Era of the New Majority

[KingSweden]

2019 AFC Asian Cup

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup is hosted in the UAE, the first time since 1996 it is held there.

Quarterfinals (after Group Play)

Australia vs. South Korea

In a rematch of the 2015 Asian Cup final, Australia faces South Korea. Socceroos forward Robbie Kruse scores twice to lead Australia to a 2-0 victory, powering them into the semifinal.

Japan vs. China

Japan defeats China 1-0 thanks to Shinji Kagawa's late goal after a 0-0 game until the 76' minute. The match is marred by angry protests and threats of violence from supporters of both sides.

UAE vs. Kuwait

The host UAE advances on penalties after a 0-0 score, defeating Kuwait 5-4 in the shootout.

Iran vs. Uzbekistan

The mighty Iranians are upset by Uzbekistan, with Odil Ahmedov's score in extra time to win the game 1-0.

Semi-finals:

Australia vs. Japan

The game goes into extra time after a 0-0 result. Massimo Luongo scores in extra time to put Australia up 1-0 and Kagawa fails on two attempts to put the ball in the net. Australia advances to their third straight final.

UAE vs. Uzbekistan

The UAE's Ali Mabkhout scores early in the game and the UAE parks the bus to win 1-0 over Uzbekistan, vaulting it into the final in Dubai against Australia.

Third-place Game:

Japan vs. Uzbekistan

Japan blitzes Uzbekistan 3-0 to take third place in the Asian Cup.

Final:

Australia vs. UAE

At Zayed Sports City, Australia scores in the first ten minutes thanks to Luongo and then Cameron Joice adds another score at 55' to lead Australia to a 2-0 victory over the host UAE and their second straight AFC Asian Cup championship.

[KingSweden]

2018-19 NFL Playoffs


NFC

Wild Card Round

(3) Seattle Seahawks vs. (6) Minnesota Vikings

Teddy Bridgewater's Minnesota Vikings, in their second playoff appearance in three years, head to the Pacific Northwest to face Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Bridgewater, despite a career year, is unable to do much against the vaunted Seahawks defense and behind two passing touchdowns from Russell Wilson to Maxx Williams, the Seahawks grind out a 21-7 win that includes an interception return for a touchdown by journeyman corner Omar Bolden.

(4) Dallas Cowboys vs. (5) Green Bay Packers

The Packers head to Dallas to face 38-year old Tony Romo, playing in what is likely his final game. The Packers control the game from beginning to end, with Aaron Rodgers passing for four touchdowns to four different receivers to pace the Packers to a 35-10. Romo announces after the game that he has decided to retire from the NFL after 16 seasons.

Divisional Round

(5) Green Bay Packers vs. (1) Detroit Lions

The Packers travel to Detroit, where they face one of the best offenses in history - the 2018 Detroit Lions are the only offense in NFL history with a 5,000 yard quarterback (Offensive POY Matthew Stafford), 2,000 yard running back (NFL MVP Samaje Perine), and two 1,000 yard receivers (Calvin Johnson; Golden Tate). As such, the Lions are big favorites both to repeat as Super Bowl champions and to win this game. The Packers play well in the early one, with the game only 7-7 heading into the fourth quarter, before Perine goes off for a 121 rushing yard fourth quarter complete with three TDs to lead the Lions to an unbelievable 28-7 win over the arch-rival Packers and puts them in their second straight Conference Championship Game, to be hosted in Detroit.

(3) Seattle Seahawks vs. (2) Carolina Panthers

The Seahawks journey to Carolina to face Cam Newton and the Panthers. Though the Panthers jump out to a 10-0 halftime lead, the Seahawks clamp down in the second half and Wilson throws two touchdown passes to take a 14-10 lead. The Panthers kick a field goal late in the fourth to make it 14-13, but fail to convert an onside kick and the Seahawks take the ball down and score to make the score 21-13 with only a minute to spare. Newton is unable to do much with the final seconds and the Seahawks advance with a gritty - and rare - road win.

NFC Championship

(3) Seattle Seahawks vs. (1) Detroit Lions

The vaunted Lions passing attack is shut down at home with the play of the Seahawks secondary, leading to Stafford to lean on Perine. Though Perine manages to rush for 103 yards and two touchdowns, these represent the only points for the Lions in the game. With the Seahawks leading 20-14 late in the fourth quarter, the Lions drive downfield only to have Stafford's pass intercepted by Earl Thomas in the endzone as Calvin Johnson is unable to reach it in time.

With the win, the Seattle Seahawks are the 2018 NFC Champions! They head to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, their fourth Super Bowl appearance under Peter Carroll and fifth in franchise history.

[KingSweden]

2018-19 NFL Playoffs

AFC

Wild Card

(3) Buffalo Bills vs. (6) Indianapolis Colts

With heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures, the Bills D feasts on the dome-team Colts led by Andrew Luck, who has the worst game of his career in throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns in an ugly game. Deshaun Watson and veteran running back Chris Ivory control the clock with a steady run game and conservative passing offense to win 13-0 and for the second year in a row advance to the divisional round.

(4) Los Angeles Raiders vs. (5) New England Patriots

The Pats head west to face the Raiders, who are in their LA playoff debut and their first franchise playoff appearance since 2002. Replays of the 2001 "Tuck Rule Game" are played over and over. In the hostile environs of Hollywood Park, Patriots QB and Offensive ROY Will Grier is harried by All-Pro Khalil Mack and the Raiders defense into making crucial mistakes and despite not turning the ball over once the Patriots lose 24-21 on a last-second field goal by the Raiders.

Divisional Round

(2) Houston Texas vs. (3) Buffalo Bills

Deshaun Watson is injured early and the Bills implode afterwards in the face of the Watt-Clowney defense. Watt, who is coming off of his fifth Defensive Player of the Year award, records 10 tackles and two sacks as the Texans' offense led by third-year QB Christian Hackenberg scores three times in the second quarter to get out to a 27-7 win.

(4) Los Angeles Raiders vs. (1) Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens, entering with a 14-2 record (second-best in NFL after the 15-1 Detroit Lions and best in the AFC), are upset by the Raiders, who behind Derek Carr's three TD passes to Amari Cooper control the clock and fluster MVP runner-up Joe Flacco on their way to a 24-14 win, highlighted by two interceptions in the red zone by LA safety John Cyprien.

AFC Championship Game

(2) Houston Texans vs. (4) Los Angeles Raiders

The Raiders' fairy tale season ends in Houston. In front of a raucous home crowd at NRG Stadium, the Texans blow out the Raiders 33-10, intercepting Derek Carr twice and forcing two fumbles. JJ Watt returns one fumble for a touchdown, DJ Swearinger returns one interception for a touchdown, and Christian Hackenberg throws a TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins early in the game as part of the rout.

With the win, the Houston Texans are 2018 AFC Champions! With the win, they head to their first-ever Super Bowl in their brief 16-year franchise history.

[KingSweden]

Super Bowl LIII

At Delta Airlines Stadium in Atlanta, Super Bowl LIII pits the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks against the AFC Champion Houston Texans.

The night before the Super Bowl, the following NFL awards are given out:

MVP: Samaje Perine, RB, Detroit Lions
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Will Grier, QB, New England Patriots
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marlon Humphrey, DB, Dallas Cowboys
Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Ivory, RB, Buffalo Bills
Coach of the Year: Jack Del Rio, Los Angeles Raiders

Some storylines for the game:

• Seattle's Fourth Rodeo: This is Seattle's fourth Super Bowl appearance in the 2010s under Pete Carroll, and they are aiming for their third championship. The majority of the country is expected to be cheering for the underdog Texans.
• A defensive showdown: Seattle featured the No. 2 total defense in the NFL and the No. 1 pass defense once again. Houston had the No. 3 total defense and the No. 1 run defense. Neither team has a particularly talented offense, though Seahawks are given a slight advantage in that respect with Russell Wilson at the helm, though the Texans, with five-time DPOY JJ Watt, are expected to give the still-shaky Seahawks O-line trouble.
• The Houston Drought: Can the Texans end a pro-championship drought extending over 20 years for non-MLS teams in Houston? Besides the Houston Dynamo, no Houston team has won a title since the 1995 Rockets.

Other noteworthy items: Russell Wilson is the only black quarterback to start four Super Bowls and along with Tom Brady/Bill Belichick, Jim Kelly/Marv Levy and Terry Bradshaw/Chuck Noll, one of only four quarterback/coach pairs to reach four Super Bowls together. It is the first Super Bowl hosted in Atlanta since XXXIV in January of 2000, and there is heavy snowfall and blocked roads in the area in the weeks leading up to the game.

The Game

The coin toss is done by former US President and Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter. The game is an ugly, low-scoring affair. Houston gets on the board first with a field goal, and the Seahawks kick a field goal to open the second half. A surefire TD pass is intercepted by Richard Sherman and returned 40 yards, setting up a Lache Seastrunk 27-yard TD run before the half. Seahawks lead 10-3 at halftime.

The halftime show features "A History of Georgia Music," with several well-known acts from Georgia playing, headlined primarily by Ludacris and Florida-Georgia Line.

The Seahawks open the second half with a field goal to jump up to 13-3. After a crucial Houston fumble recovered by Jordan Hill on the Texans' 30, Russell Wilson throws an interception to DJ Swearinger two plays later. Houston responds with a long drive that ends in a second field goal, cutting the Hawks advantage to 13-6. Russell Wilson responds with another long drive in which he avoids a JJ Watt sack and scrambles 20 yards to setup a third field goal, putting the Seahawks at 16-6.

Houston responds with a late fourth-quarter drive on which they score a touchdown on an Alfred Blue 3-yard run, but fail to convert a 2-point attempt when Earl Thomas breaks up Christian Hackenberg's attempt to CJ Fiedorowicz. Down 16-12, the Texans attempt an onside kick that is recovered by Seahawks player Eric Pinkins. The Seahawks run out the clock before punting it to the Texans, who on two deep attempts fail to convert and the clock runs out to clinch Seattle's third championship under Pete Carroll. Richard Sherman, with six passes defended, eight tackles, one forced fumble (recovered by Hill) and one interception, is named Super Bowl LIII MVP.

[KingSweden]

February 2019: The harsh winter continues, including an Acela train derailment in Philadelphia which kills 17 people. After the New York terror attack in November, there is concern about foul play but a DOT investigation determines it was ice-related. CPAC features headliners Mike Pence, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Scott Walker, Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Kris Kobach, and Rand Paul. There are numerous deaths of prominent Republican political figures - former Reagan/Bush I official James Baker dies at 88, former California Governor George Deukmejian dies at 90, former New York Senator Al D'Amato at 81, and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson at 77. John Thune meets with President Clinton independently of Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss common ground in a cordial lunch meeting.

February 2019 (continued): UN Secretary Kevin Rudd begins to outline the terms of a peace agreement in Venezuela, where nearly 1,000 UN peacekeepers from around the world have died and almost 200,000 civilians have perished since late 2015. A massive protest in China, nearly 30 years after Tiananmen, demanding increased political freedoms is squashed by police in riot gear with tear gas and pepper spray, but no tanks roll out like in 1989. Croatia's right-wing government is reelected in early elections. Pablo Iglesias loosens certain of Spain's labor market reforms, but also passes two new laws greatly beefing up the anti-corruption agency and creating a strict ethics regime criminalizing many behaviors previously taken for granted by Spanish officials.

[KingSweden]

Twenty in '20: A Politico Rundown of 20 Potential GOP Contenders for the 2020 Nod

We are less than a year away from the Iowa caucuses, and nobody has declared in what promises to be a tough GOP race. With the economy weak and Democrats having just lost both houses of Congress, there may be an opening against President Clinton, who for the first time since Barack Obama's historic upset of the Clinton machine in 2008 looks genuinely vulnerable. Who are the twenty GOP contenders, many of which whom are unlikely to run, who could leap into the fray and try to return the Republican Party to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time in a decade?

The First Tier

This tier of candidates includes candidates who are regarded as having the best chance of winning the nomination and perhaps even the election, whether they decide to run or not.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence

Pros: As the conservative governor of a fairly conservative state, Pence has focused on competence. He has not waded into controversy and has avoided high-profile political battles. He has Congressional experience in addition to his Gubernatorial tenure gives him a breadth of experience lacking among many other potential candidates. Does not pick unnecessary fights with the media. He has connections both to business-minded donors and as a former Study Committee chair speaks the language of grassroots activists. Has been compared to Ronald Reagan in his appeal to multiple sections of the Republican Party. As a former Democrat, he can emphasize why he left the party in a way that can resonate with many working-class whites. His Midwestern ties will not only help in Iowa but could be important in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Cons: Is also a favorite of the religious right, which though diminished in recent years still holds sway. His views on abortion, religion and same-sex marriage may not be popular with a general election electorate. Is not a particularly engaging public speaker. Was a member of the House leadership, which though a long time ago is not a resume-builder with many in the grassroots. Has a thin record as Governor, as many conservative achievements were accomplished under his predecessor and he has, for better or worse, mostly managed the state government without any major initiatives to tout as his own.

The Skinny: Is almost certain to run after passing four years ago and is at this time one of the frontrunners. Would enter the field as the most serious candidate with the abilities to unite all three major factions of the GOP, a rarity in the post-Bush era (and, really, the post-Reagan era). Has natural credibility with national security hawks and Tea Party conservatives, too. Whether a generically conservative, 61-year old white Christian from the Midwest is the right candidate to take on the Clinton machine is a whole different question.

Former Ohio Senator Rob Portman

Pro: A moderate voice in a very conservative party and as Cruz's VP nominee in 2016 has been through the grueling ringer of a national campaign. Understands what went wrong in '16 and can speak forcefully to those problems in order to avoid them. A respected policy wonk with over two decades of service in national government, including as a budget writer in the Bush White House. An early endorser of gay marriage at a time (2013) when that was still a risky play for many Republicans.

Con: Not a very engaging speaker and has no natural constituency in the party. Budget hawks, national security conservatives and business moderates will always find other candidates better to their liking. Would have difficulty winning a primary. Deep ties to the Bush family is no longer the boon it once was. His reputation as a sterling debater was somewhat tarnished by an uneven performance against Martin Heinrich in 2016.

The Skinny: If he runs, his odds of winning the nomination are low, but his connections to moneyed donors and his intelligence and policy knowledge would make him a formidable candidate if he can polish his stump skills. Unlikely to run, Portman would be the instant favorite of much of the establishment wing of the party if he were to enter, but the odds of such an entrance remain, for now, fairly low.

Nevada Senator Brian Sandoval

Pro: A Hispanic Senator from a crucial swing state. A former Governor who won two strong mandates in Nevada and then took down Democratic leader and Republican archnemesis Harry Reid by a healthy margin in a year when GOP candidates up and down the ticket were being wiped out in a blue wave. Has moderate positions on most issues, including abortion and gay marriage. Has become a forceful advocate for immigration reform, and the 2018 compromise plan was his greatest achievement as a politician. Would certainly defeat Hillary Clinton in Nevada and would probably beat her in Colorado, New Mexico, Florida and North Carolina, too.

Con: His immigration bill is still regarded as amnesty in many corners of the party, and social conservatives mistrust his views on social issues crucial to them. Is not the most engaging speaker in the party. Is unlikely to run, and his ability to win a primary some of the other potential candidates is unknown. Viewed by many in the party as a more likely Cabinet official or federal judge.

The Skinny: Sandoval has the paradoxical position of being one of the most popular politicians in his party with the media and moderates, making him the best candidate to defeat Hillary on paper. However, mistrust of his immigration and abortion stances in the grassroots make him a non-starter in Iowa and South Carolina, and he would struggle to attract enthusiasm in a party desperately hoping for the next Reagan. Unlikely to run, even with the widespread respect for him in the Beltway and being perfectly positioned ideologically and by accomplishment to move the party away from the 2016 debacle.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul

Pro: Is responsible for one of the most significant civil liberty/criminal justice reforms with the Paul-Booker Act, making him even more popular with his young, libertarian-leaning constituency than he already was. A modest containment of situations in the Middle East make his foreign policy views more palatable to many in the electorate and primary. Would mark a decisive break from the Cruz-style conservativism of the party. Has a well-oiled political operation from three previous runs by the Paul family and will not face a candidate from the grassroots as popular and overshadowing as Ted Cruz this time around, giving him room to maneuver and better chances of picking up votes. Has made a serious effort to reach out to different groups that Republicans do not perform well with now.

Con: His semi-endorsement of gay marriage in late 2018 will endanger him with evangelical voters, who have never fully trusted the libertarian Pauls anyhow. National security hawks and the Chamber of Commerce Republicans will spend significant sums to defeat him. His general election viability remains up for debate, despite his unique views. His mediocre performance in the 2016 primary has dimmed his star somewhat and will not be forgotten by donors. Gives off a sense of only being interested in the Presidency.

The Skinny: Paul is almost certain to run and enters the race as a figure beloved by the grassroots and by college libertarians. The conservative-establishment wars of earlier this decade have quieted down but key GOP figures would go all-out to make sure Paul gets nowhere near the nomination. Despite an interesting profile and a commitment to expanding the party, his efforts have paid few dividends yet and doubts persist that even with criminal justice reform under his belt that the Paul clan can sell their idiosyncratic brand of conservative libertarianism to the broader primary electorate or in a general election against Hillary Clinton.

[Brewer]

This TL is absolutely wonderful. Keep it up!

[KingSweden]

Twenty in '20: Part 2

The Second Tier

In the second tier, we look at four candidates who would make strong candidates, but for a variety of reasons are neither the primary nor general election threats of the upper tier.

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

Pro: Strong conservative record in a Democratic state. Was elected three times in four years despite his polarizing reputation. Was one of the top performers in 2016, surviving into the spring despite inexplicably being able to put away Ted Cruz and Chris Christie. Has a clear niche as an anti-union, no-nonsense Midwestern Governor who has spent close to a decade as a conservative darling.

Con: Left Wisconsin with steep budget cuts, a polarized electorate and a state GOP beset by scandal and infighting. Republicans lost the governorship in large part due to his declining approval ratings when leaving the Governor's mansion. Is not regarded as being particularly savvy with the media and has a reputation for evasiveness and non-answers that plagued him on the campaign trail. Attracts the anger of organized labor and other left-leaning groups in a way that few other Republicans do.

The Skinny: Walker will likely run again and as the third-place finisher in 2016 remains the least-diminished figure from that field. However, there is a sense among several GOP officials that Walker blew his chance in '16 by not emerging as a satisfactory conservative alternative to Cruz early enough and that the way he left office in Wisconsin tarnishes his earlier achievements there. Despite being popular with the base and CoC types, there are doubts he can re-emerge as the GOP's preferred standard bearer.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Pro: Was one of the few Republican Senators to survive in 2016 in a state carried by President Clinton. Is a Hispanic who speaks fluent Spanish from a crucial swing state and is well-regarded by both economic and foreign policy conservatives. Is regarded as a serious, policy-minded politician and terrific orator.

Con: His greatest asset - being a young, Washington outsider in the early Obama years - has largely faded as Rubio approaches fifty and will have been in the Senate for ten years, most of which have been spent talking him up as a future President. His fumbles with immigration have hurt him both with moderates unsure about his commitment to reform and conservatives who viewed his overtures to Democrats in 2013 as a betrayal. Has a sometimes singular focus on Cuba policy. Has not proven that he can live up to his considerable potential.

The Skinny: Rubio will be one of the three or four candidates most likely to win the nomination. His connections to establishment donors and his modicum of credibility with the grassroots makes him a formidable opponent if he can put it all together. However, his sometimes curious lack of instinct and savvy may keep him in the Senate, where he is emerging as a key player. Rubio remains behind the top tier of Republican candidates for now, until that has changed.

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton

Pro: Is a Harvard-educated Army Ranger who served in Iraq and burst onto the scene with letter to the New York Times and flew onto the political scene eight years ago when he entered the House and then two years later ended the Pryor dynasty. Has a resume most candidates would kill for and enjoys the backing of both conservative elements and neo-conservatives. Has assembled a conservative record without the histrionics and theatrical blunders of a Ted Cruz, which Cotton's temperament is unsuited for.

Con: Is a stiff campaigner and comes across sometimes as overly ambitious. His success in the conservative state of Arkansas will not necessarily translate nationwide - the reasons Bill Clinton parlayed his success in the right-leaning state in a liberal party do not fit with how Cotton would have to run from a conservative state in a conservative party. Has no major policy victory to claim credit for, having spent most of the last six years as a backbencher. Some of his views on foreign policy and public welfare come across as harsher than those of his primary opponents.

The Skinny: An obviously talented young rising star who has never been tested outside of his ideologically friendly home state, Cotton would start as a dark horse in this field. GOP officials close to Cotton are skeptical that he would run for President while also defending his Senate seat, which he has indicated he intends to do though the filing deadline in Arkansas is late. Though his ambition is clearly to eventually seek the White House, Cotton is still very young (43) has made no early moves to lock up key donors or officials and seems ever-likely to seek reelection and then run in 2024 or 2028.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Pro: Is the governor of the second-largest state and the biggest state that votes consistently GOP. Unlike the big-willed Rick Perry, Abbott governs by consensus and has staked out a conservative but sensible record, including water rationing in 2016 that earned the ire of grassroots. Has a compelling personal story and his disability (he is wheelchair-ridden) would make him a sympathetic character. Retains clear connections to the well-heeled donors in Texas and the surrounding states and the biggest profile of any Governor other than Mike Pence.

Con: As Rick Perry has proven, simply being Governor of Texas is not enough in a Republican primary. Is not the most charismatic candidate in the race. Many major conservative achievements were taken care of by the Bush and Perry administrations that preceded him, so he has few policy initiatives to take immediate credit for. Has no clear niche in the field other than "Governor of Texas." Is less powerful politically in his home state than his hard-right Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

The Skinny: Abbott's fundraising capabilities would alone make him formidable, and a consistently conservative record insulates him from grassroots attacks. However, the fates of Abbott's home state comrades Rick Perry and Ted Cruz should give donors pause before funding an Abbott campaign, particularly since he has no major policy victories to claim as his own. Likely to run, however, since Texas insiders view his as unlikely to seek a third term in 2022.

[KingSweden]

This TL is absolutely wonderful. Keep it up!

Thankl! I'm glad you like it.

[KingSweden]

Twenty in '20: Part 3

The Bottom Half

This section discusses in briefer detail candidates who are unlikely to achieve much even if they run or are unlikely to run.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

It's hard to believe that someone who finished second in the 2016 nomination race would have fallen so far out of favor considering the history of the Republican Party in the last 60 years, but Christie is unlikely to even sniff the later primaries after a disastrous few last years. With New Jersey's economy and fiscal picture a mess after he left Trenton and with the Christie administration still under the dark cloud of federal and state investigations, he retains a 28% approval rating in the state he formerly governed and helped hand Democrats massive majorities in the legislature who have undone most of his major policies. Already needing to overcome the distrust of the base and a media for whom his pugnacious personality has lost its charm, Christie would struggle to achieve much in a primary against far more polished and accomplished candidates.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz

At a fundraiser recently Ted Cruz helpfully reminded the audience that "Ronald Reagan had to lose an election before he could win one, and change this country." It elicited audible groans among polite applause, indicating Cruz's standing with the donor class and much of the party faithful, no matter how often he wants to compare himself to the Gipper. Though still popular for his no-holds-barred style amongst many in the grassroots, particularly his home state, his near-political-death primary experience in 2018 and the fact that he is singlehandedly held responsible for costing the GOP the Presidency and both Houses of Congress in 2016 is one reason that even if he runs again - as is seen as likely - he will not go far this time.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst

A dark horse candidate who has received some traction is Iowa's Joni Ernst, a rising female star in a party that has few of them. Ernst has made no signs that she is interested in running, though her entrance would likely drive most other candidates out of Iowa immediately a la Tom Harkin in 1992. However much the whisper draft campaign to get the folksy freshman into the race is heating up, those close to Ernst view a run from her as a long shot, mostly because she (and many in the GOP) feel that she would be better off running for reelection to prove that she can face a Presidential electorate in a swing state, and there is no guarantee that her unique style will play well outside of the farm belt. If Ernst wins - likely against US Congressman and former Governor Chet Culver - look for her to be a major player in 2024 instead.

Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder

For moderates and business-conservative types, Snyder deserves a second look. Michigan's economy improved under his tenure and he cut a moderate figure with numerous vetoes of legislation coming out of Michigan's very conservative legislature despite signing right-to-work laws despised by the left. He is unlikely to attract the same kind of ire as a true anti-union warrior like Scott Walker and his experiences managing the Detroit bankruptcy could lend him special insight to helping fix the debacle that has unfolded over the last 12 months in Illinois. A few things hurt Snyder, though, including his unassuming persona, his leaving the Michigan GOP in worse form than he found it (Democrats took back the state House in 2016, and though they narrowly lost it two years later they also picked up the Governorship) and the doubt that he has the energy or the desire to run for President.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

It has been over a decade since Palin last ran a campaign, and this summer it will have been exactly ten years since she unexpectedly resigned as Governor of Alaska. Though she has stirred speculation on more than one occasion, few GOP officials believe she has any intention of running. Few primary voters outside of her most hardcore fanbase would support a quixotic Palin bid, particularly as she is widely viewed within the grassroots as more of a celebrity than a serious politician. Still, she would shake up any race by entering, but in the words of an anonymous Republican campaign guru, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

Haley may represent the best bet for Republicans hoping to challenge Hillary with another woman. She was a two-term governor with a staunchly conservative record in a staunchly conservative state, and is an ethnic minority to boot. In comparison to some other youngish Southern governors, Haley left her state in fairly good shape - however, she was replaced by a more conservative governor in Mick Mulvaney (most definitely a name to watch in coming years) and her relationship with her state legislature was never good. Some hiccups from her first term could come back to haunt her, too. Haley would be an outstanding VP pick, but most people close to Haley doubt she would run.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott

A young, black and very conservative Senator, Tim Scott is viewed by many as a potential candidate for... something. Scott is not viewed as the kind of climber who would chase a Presidential nomination, and where exactly his niche in the party would be is unclear - if anything, he would probably pull votes and money away from other conservatives in a primary. An intriguing if unlikely choice for candidate.

Colorado Senator Cory Gardner

Gardner has taken a mostly centrist tack since winning election to the Senate six years ago, though he compiled one of the House's most conservative records in his two terms in the lower chamber. His youth, energy, ambition and political savvy are not to be underestimated - however, Republicans caveat their bullishness on Gardner with the point that he barely defeated a Democrat running an abysmal campaign in 2014 and that he will have to face an all-out charge to defeat him in 2020. There has been speculation that Gardner foregoes reelection to seek the Presidency, which would give the NRSC heartburn. His low profile since winning election makes him an unlikely candidate so soon.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey

An off-the-wall choice for candidate would be Ducey, just reelected to his second term. He is not unambitious, but he is anonymous outside of his home state where he retains dubious popularity, and has a business record that could become a liability in a general election against a Democrat. He also lacks much charisma and has not shown any sign of seeking a political career outside of Arizona - despite his name being tossed around by some outside groups, he is far more likely to seek Arizona's Senate seat in 2022 against Kyrsten Sinema.

Utah Senator Josh Romney

Not as crazy as it sounds - the son of former Presidential nominee Josh Romney has been mentioned by allies of his father as a potential candidate for higher office, though almost nobody thinks he would jump into the race only four years into his first term of any elected office. Those close to Romney also say that he would be unlikely to make a run after his father's experiences in 2012 and that his parents would likely discourage him. A name to watch in future years, certainly, but the 2020 buzz is probably premature despite Romney visiting Iowa and New Hampshire several times in the last few months.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker

If Baker had any chance of winning the primary, his name would be much higher on this list. Having been reelected by a wide margin in the bluest of blue states, Baker cuts the moderate profile that could appeal to independents and moderates and maybe even some Democrats. However, he has repeatedely disavowed the national party and has taken stances on social issues that go against Republican orthodoxy. While he could be a great candidate for business-oriented Republicans, he would be soundly rejected by Iowa and South Carolina. Despite some buzz about a Baker run, his candidacy would be unlikely to end well.

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan

Every year that goes by is one more year that removes Paul Ryan from 2012, the height of his powers in the GOP. He was the young wunderkid, the arch-conservative budget guru earning comparisons to Reagan. While he is still an important part of the GOP hierarchy in Kevin McCarthy's House, the only reason he would look at this race, in all likelihood, would be that his Ways and Means chairmanship ends after 2020. However, the difficulty of running from the House, and doubts that Ryan wants to subject himself to another national campaign, make the odds of him running exceeding slim despite the dreams of many a fiscal conservative.

[KingSweden]

Sorry for the delay, everyone! I've been working on the first draft of my next novel and my self-set deadline is next Friday, so I haven't had much time for this.

March 2019: We have our first 2020er - former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announces his intention to form an exploratory committee to run in 2020 and begins to assemble several of the top-tier talent he enjoyed in 2016 and some of the advisors who worked for Jeb Bush and Chris Christie. However, his announcement is quickly overshadowed by stunning news from the State Department - SOS Joe Biden, after a week without a public appearance, has a news conference where, appearing in a wheelchair, he announces he suffered a severe stroke, his second in six months, in late February while at a conference in Berlin. Biden announces his immediate resignation from State to focus on his recovery. President Clinton, thanking him for his service, taps Wisconsin Governor Russ Feingold to replace him, surprising many political observers. Feingold is approved by the Senate with little fanfare or difficulty and Lt. Gov. Chris Larson becomes Governor of Wisconsin.

March 2019 (continued): Justin Trudeau's budget only narrowly passes the House of Commons after multiple "Blue Grits" defect and he fails to attract any Tories or Dippers to pass it. A Zionist Union government is elected in Israeli general elections, ending Netanyahu's decade-long rule of Israel and placing Isaac Herzog as Prime Minister, with a promise to focus on revving down settlement construction and working to finding a new status quo arrangement with the Palestinians. Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia is finally forced out by his Liberal backbenchers after a difficult five-and-a-half year government and is replaced by Malcolm Turnbull, with the January 2020 election less than a year away and Labor leading some polls by 15-20 points. The Euro Zone estimates that it is still in recession.

Meanwhile, in Washington (a new section where I focus on events here in my home state): Washington state passes strict new climate protocols on party-line votes in both chambers of the legislature, with most of the cap-and-trade revenues being pledged towards mass transit and the energy efficiency/clean energy standards being touted as some of the toughest in the nation.

[KingSweden]

April 2019: Mike Pence and Chris Christie both announce formal runs for 2020, and Marco Rubio and Rand Paul both confirm that they will form exploratory committees. The economy created 100,000 jobs in March, the best jobs report in over a year, and estimates show that the economy grew by 0.7% in Q1, as opposed to the contraction of the prior fall, indicating that while the economy is still weak it is no longer in formal recession. President Clinton demurs when asked if she will run for reelection, though it is widely assumed that she will. Drought conditions are expected to continue in much of the Southwest, with water rationing preemptively put into effect in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. A scandal swirls around new Georgia Governor Jason Carter only three months into his term over potential coordination between his campaign staff and outside super PACs.

April 2019 (continued): The PEI Liberal Party is reelected to another majority government under Wade MacLauchlan. Malcolm Turnbulll introduces a very moderate budget in Australia and begins to roll out a governing platform for a potential third term for the Coalition. UN peacekeepers, buffeted by US Marines and airstrikes and Colombian infantry, seize the rebel stronghold of Ciudad Bolivar and thus regain full control of the Orinoco Valley. As many as 3,000 rebels are killed against 417 peacekeepers in the three-week long operation that involves door-to-door fighting and jungle warfare.

And now, for Sports: In the NCAA Final Four, hosted in Minnesota, the defending national champions Illinois defeat Kentucky in the first semifinal, while Villanova defeats Kansas in the other. Illinois, led by two-time Naismith Award winner Omar Little, throttles Villanova 68-50 to win their second consecutive title. They join Duke (2010, 2016), Kentucky (2012, 2015), U-Conn (2011, 2014) as multiple-winners in the 2010s decade.

And now, for Sports (continued): In UEFA Champions League play, Chelsea advances to its second-straight CL final by defeating Bayern Munich on aggregate 2-1, avenging their 2012 final loss. In the other semifinal, Barcelona defeats Paris St. Germain 1-0 on aggregate. In the UEFA Europa League, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund advance to the final after dispatching Olympiacos and Celtic, respectively.

[KingSweden]

May 2019: Tom Cotton, Joni Ernst, Cory Gardner and Doug Ducey all decline to run for President. Paul makes his second run formal along with Ted Cruz, Greg Abbott and Nikki Haley, all of whom are seen as nomination dark horses. Noted evangelist Billy Graham has died at 100 - though his time has largely passed, nearly 100,000 people attend his funeral at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Thune acknowledges in a 60 Minutes interview that the House and Senate will be unlikely to reconcile a budget due to vastly different priorities between the two chambers - namely that Thune has a 1-seat margin in the Senate. After serious speculation over her political future, Hillary Clinton's top campaign advisers begin to assemble in White Plains for her reelection campaign. White House COS Bruce Reed announces he will be leaving the administration, likely for a role in a Clinton campaign or at the newly reinvigorated DLC, by the end of the summer.

May 2019 (Continued): A Japanese fishing vessel is captured by the Chinese Navy, creating an international crisis mediated by green SOS Russ Feingold. The fishermen are returned to Japan after 11 days, but tensions remain high. A major earthquake in Peru kills 2,500 people and causes tsunamis throughout the Pacific. Bashar al-Assad declares an effective victory in Syria after the last rebel units flee into Iraq and northern Jordan, with ISIS essentially driven into hiding and most of their land seized.

And now, for Sports: After a scoreless regular time - with heroic goaltending by Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois - the Champions League Final in Wembley Stadium in London goes to penalty kicks. Chelsea defeats FC Barcelona 5-3 on penalties with Messi kicking the final goal to defeat his former club. Chelsea earns their second Champions League title, Messi earns his fourth. The win is part of an historic treble for Chelsea, as they also clinch the Barclays' Premier League and FA Cup that month as well. Chelsea becomes the first time to win a domestic brace two seasons in a row, defending EPL and FA Cup titles earned in 2018.

And now, for Sports (Continued): In the Europa League, Borussia Dortmund defeat Inter Milan 3-0, with Ciro Immobile scoring a brace. Bayern Munich wins the Bundesliga for a seventh straight time, Inter Milan makes up for their loss in the Europa League by winning Serie A, PSG takes a brace by winning Ligue 1 for a fourth straight time as well as the Coupe de France, and Valencia wins La Liga over Real Madrid by one point on the last day of league play while Sevilla wins the Copa del Rey. Cruz Azul takes the CONCACAF Champions League, defeating Toronto FC 5-1 in the final.

[KingSweden]

The May 2019 Election Extravaganza

First, in South Africa: The ANC's twenty-five year stranglehold on power is cracked as they lose 75 seats in the Parliament. No party is able to form a majority, and the DA and ANC broker a deal in which they will deny the surging EFF, which takes third place again with a larger bloc of seats, power by elevating 39-year old black DA member and Deputy Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko President after the ANC balks at elevating Helen Zille to that position due to her race. Though many ANC bigwigs, including outgoing President Jacob Zuma, are skeptical of the plan, they eventually relent when the DA threatens to cut a similar deal with the EFF and arrange a Cabinet full of EFF members formerly from the ANC. Mazibuko becomes South Africa's first female President and the first since FW De Klerk not to come from Mandela's ANC. Her youth, having grown up in a mostly post-Apartheid world, and her political moderation key her election as a watershed moment for ANC-era South Africa.

Next, in India. The BJP is returned with a reduced majority, signalling approval of Narendra Modi's more muscular foreign policy, Hindu nationalism and economic policy but with some dropoff of support in western and southern India. Rahul Gandhi's Congress Party gains back some seats lost in 2014, but the BJP-coalition majority remains very large.

Finally, the European elections to the European Parliament. Five years after anti-establishment parties placed first in many countries, the established blocs earn back some of their share, particularly parties with a more left-wing policy platform. The burn hot, burn fast results of some of the populist parties from five years earlier are seen to have worn thin, and the European voters as a whole skew somewhat away from the more stridently outsider parties, particularly in Spain, where only five months after winning Parliament Podemos places fourth in votes earned. Ominously, the biggest vote-share in Spain is from the ERC in Catalonia, which has the highest votes-to-population ratio of any region in the country.

[Duke of York]

This is one of the very best timelines i've ever seen on here. I wish this timeline would happen for real.

[KingSweden]

This is one of the very best timelines i've ever seen on here. I wish this timeline would happen for real.

Thanks! Keep reading, it's going to take some turns I think that will surprise some people.

[KingSweden]

June 2019: Clinton taps former Virginia Governor and DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe as her next Chief of Staff, thought to be likely to serve through the end of the term. McCarthy staves off a rebellion in the House that claims the career of Steve Scalise after two crucial farm bill votes are defeated by the majority despite furious whipping on the part of the already long-embattled Scalise. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Scalise resigns in a stunning move, leaving McCarthy scrambling to fill his spot. In a closed-door election, Patrick McHenry is allowed to slide into the Whip post, keeping a more moderate Southern voice in leadership as opposed to the very conservative Tom Price, and Pete Roskam is tapped to serve once again as Chief Deputy Whip. It is unclear if anyone other than Ted Yoho runs against McHenry. The long summer drought continues, affecting much of the country. 30 states have water rationing.

June 2019 (continued): A month that will be remembered for decades in England - Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, has died at 93. Prince Charles is proclaimed as King George VII, choosing not to take a regnal name viewed in the UK as "unlucky," and William becomes Prince of Wales. Already at 70 and with reported health issues in the last few years, his reign is expected to be brief. His coronation is scheduled for that fall. A 8.6 earthquake strikes Central China, killing 7,000 people. Podemos steps down on a controversial debt payback plan in Spain after a confrontation with ECB ministers, and delays their constitutional reforms by six months after their committee collapses during a Catalonian walkout and concerns from the Basque representatives.

And now, for Sports: The Washington Wizards, appearing in their third straight NBA Finals, defeat the New Orleans Pelicans in a classic seven-game series to win their second title in three years. Kevin Durant is once again Finals MVP after coming second in regular-season MVP voting to Pelicans star Anthony Davis. Texas wins the CWS in extra innings over Vanderbilt. Sidney Crosby and his Maple Leafs win their second consecutive Stanley Cup in an all-Canadian affair as they defeat Conor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the Stanley Cup Finals, with Crosby winning the Hart Trophy the second year in a row.

[KingSweden]

The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth

Nearly two million people congregate in London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral, including many young, showing the legacy she leaves in England despite her distance from the populace the last years of her life. Attendees of her state funeral at Westminster Chapel include:

President Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton
Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama
Secretary of State Russ Feingold
Former Vice President Al Gore
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a delegation of 24 bipartisan Senators
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and a delegation of 80 bipartisan members of the House
All Living Former British Prime Ministers (Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, Miliband, Balls)
Prime Minister George Osborne
Leader of the Opposition Chuka Umunna
President of the European Council Donald Tusk
Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel
President of France Francois Fillon
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

Speakers touch on her long reign, the peaceful breakup of the British Empire during it, her resolute and unwavering support of the traditions of the monarchy, and the social and political strides made during her reign, even if she did not personally influence them. Tony Blair, remembered for his support of Diana in twenty years earlier, says, "Once, I called her former daughter in law 'the people's princess.' But today, I call have no choice but to call Queen Elizabeth 'the people's Queen.'"

[KingSweden]

July 2019: Rubio announces he is officially running for President, thus rounding out the field of serious contenders. The first GOP debates are held at the University of Iowa, and Pence stars, attacking Christie as a combative squish "with a temperament beneath the President and lacking the backbone required of a conservative!", assaults Cruz: "I have never once seen you reach across the aisle, never once seen you suggest legislation that will do anything than poke Democrats in the eye, never once seen you take any action meant to improve the lot of your constituents rather than just further your email list and career" and stakes out ground as the conservative who can win: "I was a Democrat once, way back when, but then I saw the light. I was one of the first members of the House to embrace the conservative renaissance ten years ago, but I have never forgotten that we represent at best half of this great country. I will be the President who represents ALL of America."

Pundits immediately declare Pence as the runaway winner, with Paul struggling, Cruz seeming mostly eager to take potshots at Pence, Rubio performing well but sounding wonky, and Walker and Haley failed to make much noise. Christie absolutely bombs, taking Pence's bait and practically shouting across the stage at him. Meanwhile, the month sees several deaths - former Speaker of the House Jim Wright at 96, but also former Washington Governor Dan Evans (93) and sitting New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell (82). A special election is called in Pascrell's Safe D seat. Clinton starts staffing up for her reelection campaign and announces her intention to seek a second term at the end of the month.

July 2019 (continued): Talks restart between Palestine and the Herzog-led Israel. Joko Widodo is reelected as President of Indonesia in a landslide. It is one of the hottest months on record in European and North American history, with water rationing going into effect in 41 US states and sixteen EU countries. There is a minor riot in Kansas City after a fight breaks out at a water line.

And now, for Sports: Brazil wins the 2019 Copa America on home soil, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. Brazilian superstar Neymar scores four goals for the hosts in the full tournament to lead them to their first true Copa win since 2007 (their 2016 Centenario win being a one-off). Uruguay beats Peru in the third-place runoff, with their 18-year old budding prodigy José Morales being the top scorer of the tournament with 7 goals.

[KingSweden]

August 2019: The Ames Straw Poll is held in Iowa. Four years after Cruz's big win there propelled him to winning the caucuses and later the nomination, Mike Pence very narrowly defeats Rand Paul in the straw poll, helping resurrect Paul's somewhat flagging campaign. Paul, coming second by only one percent, gives an excited, lively speech afterwards. Rubio places third, and Walker, Haley and Cruz are all distant after that. Pundits scratch their head over why Walker is struggling in a state next door to where he was Governor and why he is not catching fire four years after his last run. Christie drops out quietly and unceremoniously from the race after placing at the very bottom of the poll, behind even the surprisingly somnambulant Greg Abbott campaign. He endorses Marco Rubio.

August 2019 (continued): The hottest summer in recorded history continues, with hundreds of deaths worldwide from heat stroke, exhaustion and other complications. Water rationing is now in effect in every US state and Canadian province but Hawaii, Alaska and Yukon. EU ministers hold an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss joint water policy. There is a massive riot in Moscow over water shortages and sewage appearing in local drinking water. Protests spread across sub-Saharan Africa for similar reasons. Economic growth in the US, Eurozone and much of Asia seems to be mostly unaffected, so far at least, by the rationing and extreme heat wave.

Meanwhile, back in Washington: In honor of the late Governor Evans, the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle is renamed the "Daniel J. Evans Ship Canal Bridge," with Governor Inslee speaking at a ceremony in Gasworks Park commemorating the event.

[KingSweden]

2020 GOP Primary: The Reagan Library Debate

The big, first post-Ames debate at the end of August. Some highlights:

Mike Pence, on the "religious freedom bill" Indiana passed and is under court scrutiny: "Well, me personally, if I owned a bakery, I wouldn't turn away anyone. It's hard enough for small business owners in this country. But we shouldn't make it harder for them by setting them up to get sued over their strongly held beliefs. But if you're asking me what I'd do, I'd bake that cake, keep their business, and then I'd pray for them."

Marco Rubio, on the war in Venezuela: "The situation has done nothing but deteriorate down there under President Clinton. We need to increase our contribution to the peacekeeping mission and find out who else at the UN wants to raise their profile, too. Colombia and Brazil may both need to step up the policing of their borders to end the free flow of men and guns over those frontiers."

Rand Paul, on criminal justice reform: "We can see the results already. Fewer black men were incarcerated last year than any time in my lifetime. There were fewer decade-plus sentences handed out. This reform works because it keeps young men who maybe just made a mistake in their communities, with their families, in a position to get a job, which is where they belong. I am so very proud of my work on this reform, along with Senator [Cory] Booker, when we can see what a huge difference it is making in the black community."

Scott Walker, on foreign policy: "You still have Russia causing mayhem in Europe and the periphery. IS has not been completely defeated. Iran still could break out to produce a bomb in less than a year if they chose to. This is not a safe world. I think President Clinton realizes that, at least more than her predecessor, but you just need to look south across the Caribbean to see what her foreign policy looks like."

[KingSweden]

September 2019: A 7.4 earthquake rattles the Los Angeles valley, causing 215 deaths and causing billions in damages. No major roadway/building collapses, thankfully. President Clinton surveys the damage a week later with Governor Newsom and meets with survivors. Polling in Iowa shows Mike Pence with a comfortable lead there, with Rand Paul holding a narrow lead in New Hampshire. Marco Rubio is running third in both. New Jersey Democrat Paul Sarlo wins the primary for the special election to fill the rest of Bill Pascrell's term, to be held concurrently with elections in the fall.

September 2019 (continued): Brad Wall's Saskatchewan Party wins yet another term, this time with a 45-seat majority. Wall has now served as Saskatchewan's Premier for nearly twelve years, and if he serves a full four-year term will have served second-longest to only Tommy Douglas. In Spain, Podemos' budget and constitutional reforms fail, and Iglesias is tempted to call snap elections but at the last second decides not to. Massive protests in Catalonia turn violent with looting and the beating deaths of two police officers, as economic indicators suggest Spain is back in recession. George Osborne pushes through a major reform to decentralize certain powers to English regions, including Manchester, Yorkshire, Merseyside and Cornwall, and gives new administrative authority to cities. It is cited as one of the most important reforms in British history. Two rebel strongholds in rural Venezuela are broken, and UN authorities begin discussing a post-war transitional period modeled on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Food shortages and high prices cause more protests in Russia, which are violently put down by the police in Novgorod (though peaceful elsewhere).

[KingSweden]

October 2019: Clinton taps Stephanie Schriock of EMILY's List as her campaign manager for 2020. Rubio awkwardly flubs a foreign policy answer while in New Hampshire, and the response goes viral. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has died at 87 years old and is buried in a small, quiet ceremony in Illinois with former President Bush and Vice President Cheney in attendance.

A slow-moving scandal begins in New York, where Governor Preet Bharara, as part of his sweeping "CleaNY" initiative, appears at a press conference with all four US Attorneys for New York with a "black list" of corrupt officials in the state, local and even federal government from NY. Included on the list for pay-to-play and campaign finance are seven Democratic Assembly members, eight GOP Assembly members, four Democratic state Senators, six GOP state Senators, two US Reps and close to municipal and county officials, including sixteen members of the New York city council and several staffers close to Mayor Bill de Blasio. CleaNY sets off one of the biggest anti-corruption campaigns in US history. As a former Cuomo staffer later comments anonymously, "Everyone in the state of New York is terrified of this ing guy." The two US Reps cited in the report are Nydia Velazquez and Adriano Espaillat. Calls for both of them to resign begin to trickle out of the NY Dem and national party.

October 2019 (Continued): A general strike begins in the Philippines over rising food prices. The Russian protests continue, almost the size of the 2017 mass strikes that nearly crippled that year's Confederations Cup. Narendra Modi signs an historic security agreement with Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif, pointing to a hopeful breakthrough, though Punjab/Kashmir remains a sticking point. The world economy began growing again in Q3, including the haggard Eurozone, led by Poland, the UK and, surprisingly, Italy.

And now, for Sports: Led by 19-year old phenom Brian Baylor, the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2019 World Series in six games over the Toronto Blue Jays. Baylor scores a mind-boggling ten runs, averaging almost two per game, to win the MVP, becoming the youngest MVP in World Series history (no citation, this is probably wrong), as the Cardinals win their 14th World Series championship and 4th since 2006 (3rd in the 2010s, each with a four-year interval).

[KingSweden]

United States elections, 2019

New Jersey

NJ-8 Special: To the surprise of nobody, Paul Sarlo is easily elected over a local Republican businessman. In an interesting quirk, the GOP candidate is a Bengali Muslim from Paterson.

NJ Assembly: Democrats lose their supermajority in the New Jersey legislature as 10 seats are lost, six to retirements and four to incumbents in South Jersey being defeated. Tax and fee hikes by Fulop and two teachers strikes earlier in the year are cited as major reasons for the bad performance by Democrats, in addition to the continued budget morass and sluggish economy in the state outside of Hudson and Bergen Counties. The new Assembly numbers stand at 45-35. Vincent Prieto steps down as Speaker and is replaced, in a surprise, by Camden-area 42-year old Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera.

Mississippi

MS-Gov: Phil Bryant is forced into retirement by term limits and the GOP coalesces fairly early around Tate Reeves, who dispatches Chris McDaniel with surprising ease in the primary. After Jim Hood decides not to run for Governor, Reeves cruises to an easy 58-40 win over Senator Derrick Simmons, viewed by many as a rising star in the Mississippi Democratic Party.

MS-Lt. Gov: State Sen. Chris Massey is elected in a landslide over an Oxford law professor, 70-25 with a third-party candidate taking up some of the vote too.

MS-AG: Jim Hood cruises once again to a comfortable 53-46 reelection over State Rep. Brian Aldridge from Tupelo.

MS-Auditor: Stacey Pickering retires, and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn is easily elected to replace him.

MS-Legislature: Republicans pick up two seats in the Senate and five seats in the House to earn a 34-18 majority in the Senate and a 71-51 majority in the House.

[KingSweden]

United States elections, 2019

Louisiana

LA-Gov: David Vitter is reelected in the first round of the jungle primary, winning nearly 60% of the vote against a weak field of candidates.

LA-AG: Jeff Landry is reelected in the runoff over State Rep. Patrick O. Jefferson, only winning 52-48.

LA-Legislature: Democrats pick up one seat to move the Senate to 25-14, Republican advantage. Democrats pick up three seats in the House to shift the numbers to 54-50-1, nearly taking back the chamber. Democrats are unable to persuade the one remaining independent (Republicans pick up the other I seat) to caucus with them, giving Republicans an effective 55-50 majority in the House. Many promising Democratic freshmen are elected to safe seats, including several under the age of 30.

Virginia

VA State Senate: Democrats no longer need a tiebreaker, as they pick up the seat of retiring Senator Frank Wagner and defeat Dick Black, while narrowly retaining the seat of retiring Senator John S. Edwards to take a 22-18 majority in the State Senate.

VA State House: Democratic success in the Senate does not translate in the lower house, where Republicans win five seats to return to a 66-34 majority.