US Republicans kick off first-ever midterm convention

Janet Jaleel (0:00)

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Janet Jaleel, and at Four Hours GMT on Wednesday the 10th of September, these are our main stories. President Trump says he will pay every adult American $5,000 if the Republicans keep control of Congress in November's midterm elections. More than 80 people are missing after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry in a popular tourist area in the Philippines. Apple launches its new foldable iPhone, but would you pay $2,000 for it?

Also in this podcast, we know about leap years, but have you heard about leap seconds?

Seth Namshima (0:45)

Instead of having to apply a leap second every few years, we can let them drift further apart. It will be many thousands of years before that drift becomes up to an hour.

Janet Jaleel (0:59)

The US. Republicans have kicked off their first ever midterm convention amid growing concern that they could lose control of one or both houses of Congress.

Usually conventions are held before presidential elections, not midterms. The hope is that this unusual two-day gathering in Dallas, Texas will infuse voters and boost turnout in November's elections. Despite Americans' concerns about rising prices, dissatisfaction with the Iran war, and Donald Trump's low approval ratings. Taking to the stage, the president made an impassioned plea to voters.

Donald Trump (1:37)

In 55 days, Americans will be going to the polls in one of the most important elections in our country's history. Your vote will decide whether our country stumbles at the starting gate of the next 250 years or surges forward, and never ever looks back.

Janet Jaleel (1:57)

Mr Trump urged voters to pretend that he was on the ballot. He then went one step further with this promise.

Donald Trump (2:04)

If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000.

Janet Jaleel (2:26)

I put it to our correspondent at the convention, Daniel Bush, that this was an extraordinary plea from President Trump.

Daniel Bush (2:33)

It certainly was, Janette, on a number of fronts, you know, not the least of which was this $5,000 dividend, which it's important to note there are some 270 million American adults. That would be some $1.3 trillion. And it's unclear where that money would come from, whether it's even legal for the US government to issue such a payout. And critics immediately seized on it to say that it was essentially a bribe on the part of the president to try and get voters out to the polls by promising them a cash reward, although he framed it as an economic incentive. That was just one part of this extraordinary speech, nearly two hours long, in which the president argued that the country is better off under him, stronger economically and more secure border. It's also notable, however, some of the things that were not in this speech, Jeanette. For example, much attention paid to the war in Iran. He mentioned it a little bit, the president did, but largely did not offer any new roadmap for how to end this conflict, for how to get Iran to a negotiating table.

It's something that a lot of supporters are concerned about. So it was a speech with a lot of vague promises about what he might do, but not a lot of concrete specifics on how Republicans would continue to run the country if they keep control of the House and the Senate.

Janet Jaleel (3:52)

Yeah, a thorny issue for him because ahead of this speech, he did say that he didn't think the Iran War will be over until after midterm elections. And we've already seen oil prices going above $100 a barrel again. Given all this, what kind of reception did he get?

Daniel Bush (4:08)

Well, he got a very positive reception, but that's primarily because the audience at this convention, this unprecedented midterm convention was largely made up of loyalists, of party supporters who are deeply loyal to the president himself, the core MAGA supporters. Those are the folks who came to this convention. And so it's not indicative necessarily of the broader Republican electorate. And in fact, the president still has his work cut out for him getting moderates and independents that polls show are not pleased with his handling of Iran, the economy of other issues out to the polls. And there was not much in this speech for that audience in particular. It was loaded more with culture war issues and talking points that are popular with his base. But there was not a lot of reach out to that broader electorate the Republicans need in November.