October Surprises

November 4, 2024

The so-called “October surprise” -- that last-minute shock before a presidential election that can dramatically alter its outcome — arrived early and often. It involved unprecedented actions by global celebrities, billionaires, and media brands. This election cycle also marked a transition to a democracy where politicians are brands, speech is openly racist and threatening, politics is performance art, and the media has morphed from neutral arbiter to assets that are captive to owners, political threats, readers, or viewers. For instance, billionaire owners of The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today blocked editorials that would have endorsed Kamala Harris amid concern about reprisals by Trump. Resignations followed, and subscribers canceled, but social media bias and dishonesty flowed unimpeded through Donald Trump’s platform Truth Social and Elon Musk’s X. Still, a significant media shocker was that The Economist waded in for the first time by declaring that Trump was too risky to become President. However, two of the most significant October surprises were Elon Musk's endorsement, donations, and campaign involvement for Trump and the release from jail of MAGA architect Steve Bannon, imprisoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol Building riot. He entered the fray “like a roaring caged lion” and will stoke chaos and again mastermind efforts to overthrow the vote if Trump loses.