signed three bipartisan bills in November 2021 that support law enforcement and first responders. The measures include support for mental health resources for law enforcement and support for firefighters, EMTs, and other law enforcement who are disabled or killed in the line of duty.
Signed an executive order in 2022 that includes a ban on chokeholds, tightens use-of-force criteria, launches a federal use-of-force and misconduct database, and mandates anti-bias training.
Urged Congress to pass the Democrat-led George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. It would have eliminated qualified immunity for law enforcement and addressed use-of-force issues and "racial bias" in policing.

Environment

Has placed "climate change" and "climate justice" as centerpieces of his administration.
Pledges to cut emissions in half by 2030 and become net-zero by 2050.
Is mandating an all-electric federal vehicle fleet.
Wants to build a national charging network for electric vehicles.
Has placed strict emissions caps on light- and medium-duty vehicles by 2027 to force electric vehicle transition.
Is accelerating offshore wind projects, as well as expanded solar.
Canceled the Keystone XL pipeline project and restricted the fossil fuel industry.
Reinstated and expanded the EPA's "Waters of the United States" rule, which federally regulates waterways, including on private land. Most states have sued over it.

Infrastructure & Housing

Signed the $1 trillion INVEST in America Act in November 2021. The legislation includes $110 billion to build and repair bridges and roads, $66 billion to refurbish passenger and freight railways, $65 billion to expand high-speed internet, $65 billion to update power grids, and $42 billion to modernize airports and ports.
Plans to build a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
Has overseen a doubling of mortgage interest rates.
Launched a new measure on May 1, 2023, that forces homebuyers with higher credit scores to pay higher mortgage rates and fees to subsidize homebuyers who have riskier credit ratings.
Invested $2.5 billion in projects focused on reducing and preventing homelessness.
Increased funding and incentives for affordable housing.

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