Era of the New Majority

[Türkisblau]

Hm, I'm liking what's passed so far. I'm just wondering how the dems are going to survive 2018 after all this.

[KingSweden]

April 2017: Reform bill passes Congress to merge the US Department of the Interior with the US Department of Energy and the EPA to form a "Department of Natural Resources." The blueprint is subject to intense debate in the Senate, where Republicans desire to use the opportunity to roll back the responsibilities of all three departments. The bill eventually passes after Raul Labrador's filibuster is ended and a target date of June 1, 2020 is set for the merger to be 100% done.

In the Senate, Cory Booker and Rand Paul present the "Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2017" (DSRA) which significantly increase the amounts required to trigger federal mandatory minimum sentence laws, give prosecutors and judges significantly more discretion for "medium amount" drug possession charges, forbids federal agents from prosecuting non-violent offenses in states with decriminalization statutes and decriminalizes non-violent marijuana offenders without a prior criminal conviction. In a sister bill also introduced by Paul, co-sponsored by Kamala Harris, the "Criminal Justice and Enforcement Reform Act" (CJERA), the Justice Department revamps its federal sentencing procedures, giving considerably more discretion to prosecutors and slashing prison sentence lengths across the board and promotes work release. Two major Clinton initiatives have thus seen progress so far.

In the middle of the month, tragedy strikes when Speaker of the House Steny Hoyer suffers a fatal stroke and passes away at the age of 77. He is the first Speaker to die in office since Sam Rayburn in 1961, and has the second-shortest Speakership in history and the shortest Speakership to last more than 1 day. The House Democratic Caucus elects to take a "next man up" approach, elevating Xavier Becerra to Speaker, Joe Crowley to Majority Leader and Donna Edwards to Majority Whip after she defeats Jared Polis for the job, who stays on as Chief Deputy Whip. Joe Kennedy becomes Caucus Chair and taps Joe Courtney as Vice Chair. Hoyer lies in state in the US Capitol and is buried in Mechanicsville, Maryland, his home. President Clinton, former President Obama, Speaker Becerra, former Speakers Pelosi and Boehner, and Minority Leader McCarthy all speak at his funeral.

April 2017 (continued): Budget negotiations between the Liberals and New Democrats in Canada collapse at the end of the month two days before a budget is due and Trudeau drops the writ to call an election for the first week of June. The campaign in Britain heats up. Russian police and paramilitaries fire upon protestors, causing mass riots complete with tear gas and firebombings in the capital. FIFA debates moving the 2017 Confederations Cup over concern that the situation is too unstable in Russia. Nawaz Sharif is narrowly reelected in general elections in Pakistan as Prime Minister. The death toll from the Syrian civil war is now estimated to have reached 200,000, and Assad looks to have secured a pyrrhic victory with ISIS largely beaten back into a handful of enclaves and the rebels scattered and poorly trained.

And now, for Sports: FIFA decides not to move the Confederations Cup by the end of the month. At the 2017 Final Four in Glendale, Arizona, the Arizona Wildcats win their second national championship and first since 1997 in front of a raucous home crowd after defeating the loaded Kentucky Wildcats in the semifinals and then beating the Cinderella VCU Rams in the Finals, VCU having defeated Connecticut in their own semifinal.

[KingSweden]

French Presidential election, 2017

Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen advance to the runoff with 38% and 28% of the vote, respectively. Arnaud Montebourg is able to only garner 25%, eliminating him from the race, while several smaller parties, including a stridently left-wing outfit calling itself New Left, takes the remainder.

It is the second time in the 20th century at the National Front makes the runoff, and the second time in which it faces the UMP in such a scenario. Most moderate Socialists defect to Fillon, as do most from the moderate parties that did not advance further. The runoff shows the following percentage:

Francois Fillon: 58%
Marine Le Pen: 42%

It is still a frighteningly high total for the FN and gives the party hope that it can soon attain even greater victories. Fillon is sworn in as the 24th President of France.

[Emperor Charles V]

It is extremely unlikely and practically impossible that Susana Martinez, the Republican governor of New Mexico will appoint Bill Richardson, a Democrat to Heinrich's seat. The only time a Governor appointed a member of the opposing party to the Senate in recent years was in 2007 when Wyoming governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, appointed John Barrasso, a Republican. However, Freudenthal had no choice as per Wyoming state law, he was forced to chose between three people (all Republicans) presented to him by the Republican dominated state legislature and picked Barrasso by default because he was the most moderate of the three.

But this is not just any Democrat, it's Bill Richardson, who us Hispanic Republicans probably despise more than any Democrat for his comments he made about Ted Cruz hinting he is "not Hispanic" by his conservative politics.  I'm not a fan of Mr. Cruz at all but as a Hispanic Republican, it makes me cringe when I hear one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the country infer that in order to be "Hispanic," you must be a liberal Democrat as well. Thanks, Bill. So yes, I sure Martinez who made history as the nation's first Latina governor and just so happens to have an R next to her name loves these comments and will appoint Richardson to the Senate.

I feel a little sad reading this, because I know this timeline could be a lot better. This could probably even be the best timeline on the entire website if you just do not let your personal biases cloud the plausibility of this timeline. It's very plausible that 2016 will be a very good year for the Democrats. That being said, your TL takes that and puts it to an extreme. It's impossible the Democrats will take the House due to Republican gerrymandering, unless there's something really stupid the Republican congress does (and I mean not a shutdown like in 2013 but something along the lines of trying to impeach Obama which they repeatedly stated they won't do), or a resurgence of Blue Dogs or a combination of these things. However, to say that Democrats take the House based on Hillary coattails alone (which is based on what I read so far probably your most likely explanation) shows a lacking of American politics beyond belief. As I mentioned before, based on the shape of the American electorate, a lot of the votes that will put Clinton over the edge will come from Republican-leaning independents and moderate Republicans who are disillusioned by Cruz's divisive rhetoric, not voting for Clinton because they love her. As a result, they will vote for Republicans for congress (since their vote for president is not as much for Clinton as it is against Cruz) and a ton of Republicans in marginal districts that went for Clinton will win re-election. And Ed Royce losing re-election, seriously? I have family in that district, and don't be fooled by it's R+5 PVI, there's virtually no Democrats there. Royce is an insanely popular congressman and will have that district as long as he wants, end of story.

And If you really want Richardson to be a senator you know there's a Senate election in 2018...

[KingSweden]

It is extremely unlikely and practically impossible that Susana Martinez, the Republican governor of New Mexico will appoint Bill Richardson, a Democrat to Heinrich's seat. The only time a Governor appointed a member of the opposing party to the Senate in recent years was in 2007 when Wyoming governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, appointed John Barrasso, a Republican. However, Freudenthal had no choice as per Wyoming state law, he was forced to chose between three people (all Republicans) presented to him by the Republican dominated state legislature and picked Barrasso by default because he was the most moderate of the three.

But this is not just any Democrat, it's Bill Richardson, who us Hispanic Republicans probably despise more than any Democrat for his comments he made about Ted Cruz hinting he is "not Hispanic" by his conservative politics.  I'm not a fan of Mr. Cruz at all but as a Hispanic Republican, it makes me cringe when I hear one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the country infer that in order to be "Hispanic," you must be a liberal Democrat as well. Thanks, Bill. So yes, I sure Martinez who made history as the nation's first Latina governor and just so happens to have an R next to her name loves these comments and will appoint Richardson to the Senate.

I feel a little sad reading this, because I know this timeline could be a lot better. This could probably even be the best timeline on the entire website if you just do not let your personal biases cloud the plausibility of this timeline. It's very plausible that 2016 will be a very good year for the Democrats. That being said, your TL takes that and puts it to an extreme. It's impossible the Democrats will take the House due to Republican gerrymandering, unless there's something really stupid the Republican congress does (and I mean not a shutdown like in 2013 but something along the lines of trying to impeach Obama which they repeatedly stated they won't do), or a resurgence of Blue Dogs or a combination of these things. However, to say that Democrats take the House based on Hillary coattails alone (which is based on what I read so far probably your most likely explanation) shows a lacking of American politics beyond belief. As I mentioned before, based on the shape of the American electorate, a lot of the votes that will put Clinton over the edge will come from Republican-leaning independents and moderate Republicans who are disillusioned by Cruz's divisive rhetoric, not voting for Clinton because they love her. As a result, they will vote for Republicans for congress (since their vote for president is not as much for Clinton as it is against Cruz) and a ton of Republicans in marginal districts that went for Clinton will win re-election. And Ed Royce losing re-election, seriously? I have family in that district, and don't be fooled by it's R+5 PVI, there's virtually no Democrats there. Royce is an insanely popular congressman and will have that district as long as he wants, end of story.

And If you really want Richardson to be a senator you know there's a Senate election in 2018...

I'm sorry you find the TL biased, Charles. I've tried to consider current trends in sketching out this TL and throw in "random" events like in real life and random upset wins, I.e. Chris Gibson surviving in NY in a D wave. D hackery is hardly my intention.

As for Richardson, my understanding is that the NM Governor is required to appoint someone of the same party. I was originally going to put Heather Wilson (R) in that seat. I figured Martinez would tap someone unlikely to run in 2018 to effect an open seat and help her party that way. I don't particularly care for Bill Richardson myself, I just couldn't think of anyone else who fits those requirements.

[The Other Castro]

The only states where it's required to fill the seat with someone from the same party are Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, and Wyoming.

[Free Bird]

This is very well written but also extremely biased and implausible.

[Maxwell]

It is extremely unlikely and practically impossible that Susana Martinez, the Republican governor of New Mexico will appoint Bill Richardson, a Democrat to Heinrich's seat. The only time a Governor appointed a member of the opposing party to the Senate in recent years was in 2007 when Wyoming governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, appointed John Barrasso, a Republican. However, Freudenthal had no choice as per Wyoming state law, he was forced to chose between three people (all Republicans) presented to him by the Republican dominated state legislature and picked Barrasso by default because he was the most moderate of the three.

But this is not just any Democrat, it's Bill Richardson, who us Hispanic Republicans probably despise more than any Democrat for his comments he made about Ted Cruz hinting he is "not Hispanic" by his conservative politics.  I'm not a fan of Mr. Cruz at all but as a Hispanic Republican, it makes me cringe when I hear one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the country infer that in order to be "Hispanic," you must be a liberal Democrat as well. Thanks, Bill. So yes, I sure Martinez who made history as the nation's first Latina governor and just so happens to have an R next to her name loves these comments and will appoint Richardson to the Senate.

I feel a little sad reading this, because I know this timeline could be a lot better. This could probably even be the best timeline on the entire website if you just do not let your personal biases cloud the plausibility of this timeline. It's very plausible that 2016 will be a very good year for the Democrats. That being said, your TL takes that and puts it to an extreme. It's impossible the Democrats will take the House due to Republican gerrymandering, unless there's something really stupid the Republican congress does (and I mean not a shutdown like in 2013 but something along the lines of trying to impeach Obama which they repeatedly stated they won't do), or a resurgence of Blue Dogs or a combination of these things. However, to say that Democrats take the House based on Hillary coattails alone (which is based on what I read so far probably your most likely explanation) shows a lacking of American politics beyond belief. As I mentioned before, based on the shape of the American electorate, a lot of the votes that will put Clinton over the edge will come from Republican-leaning independents and moderate Republicans who are disillusioned by Cruz's divisive rhetoric, not voting for Clinton because they love her. As a result, they will vote for Republicans for congress (since their vote for president is not as much for Clinton as it is against Cruz) and a ton of Republicans in marginal districts that went for Clinton will win re-election. And Ed Royce losing re-election, seriously? I have family in that district, and don't be fooled by it's R+5 PVI, there's virtually no Democrats there. Royce is an insanely popular congressman and will have that district as long as he wants, end of story.

And If you really want Richardson to be a senator you know there's a Senate election in 2018...

I'm sorry you find the TL biased, Charles. I've tried to consider current trends in sketching out this TL and throw in "random" events like in real life and random upset wins, I.e. Chris Gibson surviving in NY in a D wave. D hackery is hardly my intention.

As for Richardson, my understanding is that the NM Governor is required to appoint someone of the same party. I was originally going to put Heather Wilson (R) in that seat. I figured Martinez would tap someone unlikely to run in 2018 to effect an open seat and help her party that way. I don't particularly care for Bill Richardson myself, I just couldn't think of anyone else who fits those requirements.

See that makes sense.

And most timelines are biased, stop being babies.

[Mehmentum]

Is it really so unbelievable that the Democrats could landslide in 2016?  No one serious is saying that Clinton will definitely win this big, but its certainly within the realm of possibility.

If a Republican in late 2004 read a TL describing what actually was going to happen from 2006 to 2008, they would call it biased.  If a Democrat read a TL describing the 2010 elections right after Obama's 2008 landslide, they would call it biased as well.

[hurricanehink]

Not to mention, timelines are more entertaining when they're interesting, and having two new speakers of the house is definitely that!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

This is very well written but also extremely biased and implausible.

This is not biased. Quit whining.

This is one of the best timelines we have had, and who is to say that 2020 won't be a bad year for Hillary? Keep up the great work KingSweeden!

[The Other Castro]

I would hardly call a Clinton v.s. Cruz matchup where Clinton only picks up NC biased...

[KingSweden]

Thank you all for the support and constructive criticism.

As an aside, anyone who enjoys this timeline and has a Kindle feel free to message me and I can give you the link to my self-published work on Amazon.

[KingSweden]

The only states where it's required to fill the seat with someone from the same party are Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, and Wyoming.

Thanks! Since I already have a task for Heather Wilson now, I suppose it's congratulations to Senator John Sanchez.

[Türkisblau]

The only states where it's required to fill the seat with someone from the same party are Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, and Wyoming.

Thanks! Since I already have a task for Heather Wilson now, I suppose it's congratulations to Senator John Sanchez.

I like the Sec. of Energy pick in Wilson

Keep on updating, I'm personally enjoying it and would call it more probable that many other timelines posted on this board.

[KingSweden]

United Kingdom general election, 2015

The campaign is forced after Ed Ball's second budget fails to pass Parliament, with the informal Labour-Lib Dem-SNP-Plaid-SDLP "confidence pact" collapsing. The Tories had lead in polls for months and capitalized by gaining seats at Labour and Lib Dem expense - however, UKIP gains in the south and northwest again and Labour snags back numerous seats from the SNP. For the third election in a row, no party has a majority of seats.

The seat totals in the House of Commons after the election:

Conservative Party: 293
Labour Party: 270
UK Independence Party: 32
Scottish National Party: 20
Liberal Democratic Party: 16
Democratic Unionist Party: 8
SDLP: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Sinn Fein: 3 (in abstention)
Green Party: 3

It is the first election in which no party reaches 300 seats. PM Ed Balls concedes that Labour has no combination of parties it can cobble together to reach the magical 326. Tory leader George Osborne declares victory and immediately begins looking to the Liberal Democrats, DUP, Greens and Plaid Cymru to stitch together an ideologically diverse coalition that will govern as a strong minority. After several days of negotiations, the Greens and Plaid pull out, leaving the Tories to look to the Lib Dems for a "confidence pact" and with Osborne feeling heat from his right flank to create a coalition with the UK Independence Party.

After two weeks of a hung parliament, which the presses call a "Government in Crisis," Osborne announces that he will govern in a minority government with a "confidence pact" in which the Labour Party pledges to give the government confidence. Though it is not an official grand coalition, it is compared to ones in Austria or Sweden over the last several years. In return for Labour's continued confidence in his government, Osborne promises not to hold any referendums on EU membership, cut welfare benefits or take any steps towards public sector union reform. Osborne's agreement with Balls is slammed by the Conservative Party's right wing, which points out that the Tories could have had a majority government in a Tory-UKIP coalition. Osborne's supporters on the right and in the middle counter that a UKIP coalition would be extremely volatile and Nigel Farage could effectively dictate government policy on threat of pulling out of the Cabinet.

17 days after the election, George Osborne is invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a government and become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

[KingSweden]

May 2017: Democrats fail to agree on a single education reform bill, with a student loan forgiveness and tuition subsidy plan floated by Elizabeth Warren failing in the House. Clinton urges compromise as immigration starts to come to the fore, with many Democrats seeking to build on Obama's 2014 executive order with others wanting to go with the 2013 Senate immigration blueprint. Republicans, smarting from their drubbing with Hispanics in the elections six months earlier, warily endorse some sort of plan, with Thune signalling that he wants GOP priorities reflected in any immigration bill. Cruz begins to whip grassroots conservative support against the bill in the Senate while Steve King and Louie Gohmert do the same in the House, while Jeff Flake and Brian Sandoval take point on drawing up a plan in the Senate to bring to the negotiating table. Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer announces that he will retire after the June decisions are handed down.

May 2017 (continued): A month before the national elections in Canada, British Columbia elects its Legislative Assembly. After sixteen years in power, the center-right BC Liberals are defeated by the left-wing NDP, which form a minority government under John Horgan after the Greens and third-party Conservatives win enough seats to prevent a majority. The seat count:

NDP: 40
BC Liberals: 35
Greens: 7
Conservatives: 3

The election gives the Greens their highest-ever seat total in a provincial legislature. Osborne and Fillon attend NATO meetings in Oslo in their first week in office to discuss the situations in Venezuela, Syria and Russia. The Russian riots keep escalating, with entire apartment tenements lit on fire by protestors and hundreds fleeing the cities as the violence escalates. Russian forces are withdrawn from the Ukrainian frontier, taking the pressure off of the frozen conflict in the Donbass.

Venezuela Crisis: A platoon of American Marines are ambushed in the remote border town of Puerto Ayacucho while on call to help Colombian border guards who are attacked by FARC and ENV (Ejercito Nacional Venezolano, a chavista rebel group) forces. Four of the Marines are captured and the rest of their platoon, under heavy fire, fights their way back to Colombia to report the incident, and then head back into the city to free their kidnapped comrades. Only one of the Marines is killed rescuing the hostages, all of whom survive. After being airlifted back to the United States, it is cited as an episode of true bravery by American forces in an impossible situation in the media.

The event lends credence to American and Colombian testimony that FARC is actively supporting the disparate chavista rebels in Venezuela and Colombia, without UN authorization, expands its military operations in the border region of its country. Much of the corridor between Caracas and the Colombian border is under UN control now, with Caracas and Maracaibo and the rural south the most volatile parts of the country.

And now, for Sports: Bayern Munich wins its seventh European Cup by defeating Marseille in the Champions League final, taking their third championship of the decade (having won in 2012-13 and 2014-15). Robert Lewandowski is the UEFA Man of the Match, while the tournament's top scorer is Real Madrid's James Rodriguez and the CL Best Player is Barcelona's Neymar. Both of the Spanish powers were eliminated in the semifinals, preventing what would have been a truly epic final at Vienna's National Stadium.

[KingSweden]

Canadian federal election, 2017

After the budget negotiations collapse, Justin Trudeau leads his party into the 2017 campaign in a position of strength. Neither leader of the CPC or NDP have been in leadership longer than eight months and the NDP is broadly blamed in polls for the collapse of budget negotiations. In leadership debates, Tory leader John Baird does not perform particularly well in the leadership debate despite being regarded as a good debater, and Trudeau runs a sunny, positive campaign portraying the other parties as being politically petty. Though his strategy is roundly criticized as hypocritical after a nineteen-month old government that has accomplished little of note, Trudeau's Liberals never once lag in the polls.

Seat results:

Liberals: 174
Conservatives: 108
NDP: 51
Greens: 5

The Bloc Quebecois vanishes completely from Parliament after 24 years of having seated at least one MP. The NDP continues its post-2011 decline, losing sixteen seats. The Tories hold their own despite a net loss of seats, regaining some territory in rural Ontario and Manitoba while losing more ground in the Toronto and Vancouver suburbs as the Liberals take a bite out of NDP seats in Quebec and BC once again. Trudeau now controls a Liberal majority, which swiftly passes the budget and is safe until October of 2021.

[emcee0]

Canadian federal election, 2017

After the budget negotiations collapse, Justin Trudeau leads his party into the 2017 campaign in a position of strength. Neither leader of the CPC or NDP have been in leadership longer than eight months and the NDP is broadly blamed in polls for the collapse of budget negotiations. In leadership debates, Tory leader John Baird does not perform particularly well in the leadership debate despite being regarded as a good debater, and Trudeau runs a sunny, positive campaign portraying the other parties as being politically petty. Though his strategy is roundly criticized as hypocritical after a nineteen-month old government that has accomplished little of note, Trudeau's Liberals never once lag in the polls.

Seat results:

Liberals: 174
Conservatives: 108
NDP: 51
Greens: 5

The Bloc Quebecois vanishes completely from Parliament after 24 years of having seated at least one MP. The NDP continues its post-2011 decline, losing sixteen seats. The Tories hold their own despite a net loss of seats, regaining some territory in rural Ontario and Manitoba while losing more ground in the Toronto and Vancouver suburbs as the Liberals take a bite out of NDP seats in Quebec and BC once again. Trudeau now controls a Liberal majority, which swiftly passes the budget and is safe until October of 2021.

Who is leader of the NDP?

[KingSweden]

Canadian federal election, 2017

After the budget negotiations collapse, Justin Trudeau leads his party into the 2017 campaign in a position of strength. Neither leader of the CPC or NDP have been in leadership longer than eight months and the NDP is broadly blamed in polls for the collapse of budget negotiations. In leadership debates, Tory leader John Baird does not perform particularly well in the leadership debate despite being regarded as a good debater, and Trudeau runs a sunny, positive campaign portraying the other parties as being politically petty. Though his strategy is roundly criticized as hypocritical after a nineteen-month old government that has accomplished little of note, Trudeau's Liberals never once lag in the polls.

Seat results:

Liberals: 174
Conservatives: 108
NDP: 51
Greens: 5

The Bloc Quebecois vanishes completely from Parliament after 24 years of having seated at least one MP. The NDP continues its post-2011 decline, losing sixteen seats. The Tories hold their own despite a net loss of seats, regaining some territory in rural Ontario and Manitoba while losing more ground in the Toronto and Vancouver suburbs as the Liberals take a bite out of NDP seats in Quebec and BC once again. Trudeau now controls a Liberal majority, which swiftly passes the budget and is safe until October of 2021.

Who is leader of the NDP?

Nathan Cullen. Figured they'd want someone Trudeau's age who can steer the party long-term.

[KingSweden]

2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Part One

In what FIFA hopes will not become a regular occurrence, the Confederations Cup is marked by the peaceful, but occasionally violent, protests rocking Russia. Putin's hopes that the Russian team and world spotlight will rear up patriotic fervor backfires - protestors use the opportunity to highlight authoritarian brutality on a global stage.

Visiting athletes are protected by private security hired by FIFA and the national associations, and the players tweet and post pictures of the chaos over Russian objections. Foreign countries send openly gay dignitaries to spite Russia's laws on homosexuality. However, the protests do subside somewhat in the first weeks as many Russians seek to show a proud nation to the world.

Group A:

Russia (host)
United States (CONCACAF Champion)
New Zealand (2016 OFC Cup Champion)
Portugal (UEFA Euro 2016 Champion)

Russia opens the tournament with a game against New Zealand in Moscow, defeating the Kiwis 2-0 on goals by Shatov and Kokorin in the 55th and 70th minutes. The United States draws against Portugal in a 1-1 affair, with Ronaldo scoring on the Americans in the 10th minute, but the Americans pull even in the 83rd with a header by Jozy Altidore and then Sean Johnson has a miracle save in stoppage time to prevent another goal, this time by Bruma.

The big game in the next match day is Russia and the United States, due to the history of the sporting rivalry and geopolitical tensions in recent years. In front of a stadium in Sochi full of rabid, loud and threatening Russian fans, USA defeats Russia 2-0 on scores by Julian Green (23') and Rubio Rubin (77'). The victory stuns the host Russians. The next day, Portugal blows out New Zealand, with Ronaldo scoring two goals (14', 27') and Bruma (40') and Coentrao (88') to blank the Kiwis 4-0.

In the crucial final day, Portugal defeats Russia 2-1, with Ronaldo scoring in the 11th minute and setting up Eder to score on a cross in the 49th minute. Russia's Shatov manages to hit a penalty kick in the 85th minute, but Ozdoyev's strike in stoppage time is caught by Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes to prevent a score. Portugal, with 7 points, qualifies to advance to the semifinals. The Americans defeat New Zealand 2-0 with scores by Altidore (37') and Diskerud (55'), but are second-place in the group on aggregate goals.

Points Breakdown:

Portugal 7
USA 7
Russia 3
New Zealand 0

Group B:

Germany (2014 World Cup Champion)
Nigeria (2017 African Cup of Nations Champion)
Australia (2015 AFC Asian Cup Champion)
Colombia (2015 Copa America Champion)

Germany and Australia play the first match, and the Socceroos stun the world by drawing Germany 2-2, with Australia taking a 2-0 lead heading into the break with scores by Luke Brattan (20') and Ben Halloran (45+3'). However, Germany fights back with two scores by Thomas Muller (71', 80') to tie the game and avoid a disastrous start to their campaign. Meanwhile, Colombia defeats Nigeria 3-0 in their first game, with two scores by Jackson (55', 60') and one by Quintero (90+2').

In the next series of matches, Colombia faces Australia and defeats the Socceroos 4-2. Australia's two goals come courtesy of Halloran (17', 89'), while Colombia sees James Rodriguez (22', 48') put up their first two goals and then is complimented by Falcao (63') and Jackson (74'). Germany faces Nigeria, only winning 1-0 with a score from Mats Hummels in the 81st minute, avoiding what would have been a second straight draw.

Australia, hoping to catch Germany, bombs in a 0-0 draw with Nigeria, making it impossible to advance regardless of the result in Germany's next game. Germany defeats Colombia 2-1, with Muller (20') and Gotze (51') scoring to put Germany up high and James scoring in the 70th to put them in a position to tie, but his strike in stoppage is cradled by Marc-André ter Stegen. Germany takes first position in their group while Colombia advances as the runner-up.

Points Breakdown:

Germany 7
Colombia 6
Australia 2
Nigeria 0

[KingSweden]

Hm, I'm liking what's passed so far. I'm just wondering how the dems are going to survive 2018 after all this.

As a New Mexican, what can you tell me about John Sanchez, Dianna Duran, Hector Balderas, Richard Berry, and Timothy Keller?

[KingSweden]

2017 Confederations Cup Part Two

Semifinals:

Portugal vs. Colombia

The game starts well for Portugal, with Ronaldo scoring off of a cross from Bruma in the 14th minute. However, in the 31st minute Portugal defender Cédric Soares nudges a ball backwards that ricochets off of goalkeeper Anthony Lopes for an own goal attributed to Soares. With the game tied, James scores in the 47th minute, only to see Soares hit a header in the 66th minute to tie the game again. The game thus goes to extra time, and in the 118th minute James scores on a penalty kick. At 120+2', Ronaldo hits a strike that is expertly deflected by Colombian keeper David Ospina. It is regarded as the best game of the tournament, preserving Colombia's win and propelling them into the final.

USA vs. Germany

The game is scoreless for almost its entirety until the 80th minute, when Diskerud scores on a cross from Altidore to take a 1-0 lead. Müller hits a penalty kick at 90+1', sending the game to extra minutes. American keeper Sean Johnson blocks four German kicks in the two halves and in minute 119 Michael Bradley scores on a cross from substitute Clint Dempsey, giving the USA a rare 2-1 over an elite European side to propel them into another Confederations Cup final (having played in the 2009 event).

Third Place:

In the third place match, Germany beats down Portugal, defeating them 4-1. Müller (11'), Kroos (30'), Götze (58') and Schürrle (77') all score for Germany, while Portugal's lone goal is scored by Eder in the 24th minute. It gives Germany yet another top-three finish in a major tournament.

Final

The final pitches USA and Colombia against each other in Moscow, where the mixed Colombian and Russian crowd is overwhelmingly cheering for the Americans to lose. It is not lost on any commentators that the US and Colombia are currently fighting side-by-side in Venezuela and the players meet at midfield before the match to shake hands and embrace.

As for the game itself, it starts well for the Colombians, with Quintero scoring in the 6th minute. The Americans draw up the score on a Michael Bradley cross to DeAndre Yedlin at 22', but the Colombians respond at 40' with a Jackson score on a James assist. The Colombians lead all the way until 89', when Julian Green breaks free down the field, shoots the ball over to Clint Dempsey and thus sets up a game-tying score.

Sean Johnson deflects what would be a go-ahead score by James at 114', and then in extra time stoppage cradles a shot from Falcao. The game thus goes to penalty kicks.

The kicking results:

Jackson (COL): Good
Yedlin (USA): Good
Quintero (COL): No Good
Green (USA): Good
James (COL): Good
Dempsey (USA): No Good
Falcao (COL): No Good
Nguyen (USA): Good
Córdoba (COL): No Good

The United States wins the 2017 Confederations Cup on penalties, 3-2! It is the first major non-CONCACAF international title for the United States and is without doubt the crowning achievement in USA men's soccer history.

Awards

Best Player: Jozy Altidore, USA
Best Goaltender: Sean Johnson, USA
Top Scorers: Thomas Müller and Cristiano Ronaldo (5)

[KingSweden]

June 2017: President Clinton announces her support for Kirsten Gillibrand's military sexual assault proposal, which just barely gains enough support to make it to the floor, where it passes with decent Republican support. In return for GOP votes, Brian Sandoval attaches an amendment amending Title IX to require any public university receiving federal funds to turn rape allegations to the police and completely end the ability of school disciplinary boards to hear or arbitrate sexual assault cases. Though the two are regarded as unrelated, the bill passes both House and Senate and Clinton signs them into law, citing "Gillibrand-Sandoval" as "a major step in ending the culture of intimidation and denial that comes with sexual crimes within institutions." Pundits remark on the incredible comity, bipartisanship and productiveness of the current Congress.

MD-05: The primary elections for the July special election to replace Steny Hoyer is held near the end of the month. All three candidates are State Represenatives from Southern Maryland - Anthony O'Donnell is unopposed in the Republican primary, while CT Wilson, chairman of the Maryland House Black Caucus, faces John Bohanan. Bohanan hits Wilson for his vote against the legalization of same-sex marriage and paints him as a DINO - it is one of the ugliest Democratic primaries in Maryland state history. Bohanan narrowly wins to face O'Donnell in what promises to be a low-turnout summer special.

June 2017 (continued): Trudeau passes his budget on a party-line vote. Osborne announces the most ambitious loosening of building and zoning rules in British history, freeing up nearly 45% of the London green belts for construction in a bid to cool booming housing prices. The Austrian grand coalition collapses over a tax and spending agreement, forcing early elections. Hassan Rohani is reelected as President of Iran over both more liberal and more conservative opponents. Ukrainian forces drive rebels over the border and have completely secured the Donbass. Rumors emerge that Ukraine plans to seize Crimea next. Nicolas Maduro, in exile in Cuba, gives an address disseminated on the internet encouraging chavista partisans to keep fighting, stating, "If the revolution fails here, it will be used by the capitalists to claim that it must fail everywhere!" Violence in Venezuela continues to escalate as anti-chavista forces begin to arm themselves with heavier weapons and begin a "de-Bolivarization" of the countryside.

And now, for Sports: The Washington Wizards defeat the Houston Rockets in six games to win their second NBA Championship, with Kevin Durant earning MVP honors. The Nashville Predators defeat the New Jersey Devils in five games to win their first Stanley Cup, with Filip Forsberg earning the Hart Trophy.

[KingSweden]

July 2017: The outlines of an immigration deal are sketched in the Senate after Sandoval and Flake agree to "basic principles" with Schumer and Mark Warner. Ted Cruz threatens to kibosh the deal and Republicans begin whipping votes in the House to prevent anything from passing, earning them a stern rebuke from Sandoval, who declares, "This needs to happen. This is going to happen. I am going to vote for it, and you should too. You can either accept that reform is happening and be part of a Republican Party that contributed to it, or you don't." Another Liz Warren-led tuition reform plan fails in the Senate in committee. John Bohanan wins the special election in MD-05 by less than 2%.

July 2017 (continued): The American, British, French and Australian contributions to the Venezuela mission are vastly increased. Colombian forces have secured the entire frontier and unleashed a massive attack on FARC forces that broke the ceasefire brokered in 2015. The death toll in Venezuela continues to rise as rival paramilitaries begin to target civilians, including 27 schoolchildren murdered when their school bus is seized. Drug money and weapons from old Colombian cartels and seized from the mostly disbanded Venezuelan military begin to proliferate, and Colombian forces are reinforced to defend the lawless border region.

And now, for Sports: A few weeks after winning the Confederations Cup, the United States defeats Panama in the final of the 2017 Gold Cup to win their third straight title in the competition. The IOC elects to give the 2024 Summer Olympics to Boston, which will be the first American Summer Olympics since 1996 and the first Olympiad in the United States since 2002. Later in the month, UEFA votes to give the 2024 Euro competition to Germany over a Scotland-Ireland bid and Spain.