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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC SportMenuHomeFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby URugby LTennisGolfBoxingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGet InspiredGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballOlympic SportsRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisWinter SportsFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandMy SportMatch of the DaySports Personality5 Live SportSport on the BBCNews FeedsHelp & FAQsFormula 1LatestResultsStandingsCalendarTeams & DriversSaudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024: Max Verstappen wins as Oliver Bearman finishes seventhPublished3 hours agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Oliver Bearman is the third-youngest driver to start an F1 race, behind Max Verstappen and Lance StrollBy Andrew BensonChief F1 writerRed Bull’s Max Verstappen took a comfortable victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Briton Oliver Bearman scored points on his debut in seventh for Ferrari.Verstappen’s win was his second in two races in 2024 and his ninth consecutive victory dating back to September.Leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a Red Bull one-two, it continued the crushing superiority Verstappen has had over the Formula 1 field for nearly two years.Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came third.Bearman, standing in for Carlos Sainz after the Spaniard underwent an appendectomy, became at 18 years old the youngest British driver in F1 history, and the third youngest ever.He drove with maturity to fend off a potential challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton as they fought back after late pit stops for fresh tyres on inverted strategies.Drivers’ championship standingsConstructors’ championship standingsNorris and Hamilton had stayed out during an early safety car, deployed after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed on lap six.They stopped with 13 and 14 laps to go, Hamilton a lap before Norris, and fitted soft tyres, in the hope they could use their extra grip to close in on those ahead.But after initially taking chunks out of Bearman’s advantage, their tyres began to fade, and Norris and Hamilton were left fighting among themselves for eighth place rather than challenging the teenager.Bearman started 11th after being drafted in before final practice and was 12th after the safety car.He passed Zhou Gunayu’s Sauber and then Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas and then benefited from the strategies of Hamilton and Norris on an accomplished debut that confirmed him as a potential star of the future.Bearman was named driver of the day in the fans’ vote and team-mate Leclerc paid tribute to him after the race.”He completely deserves it,” Leclerc said. “He has done an incredible job. In P3 he was straight on the pace, in qualifying he did an incredible job and missed Q3 only by a little. “To finish seventh in your first race in F1 in a new car is incredibly impressive. Everyone has noticed how talented he is, and it is just a matter of time before he is in F1.”Marko says he will stay with Red Bull after talksHamilton pressured Norris hard, and the younger Briton was warned for weaving on the straight in defence, but the McLaren managed to hang on in front.McLaren’s and Mercedes’ decision not to stop under the safety car put Norris into the lead – he had been running sixth in the early laps, behind Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner embraces Max Verstappen after the raceVerstappen rejoined after his stop under the safety car in second place behind the McLaren, but passed the Briton just three laps after the restart and was untroubled thereafter.After two races, Verstappen already has a 15-point championship lead over Perez and looks well on target for a fourth consecutive drivers’ title. At this rate, he is looking as if he could even break all the win records he set last year.Perez was no match for his team-mate’s pace but was more than fast enough to pull a big enough gap for a five-second penalty imposed for an unsafe release from the pits to have no effect on his second place.Leclerc finished 11.4secs behind Perez, underlining Ferrari’s position as the leaders of the chasing pack, but a dispiriting margin for anyone hoping for a challenge to Red Bull in these early stages of the 2024 season.Piastri spent many laps stuck behind Hamilton after the safety car reshuffle, but once the Mercedes pitted out of the way, the Australian consolidated fourth place.He finished ahead of Alonso and Russell after a soporific race that provided little encouragement for those hoping for an exciting season, the longest in F1 history.When is the next race?Race three of 24 this season is the Australian Grand Prix from 22-24 March at Albert Park in Melbourne. A sister’s quest for the truth: Thrilling five-part murder mystery by Mark HealyIs it the end of an era for Royal Mail? Panorama investigates the postal service, hearing from whistleblowers and the service’s senior managementRelated TopicsFormula 1Related Internet LinksFormula 1The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View commentsTop StoriesSmith last-gasp drop-goal hands England victoryPublished2 hours agoArsenal go top as Havertz spares Ramsdale blushesPublished26 minutes agoVerstappen wins as Bearman, 18, finishes seventhPublished3 hours agoElsewhere on the BBCHas Toyota solved the electric car battery problem?The Inquiry discusses if the company’s new battery could be a watershed moment in car makingAttributionSoundsThe two-headed dog experiments that shocked the worldOne of Vladimir Demikhov’s creations lived for 29 daysAttributionSoundsWhy were Waterloo’s fallen soldiers turned into sugar?Surprising facts and interesting history from the makers of QIAttributionSounds’If you want me, take me, I am yours…’Pattie Boyd reveals the ‘love triangle’ letters from Eric Clapton and George HarrisonAttributionSoundsElsewhere in SportEngland’s frustrating series of missed opportunities – Agnew’Joshua rediscovers swagger as Fury watches on’Anderson becomes first pace bowler to 700 Test wicketsKlopp v Guardiola – the story of an era-defining rivalry. VideoKlopp v Guardiola – the story of an era-defining rivalryHow many of Anderson’s Test wickets can you name?’Why not?’ – Barkley on England recall dreamsHow GB’s women’s sprinters became a force on the trackWest Ham captain ‘paving the way’ for sporting mothersFrom Cameroon to handcuffs to Olympic hopeful’I want two goals on my England debut!’ Video’I want two goals on my England debut!’A fitting finale? The rivalry that has dominated English footballDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaBlackstenius hat-trick helps Arsenal to League Cup final. VideoBlackstenius hat-trick helps Arsenal to League Cup finalHow De Rossi has ‘revived’ Roma after Mourinho100 caps – Care’s favourite England memories
[ad_1] Norris and Hamilton had stayed out during an early safety car, deployed after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed on lap six. They stopped with 13 and 14 laps to…
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC SportMenuHomeFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby URugby LTennisGolfBoxingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGet InspiredGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballOlympic SportsRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisWinter SportsFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandMy SportMatch of the DaySports Personality5 Live SportSport on the BBCNews FeedsHelp & FAQsBoxingResults & ScheduleCalendarAnthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Briton delivers statement win with second-round knockoutPublished10 hours agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Anthony Joshua secured the 25th knockout of his careerBy Kal SajadBBC Sport at Kingdom Arena, RiyadhBriton Anthony Joshua delivered the most powerful statement to the heavyweight division with a destructive second-round knockout win over Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. Joshua, 34, floored the former UFC champion in the first round and early in the second. A dazed Ngannou rose to his feet in Riyadh but was stunned by an explosive and formidable right moments later as the referee halted the contest. The 37-year-old appeared to be out before he even hit the canvas and required medical treatment. “I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again,” Joshua said, as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury watched on from ringside. Fury made tough work of Ngannou in October when he was dropped by the boxing debutant before claiming a narrow points win. “When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought ‘I want some of that’. [Ngannou] is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities,” said Joshua.”I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he’s fought the best.”Victory is two-time world champion Joshua’s fourth in 11 months, and keeps alive his ambition of recapturing a world title. As it happened: Joshua stops NgannouBall’s world title shot ends in controversial drawEddie Hearn called for Joshua, who he has promoted throughout the heavyweight’s pro career, to face the winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The pair will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight champion in May, with a rematch later in the year. “In five years I won’t be fighting,” Joshua added. “Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future.”A knockout for the highlight reelsThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Ngannou should continue in boxing despite KO loss – JoshuaWith the card running more than an hour later than planned, it was 03:20 local time when master of ceremonies Michael Buffer introduced Ngannou to the ring. Dressed in a pink and white robe with gold tassels, Ngannou made the solitary walk down the aisle to the tune of ‘God’s Plan’ by Drake. A frowning Joshua looked full of purpose as he strutted to the ring with confidence. He kneeled down and recited a prayer in his corner. Joshua drew the loudest reaction, a mixture of boos and jeers. He seemed completely undeterred, his eyes set firmly on Ngannou. And it was a near-perfect start for the Watford-born fighter. Ngannou had just narrowly missed with a lead left hand as Joshua remained calm and composed. AJ extended his backhand to land a flush right down the pipe. By flooring Ngannou, he had done within three minutes what Fury failed to do in 10 rounds four months ago. A stunned Ngannou got up on the count of eight and saw out the round. Joshua has become a smarter fighter in recent years, honing his technical ability. He doubled his jab, bided his time and waited for an opening. Another right hand had Ngannou clamouring on the floor. He beat the count in the nick of time but the writing was on the wall. The finishing punch was one which will undoubtedly take centre stage in future Joshua knockout highlights reel. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Francis Ngannou has two losses in two boxing matchesA statement win in SaudiA well-schooled amateur boasting Olympic gold and a two-time world champion with wins against some of the best in the division, Joshua’s experience prevails in the early hours in Riyadh.The razzmatazz of Saudi boxing was on show, albeit still under the backdrop of critics claiming the Kingdom is using high-profile sporting events to ‘sports wash’ away its human rights records. While it was not the star studded affair seen in past event in the region, former champions Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao rubbed shoulders with the likes of football manager Jose Mourinho and Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo.The card was billed as ‘knockout chaos’ but the Saudi crowd – as they usually do – behaved in a very quiet and orderly manner. The pressure was on Joshua to deliver a message to rival Fury. A fighter who has faced an intense level of scrutiny in recent years, Joshua acknowledged the impact of trainer Ben Davison. Davison was in Joshua’s corner for the second time, having also overseen December’s dominant win over Otto Wallin. “I didn’t want to disrespect Ngannou but he’s not been hit by someone like AJ before,” Davison told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I’ll let people judge whether he is improving. The only way to find out who is the best is to get the winner of Fury and Usyk. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”Whether Ngannou listens to Joshua’s advice and returns to the sport anytime soon awaits to be soon, but the ‘Predator’ is a proven winner – whether it be in life, the UFC octagon or a boxing ring. His journey has taken him from a 12-year-old working in sand quarry in Cameroon to living on the streets of Paris, before becoming UFC champion. Although his childhood dream of becoming a boxing world champion may never become reality, Ngannou is set to return to MMA later this year with the PFL in search of his next prey. Related TopicsBoxingMore on this storyBoxing schedule and results 2024Published6 days agoWatch every Born to Brawl episodePublished11 JanuaryView commentsTop StoriesLive. Premier League: Man Utd v Everton – team news & build-upLive. Watch: Scottish Cup quarter-final – struggling Aberdeen host KilmarnockLive. Women’s FA Cup: Liverpool host Leicester in first quarter-finalElsewhere on the BBCHas Toyota solved the electric car battery problem?The Inquiry discusses if the company’s new battery could be a watershed moment in car makingAttributionSoundsThe two-headed dog experiments that shocked the worldOne of Vladimir Demikhov’s creations lived for 29 daysAttributionSoundsWhy were Waterloo’s fallen soldiers turned into sugar?Surprising facts and interesting history from the makers of QIAttributionSounds’If you want me, take me, I am yours…’Pattie Boyd reveals the ‘love triangle’ letters from Eric Clapton and George HarrisonAttributionSoundsElsewhere in SportAnderson becomes first pace bowler to 700 Test wicketsJoshua rediscovers swagger as Fury watches onHow many of Anderson’s Test wickets can you name?’Why not?’ – Barkley on England recall dreamsKlopp v Guardiola – the story of an era-defining rivalry. VideoKlopp v Guardiola – the story of an era-defining rivalryHow GB’s women’s sprinters became a force on the trackPanama midfielder makes quit threat after ‘fat’ commentCapuozzo v Kinghorn showdown set to light up RomeWest Ham captain ‘paving the way’ for sporting mothersFrom Cameroon to handcuffs to Olympic hopeful’I want two goals on my England debut!’ Video’I want two goals on my England debut!’A fitting finale? The rivalry that has dominated English footballDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaBlackstenius hat-trick helps Arsenal to League Cup final. VideoBlackstenius hat-trick helps Arsenal to League Cup finalHow De Rossi has ‘revived’ Roma after Mourinho’Perfect game’ – Care’s favourite England memories](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/10A1/production/_132875240_gettyimages-2069526399.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaMichigan vote to test anger over Biden’s Israel policyPublished56 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Biden’s support for Israel has lost him votes among Arab AmericansBy Brandon DrenonBBC News, in MichiganVoters in Michigan have been organising for months to send Joe Biden a message during the state’s primary on Tuesday: “No ceasefire. No vote.”After President Joe Biden narrowly defeated Donald Trump in Michigan in the last election in 2020, a protest vote tied to events in Gaza is a real concern for the White House.Mr Biden and Mr Trump are on course for a rematch in November, and in a close presidential election – as is predicted by most polls – experts say Michigan is a must-win state.With the largest Arab-American population in the US, the state poses a crucial test as to the impact the Biden administration’s policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict could have on Democrats. The anger it has created among many in that community has been festering for months, and the Democratic primary on Tuesday offers the first chance for the party’s voters to register that discontent by withholding their vote from the president.He is largely unopposed in the Democratic Party’s search for their presidential nominee, but that has not stopped those opposed to his Middle East policy from taking action.In the final hours on the eve of Tuesday’s primary election, Khalid Turaani stood outside the Islamic Center of Detroit and distributed pamphlets encouraging people to vote “uncommitted” on their ballot papers.”We’re doing all that we can to ensure that Biden is a one-term president,” Mr Turaani, the co-organiser behind Abandon Biden, told the BBC.”In November, we will remember. When you stand against the will of the people, you’re going to lose.”Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Khalid Turaani, a co-organiser of Abandon Biden, says his group has made over 30,000 calls petitioning people to vote uncommitted on TuesdayTwo grassroots organisations, including Mr Turaani’s group, Abandon Biden, and a second, Listen to Michigan, are urging Democrats to choose “uncommitted” in Tuesday’s primary. In the state, each party’s candidate list includes an “uncommitted” option, which allows a voter to exercise a party vote without selecting a candidate – in this case, Mr Biden. The movement has gained endorsements from at least 39 state and local elected officials. These include congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Michigan state legislator Abraham Aiyash and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.”I was proud today to walk in and pull a Democratic ballot and vote uncommitted,” Ms Tlaib said in a video shared to social media. Lexis Zeidan, a co-organiser for Listen to Michigan, said they’re hoping to get at least 10,000 people to vote uncommitted. “We want to wake up the next day on Wednesday, and we want to be able to claim Michigan as a pro-Palestinian state,” she said. “And we want to inspire communities across the nation to know that, at the end of the day, America is beholden to its people.”Life inside Gaza – a day of BBC coverageWhy are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza?Biden losing Arab-American voters in swing stateMr Biden’s victory in this primary election is assured, but Democrats will be watching how many vote “uncommitted” to see what electoral harm has been done by the president’s support of Israel in its months-long war against Hamas in Gaza. Recent national opinion polls suggest a majority of Democrats disapprove of the president’s handling of the crisis. In places like Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit where a large concentration of the state’s Arab-American population lives, discontent with Democrats appears to be widespread. Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Dozens gathered at the Islamic Center of Detroit were handed pamphlets on Monday encouraging them not to support Joe BidenThe president has attempted to walk a tightrope between sending aid to Israel, a longstanding US ally with historically strong support from Democrats, and appeasing those in his party who want the devastation in Gaza to end now. Senator Gary Peters, from Michigan, told the BBC and other reporters at a meeting arranged by the Biden campaign on Monday that the president understands voters’ concerns about the situation in Gaza.”[President Biden] hears loud and clear what folks are saying. He cares deeply about innocent civilians being caught in that crossfire,” Sen Peters said. “And he’s going to do everything in his power to bring that to an end as quickly as he can.”The Biden team has pointed to domestic achievements like job creation, investment in poorer communities and lowering healthcare costs as ways the president has helped voters in Michigan.In one attempt to pacify their frustrations, Mr Biden’s campaign staff attempted to organise an in-person meeting with Arab-American leaders in January, a request denied by Dearborn’s mayor. “This is not the time to talk about elections,” Mayor Hammoud said at the time.Instead, he and other community leaders met senior staff from the White House in February. Mr Aiyash, the state representative, told the New York Times after the meeting: “We emphasised that beyond communication, there needs to be a change in policies.” However, the White House has been reluctant to reel back its support, sending billions of dollars in military aid to Israel and three times blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Instead the US has called for a pause in fighting and defended Israel’s right to hunt down the Hamas gunmen who killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October. The death toll in Gaza is nearly 30,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-led health ministry.Gazans surviving off animal feed and rice as food dwindlesHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says Biden’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homes Samraa Luqman, another member of Abandon Biden who described herself as a far-left Democrat, said: “And yet today I stand before you telling you that I am considering voting for Trump in 2024.”Irrespective of the price I may pay as a Muslim woman in this country, I’m still willing to draw the red line and say that the commission of genocide is more of a priority to me,” she said. Israel vehemently rejects allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Khalid Turaani distributed flyers on Monday encouraging people not to vote for Joe BidenMichigan is one of six major swing states that experts say Mr Biden will need to win to defeat Mr Trump in a likely November rematch. The others include Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona.Michigan has flipped twice in the last two presidential elections, from a Trump-led Republican victory in 2016, back to Democrats under Mr Biden in 2020.The president’s 2020 victory was by nearly 155,000 votes – fewer than the total number of registered Muslim voters in Michigan. Nationwide, 64% of Muslim voters backed Mr Biden in 2020, according to Associated Press, but that figure rose to nearly 70% in Michigan counties with large Arab-American populations.President Biden and his campaign surrogates have made repeated visits to Michigan, looking to shore up support and remind voters of his commitment to blue-collar workers, a key Democratic voting bloc from whom Mr Trump has increasingly drawn support.In September, President Biden joined the picket lines in Detroit with members of the United Auto Workers union, a first for a sitting president in over a century.Four months later, the UAW officially endorsed the president’s re-election bid, which was welcomed by the Biden campaign amid waning voter enthusiasm. Polls suggest that Gaza is just one vulnerability – voters are also increasingly concerned about the president’s age and are pessimistic about the economy, despite strong growth and low unemployment.Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Nate, who asked the BBC not to use his last name, estimated he had about $2,000 worth of metal to recycle on MondayThe sceptics include blue-collar workers from the metro Detroit area, like Nate. Standing in a metal scrapyard recycling facility in Dearborn, less than a mile from a Ford car plant where plumes of smoke billowed into the air, he told the BBC he feels “like the economy is getting worse”.He’s been the owner of a dumpster rental and heavy-trash collecting business for over 10 years, but he said lately “I’ve seen less business, less people”. “Things have slowed down since Biden took office,” Nate said. “I’m not sure who I’m voting for this year.”Farther down the road, Adam Abusalah, an organiser with Listen to Michigan who was a member of Mr Biden’s campaign staff in 2020, told the BBC: “People are voting uncommitted for several reasons.”He said his organisation was making calls to more than just Arab Americans but also other members of Michigan’s black and brown communities and “voters across the state who are not happy with Biden”. Mr Abusalah said people were upset with the president before 7 October, the start of the Israel-Gaza war.”People were seeing how Biden handled the Ukraine war and seeing him send so much money but not being able to invest that into our communities,” he said. “There’s a city here in Michigan – Flint – that hasn’t had clean water for over a decade.”Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Adam Abusalah worked for Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020 but says he will never vote for Mr Biden againIt’s an increasingly common complaint heard from many US voters who often express frustration over federal spending on wars while their communities struggle. For Mr Abusalah, however, Mr Biden’s support of Israel amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and skyrocketing death toll was the ultimate catalyst that turned him from the president – even if it means a president who once enacted a Muslim travel ban takes his place.”If we have another Trump presidency, that’s not on me. That’s not on voters. That’s on Biden,” he said.”[President Biden] cannot win back my vote. Absolutely not. It’s 30,000 lives too late.” More on the US electionExplained: A simple guide to the US 2024 electionAnalysis: Where Biden v Trump will be won and lostPolicies: What a Trump second term would look likeEconomy: Voters feel better – will that help Biden?Recap: The Trump life story to dateRelated TopicsMichiganUS election 2024US politicsUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhy these Arab Americans say Biden lost their votePublished1 FebruaryBiden losing Arab-American voters in swing statePublished6 November 2023Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primaryPublished4 FebruaryWhere Biden v Trump will be won and lostPublished31 JanuaryA simple guide to the US 2024 electionPublished24 JanuaryHow does US electoral college choose presidents?Published30 JanuaryTop StoriesPost Office confirms boss is under investigationPublished21 minutes agoSixth person charged with spying for Russia in UKPublished1 hour agoNetanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war supportPublished1 hour agoFeaturesGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Post Office confirms boss is under investigation3Boys arrested after animals killed at college4Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead5Two men convicted of Run-DMC star’s murder in 20026Four of couple’s children taken into care7Murder-accused mother ‘caned’ son as ‘bible allowed’8Netanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war support9Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK10Lobbying scandal MP recall petition triggered](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/31C8/production/_132744721_img_4841.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceVoters feel better about the economy. Will it help Biden?Published30 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image caption, Nancy Pontius says she is not worried about the “big picture economy”By Natalie ShermanBusiness reporter, New YorkNancy Pontius is ready to share an unpopular view: she doesn’t think inflation is a major issue, and worries about the economy won’t influence her vote in November’s election.But that’s not because the 36-year-old Democrat hasn’t felt the same financial strain as tens of millions of Americans over the past couple of years.”I definitely felt the gas price increase,” the mum-of-two from Pennsylvania says, “but I also recognised that it was likely to be temporary”. Ms Pontius voted for Joe Biden four years ago and plans to do so again, motivated by issues like abortion. “I’m not worried about the big picture economy,” she says.Such confidence is welcome news for Mr Biden, whose first term has been troubled by a once-in-a-generation 18% leap in prices, which propelled economic dissatisfaction and eroded political support.Even as the American economy’s booming emergence from the pandemic drew envy abroad, opinions at home remained starkly negative. Now there are signs that may be changing, as petrol prices fall back towards $3 a gallon nationally and wages get closer to catching up with price rises.Economic sentiment – what some pollsters describe as the “vibe” that people feel around the economy – has improved in business surveys in recent months. Where Biden v Trump will be won and lostDemocrats like Nancy are now as positive about the economy as they were in 2021, when prices had just started their climb – and more positive than at any point during the Trump presidency, according to the University of Michigan, which has surveyed consumers for decades. Even the views of Republican voters have brightened a bit, their research indicates.The White House hopes the change in mood will last and shore up support for the president as the election approaches in November – especially in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania.But that’s far from guaranteed. The president’s approval ratings are hovering around the lowest levels of his term, hit by concerns over immigration, his age and the war in Gaza.And despite the positive signs, overall economic sentiment has yet to recover from the beating it took during the pandemic, despite solid growth and a historic streak of unemployment below 4%. Among Democrats, the issue is particularly hurting Mr Biden with those under the age of 30, just a quarter of whom rated the economy as excellent or good in a recent Pew survey, compared to 70% over the age of 65.Kim Schwartz, a 28-year-old health technician from Pennsylvania, voted for Mr Biden in 2020 but has been disappointed by his economic policies.”I don’t see any progress in getting more money into the hands of middle class and working class Americans to keep up with [inflation],” she says.”I am going to vote, but whether it will be a write-in or third party or Biden, I don’t know.” Image caption, Kim Schwartz says construction sites are a sign her area is growing “like crazy” – but the future still seems bleakThough her financial position has improved since 2020, when she was struggling to cover her expenses while studying and working part-time, she still scouts multiple grocery stores each week in search of the lowest prices. She has deferred work on her car due to cost concerns; and big financial and life goals, like buying a house, still feel achingly out of reach.”I am surviving,” she says. “It’s enough to maintain but it’s not enough to improve or progress.”It’s a truism of American politics that the state of the economy decides elections. On that basis, Mr Biden should be in safe territory, with growth of 2.5% last year and inflation down sharply from its 2022 high, at 3.1% last month.But the typical weekly wage in the US, adjusted for inflation, at the end of last year remained lower than it was when Mr Biden took office. Why US economy is powering ahead of Europe’s Frustrations like Kim’s turn up repeatedly in political polling, where majorities express serious concern with the price of food, consumer goods and housing and describe the state of the economy as “poor” or “fair”. “It’s like a race and you’re trying to keep up with it,” says John Cooke, a 34-year-old restaurant manager in Pennsylvania.Image caption, John Cooke says a fall in gas prices since last year doesn’t mean much when other costs are still risingThough business at the eateries where he works has been good, he says inflation has cut into profits and he has not had a pay raise. “Car insurance has gone up, health insurance has gone up, my rent has gone up. They are saying the economy is doing great. That’s great to show me all these numbers but how is that helping me?” Republicans, who have an historic advantage among voters on economic issues, have made the economy one of their key lines of attack, hammering Mr Biden on inflation and blaming his “tax-and-spend” agenda for driving up prices. Economists say generous government financial support for households during the pandemic did help to fuel inflation by lifting consumer demand and cushioning household budgets, allowing firms to put up prices without major blowback.But the shock to oil prices from the war in Ukraine and supply shortages tied to the pandemic also played important roles.Democrats have held their own in elections since 2020 – including the 2022 midterms – by blaming wider forces for inflation and focusing on non-economic issues that motivate the base. But independent and infrequent voters, for whom the economy ranks highly, are more likely to vote in presidential contests. “The core issues the Biden coalition cares about are still issues like abortion, like gun safety, like voting rights, like climate change,” says Danielle Deiseroth, executive director at the progressive pollster Data for Progress. “But in an election that’s going to come down to a couple thousand votes in a couple of states, you can’t leave any issue off the table for swing voters.”Strategists say Mr Biden for too long relied on the big national numbers to defend his record – a response that felt emotionally out of touch. “When you just say the economy is great; GDP is great – nobody ever bought a dozen eggs with GDP. Nobody cares,” says pollster Celinda Lake, who worked on Mr Biden’s 2020 campaign. That criticism appears to have landed. In recent weeks, Mr Biden has adopted a markedly more populist tone, attacking companies for price gouging and “shrinkflation” – charging more for less – and sharpening his criticism of “extreme MAGA Republican” economic policies.What the world thinks of US electionDon Cunningham, a long-time Democratic politician in Pennsylvania, says he expects the disconnect between economic sentiment and reality to heal in the months ahead.Mr Cunningham leads the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation – drumming up investment in a former steel-making region that was hit hard in the 1980s as the industry hollowed out, but is enjoying a revival today. “I see challenges [for Biden] there but they are not related to economic issues,” he says. “How people are feeling personally, how candidates make them feel, if there’s an age gap, if younger folks are frustrated because there’s not someone from their generation… those are all real issues that go into how people vote and why people vote.”There are signs a significant number of Americans are dismayed by the likely choice they face in November – with Mr Biden and Mr Trump looking set for a 2020 rematch.Even Nancy’s urgency has cooled. Four years ago, she proudly planted a Biden sign on her lawn, but going into the 2024 race she’s planning to take a lower profile, leery of alienating her neighbours.”We might still put the Biden-Harris sign out,” she says. “But I was willing to be a little louder in 2020… than I am now.”If you’re in the UK, sign up here.And if you’re anywhere else, sign up here.Related TopicsUS economyInflationUS election 2024Joe BidenMore on this storyWhere Biden v Trump will be won and lostPublished31 JanuaryA simple guide to the US 2024 electionPublished24 JanuaryWhat the world thinks of US electionPublished31 JanuaryTop StoriesSpecial forces blocked elite Afghan troops from relocating to UKPublished6 minutes agoIsrael sets deadline for ground offensive in RafahPublished5 hours agoMurder arrest after three young children found dead in BristolPublished7 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Schools phone ban’ and Kremlin ‘covering tracks’Who won what at the Bafta Awards – the full listWatch Baftas 2024 best bits… in two minutes. 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