The Monocle Minute

When Kamala Harris appeared at the Ellipse on Tuesday night, she had a difficult balance to strike. She had to mention that this park was where Donald Trump spoke before his supporters stormed the Capitol on 6 January 2021 – but without dwelling on it. Focus on the threat that Trump poses, yes, but also on the economy, domestic affairs and immigration – issues that are higher on the list of voters’ concerns.

This balance is central to Harris’s strategy, as well as her struggles. Much of the world is wondering whether this is the election when US democracy collapses. Yet, in order to save it, her staffers believe that she should focus on other priorities that are more likely to bring out the party base: the cost of living, for example, or women’s rights. Ironically, Trump faces a similar situation. He wants to focus on tarring this election as a fraud in the making and drone on about how he actually won in 2020. His team, however, wants him to stay on message and hammer Harris on the economy.

This isn’t just an American phenomenon. From Georgia’s election last week to India’s earlier this year, plenty of polls across the globe have been framed as make-or-break moments for democracy, only for voters to focus on bread-and-butter issues. On Tuesday, Harris did a decent job of linking the two. Rather than lecturing her audience on why democracy matters for its own sake, she went with the “he doesn’t care about you” attack line, warning of budding authoritarians.

The candidate who wins on 5 November will quite simply have done a better job of showing that they understand voters’ interests and concerns – and persuading them that they’re the one to fix things. But make no mistake: America’s democracy and ideals are well and truly on the line next week, whether voters want to hear it or not.

Christopher Cermak is Monocle’s senior news editor. Over the next 10 days, Monocle Radio’s correspondents – stationed in Washington, Atlanta and beyond – will be giving you the latest updates and offering in-depth analysis as the election and its results unfold. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

Joe Biden’s Georgia win in 2020 underscored the rising influence of its diversifying electorate, which has been driven by Atlanta’s urban boom and a growing black voter base. Once a Republican mainstay, the state is now a key battleground. With a considerable 16 electoral votes at stake, Georgia is a focal point for campaign strategists on both sides.

On the ground, the issues are layered and urgent. Economic inequality is a pressing concern, particularly in rural areas, while calls for healthcare and education reforms are continuing to grow. Voting rights continue to be a contentious topic, with new legislation challenging people’s eligibility attracting national attention. Meanwhile, discussions about climate resilience are gaining momentum as Georgia contends with the consequences of extreme weather events. Whichever side claims victory will reap significant rewards.

Delta Airlines recently announced that South Korea’s Incheon International Airport will be its new Asian hub. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the US’s oldest airline dropped all of its routes between North America and Tokyo’s Narita airport, from which it previously operated its Asia connections. Now, in collaboration with fellow SkyTeam alliance member Korean Air, the Atlanta-based carrier is introducing its first nonstop flight from Incheon to Salt Lake City International in June 2025.

The route allows Delta to offer those living in the interior states of the US a direct connection to Incheon, making onward journeys across the rest of the continent easier too. Delta already operates direct flights there from Detroit, Atlanta and Seattle, carrying about 2,100 visitors to the South Korean airport per day. But with the new SLC-ICN route, it expects a further 180,000 passengers annually, with 94,000 transfers. That should help Incheon achieve its ambition to cross the threshold of 106 million passengers annually across 600,000 flights.

For more business insights and agenda-setting stories on aviation and beyond, pick up a copy ofMonocle’s November issue, which is out now.

Washington-based non-profit Whistleblower Aid was founded in 2017 to help whistleblowers inside government and the private sector to navigate the legally fraught terrain of leaking secret information. Monocle meets the charity’s CEO, Libby Liu.

Has the definition of ‘whistleblower’ changed?
No, I don’t believe so. These individuals feel that they’ve been put in situations where they’ve been forced to keep secrets that are harmful to the public. It is a question of conscience for many of them.

How do you help?
As soon as somebody reaches us, we have a conversation with them because the client has to be credible. Then we find a safe, legal way for them to bring their information to whoever needs to address what they have seen.

Are there any recent cases that illustrate your work?
Take the events at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Congress wanted to find out why the National Guard didn’t help to stop the violence. Earl Matthews, a colonel, came forward because he knew who had made the decision not to send soldiers in to help.

What is the most challenging aspect of supporting a whistleblower?
They go through extraordinary hardship. Their companies or the government agencies that they worked for will retaliate against them to discourage others.

Our interview with Libby Liu features inMonocle’s November issue. For more agenda-setting stories on politics, foreign affairs and international diplomacy, pick up your copy now.

We discuss growth strategies from Sweden to South Africa as we meet the CEO of Peak Performance to hear about the importance of bricks-and-mortar retail for building communities. And: why creating meaningful touchpoints with customers in physical retail spaces can help new brands flourish.