As the fall quarter kicks off at Highline, there is a realization that the political world we live in now, in September, is vastly different than the political scene we left in June. The last issue of The Thunderword reported on the historic conviction of former President Donald Trump. This was shortly before the disastrous debate with current President Joe Biden, who at the time, was the presumed democratic nominee for this year’s election. 

The saga did not end there, however, as the summer brought a few new acts. This conviction did not disqualify Trump from continuing his campaign however, as he accepted the official Republican nomination at the Republican National Convention in mid-July. 

The conviction of falsifying business records solidified Trump as an unprecedented politician. “While he is the third president in history to be impeached, [He] has now been enshrined as the first ever president to be a convicted felon,” Thunderword reporter Cam Lyons wrote last spring while covering the trial. 

With the freshly pressed scarlet letter ‘G’ for guilty, Trump walked into the first presidential debate of the season. This one was a uniquely early debate, as previous debates weren’t held until parties officially nominate their candidates. It was also the first time the Secret Service allowed a convicted felon to be that close to a sitting president. 

For the large group of voters who have not experienced an election year without Trump, presidential debates have become a reality show to jump and critique everything that is said. (My advice: set up a live fact-checker and invest in something fun to drink.)

This theme continued throughout the summer. This first political debate was a cornerstone in the election year, highlighting the false claims that Trump maintains and showcasing the senilism of our current president. 

Quicker than the internet, democratic politicians across the board began calling for Biden to step out of the race. 

But when it rains it pours. As interested parties waited on the edge of their seats for Biden to announce his stepping down, the United States Supreme Court slipped out some socially devastating opinions that will affect how politics function going forward. 

As legal charges were brought to the courts against Trump for his inflammatory statements on the falsehood of the 2020 election, Supreme Court Justices appointed by Trump released the following opinion: “We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power requires that a former President have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office.”

Following this, a collective began exclusively referring to our current president as “King Biden.” The unclear nature of what the supreme court defines as “official acts” brought fear into many hearts. 

Could the President direct taxpayer dollars to personal expenses, like family or business, and call it an “official act” and not embezzlement? Could they call for the federal execution of an opponent and call it an “official act in the protection of our democracy” and not murder? 

But the blows kept coming from the side stage. On Saturday, July 13, an assassination attempt on Trump’s life brought the death of two, including one attendee and the shooter. Trump, bleeding from a graze to his ear, was rushed off the stage, but not before stopping and posing with his fist in the air as his supporters began chanting their support. 

“It’s difficult to imagine a moment that more fully epitomizes Mr. Trump’s visceral connection with his supporters, and his master of the modern age media,” wrote the New York Times. 

As Trump recovered from the near miss, the political stage had a short intermission for us all to catch our breaths. The RNC is held, where Trump, bandaged on the side of his head, officially accepts the Republican Nominee and names Ohian Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.

That is until exactly seven days later, on July 21, Biden announced his official drop from the race for president. This day was probably the longest day of the election season yet. The news came early that morning, following Biden’s own supporters calling for his drop-out. 

The entire day, everyone waited to hear who would take his place on the ticket. This was the latest a candidate has ever dropped out of the race, calling back to the questions on the uniquely early debate. TikTok journalists and news outlets released lists upon lists of suspected nominees, trying to predict who will take over the ticket. 

Along with Biden’s announcement, he fully endorsed his Vice President and previous running mate, Kamala Harris. Harris spoke out later that day to announce her bid for the nomination, with the Democratic Party publishing their support for her on the same day. 

The next question on everyone’s minds: Who will be Harris’ running mate? Again, the lists flooded the screens of proposed VP picks for Harris before she ultimately settled on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has earned the love and adoration of the internet since his step into the limelight. 

We kicked August off with a raucous Democratic National Convention where Harris formally accepted the nomination. With both candidates certified, the debate that followed allowed the American people to see exactly who they were voting for, learn the values and beliefs behind the policies, and understand the stakes of the election. 

Shortly following the debate, a second assassination attempt of Trump took place at a golf club in Florida. No one was hurt and the Secret Service detained and arrested the shooter. 

With 39 days left in the election and both a VP debate and potential second presidential debate, the Thunderword is excited to cover the end of this election cycle. Stay tuned, as it is sure to be a wild ride – although maybe not quite as turbulent as the past three months.