Good morning! Here is your news for Thursday April 11, 2019
THE WASHINGTON BEACON
THE DAILY SIGNAL
| Apr 11, 2019 |
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Good morning from Washington, where big tech is on the defensive over
censorship and liberal bias. Fred Lucas reports on a Senate hearing
featuring Facebook and Twitter. Congress can’t keep ignoring the
national debt, conservatives argue. Rachel del Guidice reports. On the
podcast, we talk about whether a gun manufacturer should be held
responsible for the Sandy Hook massacre. Plus: Jarrett Stepman on
leftist liberties with the Electoral College, Bill Walton on socialism’s
serial failures, and Victor Davis Hanson on tough times for the middle
class in California. |
| Commentary The Intellectual Dishonesty of the Campaign Against the Electoral College CNN recently ran a preposterous segment suggesting that James Madison called the Electoral College “evil,” a shameful distortion. More Analysis The Pivotal Gun Case Likely Going to the Supreme Court, Explained “It is essentially blaming the gun industry for the unlawful actions, the unlawful criminal actions of a third person,” says Heritage Foundation legal scholar Amy Swearer. More News 6 Big Topics From Senate Hearing on Censorship by Big Tech Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., confronts a Twitter executive, who apologizes for pulling her pro-life ad during the 2018 campaign because Twitter deemed it “inflammatory.” More News $22 Trillion in National Debt Not ‘Sustainable Trajectory,’ House GOP Leader Says “We don’t have another generation, we don’t have 20 years, we don’t even have 10 years. This has to start yesterday,” says Rep. Mike Johnson, chairman of the Republican Study Committee. More Commentary Why Socialism Fails Wherever It’s Tried “The economy of Venezuela has collapsed as a result of gross socialist mismanagement,” writes Richard Rahn, one of America’s most brilliant economists. More Commentary California’s War on the Middle Class About 150,000 households in a state of 40 million people now pay nearly half of the total annual state income tax. More |
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LARRY SABATO’S CRYSTAL BALL
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>THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A LONG SLOG
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A LONG SLOG
By Kyle Kondik Managing Editor, Sabato’s Crystal Ball |
| KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE — The size of the Democratic field, combined with the party’s proportional allocation of delegates and other factors, raises the possibility of a very long nomination process that may not be decided until the convention. — However, the voting calendar is so frontloaded that a nominee may emerge relatively early in the process. — Based on the tentative early primary and caucus calendar, nearly two-thirds of the pledged delegates will be awarded from early February to mid-March. Frontloaded primary schedule suggests the possibility of an early Democratic knockout “It gets late early out here.” — Yogi Berra With a growing field of about 20 candidates, the lion’s share of which should be able to get on to one of the first two debate stages in Miami in late June, Democrats are gearing up for what could be a very crowded, and very lengthy, presidential nomination battle. For a number of different reasons, it is possible that the nomination season, held from February to early June 2020, will not determine a winner. Obviously, the field is large. There probably won’t be 20 credible candidates on the ballot in Iowa next February, but there still likely will be a lot. Democratic primaries and caucuses award delegates proportionally, with a 15% threshold for winning delegates. Unlike on the GOP side, there are no winner-take-all states. Those kinds of contests can help winnow a field more than proportional ones do, although the 15% delegate hurdle will have the effect of shutting out weaker candidates. Still, one can imagine perhaps three or four leading candidates emerging and trading victories across the country during the first half of next year, with the primary season ending without a clear victor. If the nomination season ended without someone winning a majority of pledged delegates, the Democratic National Convention could hypothetically go to a second ballot. The idea of a contested convention is one that political analysts fantasize about every four years. But most us have never seen one in our lifetimes. The last president who was not nominated on the first ballot at his convention was Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in advance of his initial victory in 1932. In 1936, the Democrats eliminated a provision that the nominee get at least two-thirds of the convention vote, a rule that contributed to many long nomination fights. The last major party presidential nominee who did not win nomination on the first ballot was Democrat Adlai Stevenson in 1952, the first of his two consecutive (and unsuccessful) presidential bids as the Democratic standard-bearer. So by the time the Democrats meet in Milwaukee in July 2020, it will have been 68 years since a major party presidential nominating convention has gone to a second ballot. (The Pew Research Center in 2016 published a great piece about the history of contested conventions.) In other words, these things have a way of working themselves out. And it may be that the Democratic race could sort itself out quickly, with the party rallying around a probable nominee relatively early in the process. This would be akin to John Kerry’s victory in 2004, when he became the presumptive nominee in early March after knocking out his last remaining major rival, John Edwards (and Kerry was in a commanding position even before then in a race that started in mid-January, as opposed to the February start expected next year). That stands in contrast to 2008 and 2016, long slogs where the eventual winner became clear fairly early (Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016) but where the eventual runner-up stayed in the race for the entirety of the primary season. One aspect of this year’s calendar that could speed a knockout blow is that the calendar is frontloaded. As the nominating calendar is currently constructed, almost two-thirds of the total number of pledged delegates will be awarded in the first seven weeks of the nominating season, from Feb. 3, 2020 through March 17, 2020. Before we discuss the current calendar in detail, let’s pause for an important caveat: Not only are the dates of these primaries and caucuses subject to change, but the number of delegates awarded by each state may also change. The calendar is not yet set: For instance, New York is currently scheduled to vote on Feb. 4, 2020, just a day after Iowa. Needless to say, this would totally blow up the calendar, because only four states are allowed by the Democratic Party to vote in February: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. But primary expert Josh Putnam, whose Frontloading HQ site is a must-read for those who follow the primary calendar machinations, believes that New York ultimately will vote later than February. Based on the most recent tallies from the Democratic National Committee, there are 3,768 pledged delegates that will be awarded to the candidates through primaries and caucuses held in all 50 states and the nation’s territories. That means that, as of this moment, the magic number to win the nomination on the first ballot is 1,885 pledged delegates (50% +1 of the total). Again, this specific number is subject to change. Additionally, there currently are 764 “superdelegates,” whose role is different in 2020 than it was in previous Democratic contests. Effectively, the superdelegates only matter if the nomination is not decided on the first ballot. (If you’re curious for more on the superdelegates, see the P.S. at the bottom of this article.) With those caveats out of the way, take a look at Table 1, which shows the tentative Democratic nominating calendar through March 17, 2020. Table 1: Tentative schedule of Democratic nominating contests, early February through mid-March 2020 |
| Note: This tally excludes superdelegates from the total delegate count; see more on superdelegates at the end of this article. This count may be conservative, as several other states may eventually join this list. Sources: Schedule information comes courtesy of Frontloading HQ. Delegate counts are from Appendix B of the Call For the 2020 Democratic National Convention, issued by the Democratic Party of the United States and adopted on Aug. 25, 2018. This is why we led this article with Yogi Berra quote — it gets late early this primary season, with 64% of the pledged delegates slated to be awarded by mid-March. That percentage is subject to change, but it could get even higher if, for instance, states like Colorado and Georgia, neither of which has officially set a date but very well could vote on Super Tuesday, opt to also schedule themselves early in the calendar. New York, as mentioned, is another important state that is not scheduled yet (it voted in April in 2016). Note that while “Super Tuesday” is March 3, with many states voting including mega-states California and Texas, March 10 and March 17 are mini-Super Tuesdays, with big states Michigan and Ohio currently slated for the former date and Florida and Illinois, along with budding swing state Arizona, scheduled for the latter. About 60% of all the Democratic delegates will be awarded during this two-week stretch. While the February contests are important for setting up the battle to come and winnowing the field, the March contests are the ones with the big delegate prizes. In addition to being frontloaded, the calendar also features demographic and regional diversity. Map 1 visualizes the states in Table 1, colored by their current voting date. Map 1: Tentative schedule of Democratic nominating contests, early February through mid-March 2020 Every region and size of state is represented in this group of states, although the Great Plains and Mid-Atlantic are largely left out (but Northern Virginia will provide some clues about the feelings of voters in the Acela Corridor). We’ll get an early sense as to which candidates have strength where and with which groups. For instance, Vice President Joe Biden — a current non-candidate who appears to be gearing up to run — has shown some strength with African Americans so far. South Carolina, which has a majority-black electorate, will test that strength; so too will other Southern states on Super Tuesday. Can Biden keep that support if he runs? Will it split many different ways among other candidates, or consolidate in favor of an African-American candidate, perhaps Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) or Cory Booker (D-NJ)? Is there a candidate who becomes a favorite of Hispanic voters? If so, early states like Nevada and Texas might help tell the tale. In 2016, Clinton tended to do better with Democratic self-identifiers, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) did better with those who identified as independents. We’ll look for patterns in New Hampshire, where undeclared party voters can easily vote in either party’s primary. It’s almost impossible to see how Sanders is nominated if he doesn’t once again carry New Hampshire, which is basically home turf for him. The stakes are high for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) there, too, in a state that borders her own. It doesn’t take an immensely vivid imagination to come up with plausible scenarios where the field gets winnowed fast. Here are a couple of possibilities involving multiple candidates: — One of the two current polling leaders, Biden or Sanders, sweeps both Iowa and New Hampshire and squeezes the other candidates out of the field. By the same token, if neither of them wins Iowa or New Hampshire, it’s hard to see how either remains viable because they will naturally have been eclipsed by some other candidate. Certainly one would think that, at the very least, all of the white candidates will need to win or show well in either Iowa or New Hampshire (or both) to remain viable, given how historically important and overwhelmingly white both states are. So if someone other than Biden or Sanders performs well in the two leadoff states, they might effectively knock out Biden, Sanders, and many others very early. — Speaking of, what if Harris wins one of Iowa or New Hampshire, thus proving to African-American voters that she is viable (much like Barack Obama did in 2008 when he won Iowa)? That allows her to win South Carolina and some other Southern states going away, and her home state of California, voting on Super Tuesday, gives her a big win that effectively makes her the presumptive nominee. The same scenario could apply to Booker if he surpasses Harris (and others) for the African-American vote, but he doesn’t have a big home-state prize waiting on March 3 (New Jersey doesn’t vote until June 2). Remember this, too: Some candidates who seem prominent now won’t even make it to the start of voting. That’s what happened to candidates such as former Govs. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and Scott Walker (R-WI) in 2012 and 2016, respectively. The primary process is an unforgiving, and expensive, crucible. That’s why focusing on fundraising is worthwhile: Candidates who build themselves expensive operations need the money to sustain them, and invariably some candidates’ coffers will run dry months before the first votes are cast. Look, we’ll be honest with you: We don’t have much of a feel at all for who the Democratic nominee is going to be. And we could concoct a dozen different scenarios for a dozen different candidates. We can also envision a world in which no one gets to the requisite number of delegates in the nominating season. It’s just too early to know. All we’re trying to illustrate with this early look at the opening calendar is that it’s possible that this all will be over quickly. We do think this knockout scenario may depend on which candidate is the one trying to do the knocking out. For instance, many Republicans not named Donald J. Trump probably would have effectively wrapped up the 2016 nomination in early March. But resistance to him remained because he was so anathema to many party leaders, prompting some of his challengers to remain in the race until he landed a knockout blow to Ted Cruz in Indiana in early May. It may be that many of the Democratic candidates would be likelier to bend the knee to a more establishment-friendly early frontrunner, like Biden or Harris, than to Sanders, who still has passionate critics within the Democratic Party. Democrats may generally feel a desire to wrap things up well in advance of the convention so that they can bring the party back together for the general election to run against a president they detest — but if a vocal minority of Democrats don’t like the candidate that the early primaries crown, the fight may go on for months even if the early frontrunner is effectively impossible to catch. We’ve still got almost 10 months before voting starts. Analyzing it reminds of us of another Yogi-ism: “In baseball, you don’t know nothing.” We don’t really know exactly what he means by that, but we suspect the observation applies to politics, too. P.S. How the superdelegates work this time We didn’t want to digress into a huge discussion of the superdelegates above. But understanding their role, and how their role has changed in 2020, is important when looking at this process. Overall, there are currently slated to be about 4,530 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. As noted above, the lion’s share of those delegates, about 3,770 of them, are pledged delegates, meaning that their votes will reflect the wishes of the primary or caucus voters in their respective states. The remaining delegates, about 760 of them, are superdelegates, who are delegates because of their roles as elected Democratic officials or other party leaders. So about five-sixths of the total delegates are awarded through the primaries and caucuses, and about one-sixth are superdelegates officially untethered to the primary and caucus voting process. In previous cycles, those superdelegates could vote on the first ballot at the convention, meaning that — hypothetically — two candidates could come to the convention without a majority of pledged delegates, and the superdelegates could effectively pick one over the other if they voted as a bloc. The power of the superdelegates enraged Sanders supporters in 2016, even though Clinton would have won the nomination with or without them. The superdelegates actually exist, in part, to protect the party from insurgent candidates like Sanders. The party created them in advance of the 1984 election to give party leaders more of a formal say in the nominating process after two outsider candidates, George McGovern and Jimmy Carter, won Democratic nominations in 1972 and 1976, respectively, and Carter was destabilized by Ted Kennedy’s primary challenge in 1980. They immediately served their intended role: “In 1984, the superdelegates stepped in to provide a majority for Walter Mondale — who had a huge edge in pledged delegates over Gary Hart but not enough to win the nomination — avoiding a potentially bitter and divisive convention that would have fractured the party,” wrote Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein in a 2008 defense of superdelegates. After the 2016 election, the DNC came to a compromise on superdelegates. Instead of agreeing to fairly extreme options — eliminating them altogether, or keeping them but determining their convention voting loyalties based on the results in whatever state they’re from — the party opted for a more limited change. The superdelegates still exist, but they can only vote on the first ballot if the nomination has been decided by the primaries. Basically, they can vote in the first round as a way of nominating the presumptive nominee by acclaim, but they can’t vote if the first ballot is contested. If a second vote is required, the superdelegates activate and can actually cast consequential votes. While the change was designed to make the superdelegates a less prominent part of the process, one could see how the reform could actually make the superdelegates very prominent. If the convention goes to a second ballot, the superdelegates might effectively decide the nominee. This could have potentially explosive consequences, particularly if the superdelegates side with — just as an example — an establishment candidate like Biden over an insurgent like Sanders. Democrats, of course, hope that none of this matters. But just keep the superdelegates in mind when assessing the race: If it’s truly close, they could be decisive. At which point, the party officials who backed these changes may find themselves pondering yet another Yogi classic: “We made too many wrong mistakes.” Read the fine print Learn more about the Crystal Ball and find out how to contact us here. Sign up to receive Crystal Ball e-mails like this one delivered straight to your inbox. Use caution with Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and remember: “He who lives by the Crystal Ball ends up eating ground glass!” |
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THE FLIP SIDE
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Thursday, April 11, 2019 Editor’s note: We’re thrilled to learn that actor Chris Evans is working to create a bipartisan news site aimed at reducing partisanship and promoting civic engagement. If anyone knows how to get in touch with Captain America, we’re all ears! In the meantime, we’d GREATLY appreciate it if you’d send him a quick tweet letting him know about us. A few dozen tweets could make all the difference. We’ve drafted something below, but please feel free to make it your own – every mention counts! Hey @ChrisEvans Have you heard of @KnowTheFlipSide? You should check them out! https://www.theflipside.io/ Bibi Wins Re-election “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a clear path to re-election on Wednesday, with religious-rightist parties set to hand him a parliamentary majority and his main challenger conceding defeat… The close and often vitriolic contest was widely seen in Israel as a referendum on Netanyahu’s character and record in the face of corruption allegations. He faces possible indictment in three graft cases, and has denied wrongdoing in all of them.” Reuters See past issues From the Left The left is concerned about the implications of the election results for the prospects of a peace deal with Palestine, and US politics. “Gantz may have campaigned as the anti-Netanyahu, but his disagreements mostly focused on the corruption investigation and domestic issues. On the Palestinian question and Israel’s relations with its neighbors, the former commander of the formidable Israeli military came down quite close to Bibi’s positions, and he maintains close ties to sharply hawkish members of the Knesset… No matter what happens in the coming days and weeks, the right in Israel holds most of the cards, the center is its only opposition and viable alternative, and the left is well and truly dead.” Damon Linker, The Week “When the history of Israeli elections is written, this elections will go down as a tremendous personal victory for Netanyahu—as it was fundamentally a referendum on whether or not he should remain Prime Minister. What this election was not about, was what the future of the state of Israel should look like. None of the parties, neither right nor left presented a coherent picture of what they envision for the country. One can only hope that by the next election, parties will be prepared to present thoughtful, articulate visions of the future.” Marc Schulman, Newsweek “It’s conceivable that Netanyahu could trade annexation [of West Bank settlements] for immunity [from corruption charges]: offer hard-right parties a guarantee that annexation will happen if they vote to pass an immunity bill. If that happens, it would be a double disaster for Israel: Not only would the prime minister be shielding himself from facing justice for the foreseeable future, undermining a basic tenet of democratic accountability, he’d also be moving toward turning what’s supposed to be a temporary occupation of Palestinian land into permanent seizure.” Zach Beauchamp, Vox “In normal times, such rash moves would be met by strident opposition from Washington, but these are not normal times in Washington. Without a brake from abroad, a new coalition may be the victim of both its own worst impulses and the hour of extreme vulnerability of its seemingly mighty leader, five-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” Natan Sachs, The Atlantic “Netanyahu has laid a road map for how a scandal-tainted leader under existential threat from political and criminal probes can ride a scorched-earth strategy to win re-election… Netanyahu succeeded partly with a sharp shift to the right in the waning days of the campaign and adopted divide-and-rule scare tactics that Trump had already perfected in his own election win in 2016. Afraid of losing out on right-wing votes, Netanyahu also courted a far-right party with extremist elements.” Stephen Collinson, CNN “His victory contains a warning for any Democrat still imagining that the 2020 election will bring an easy victory over Donald Trump. The Netanyahu playbook will be President Trump’s next year. Gather nationalist and religious voters in your camp, add in a strong economy, dose with fear, sprinkle with strongman appeal, inject a dash of racism and victory is yours — whatever indictments are looming.” Roger Cohen, New York Times Some argue that, “paradoxically, Netanyahu’s victory may end up being good news for the Democrats vying to challenge Trump. The party is currently contending with both an activist left wing (including a few vocal newly elected members of Congress), which is critical of Israel no matter who is in power, and an establishment core (including a few senior members of Congress) that is broadly supportive of Israel no matter who is in power. Netanyahu has become so objectionable to a wide swath of American Democrats—Jewish and gentile—that he opens up a safe middle-ground position for candidates: broadly ‘pro-Israel’ while highly critical of the [current] Israeli government.” Joshua Keating, Slate From the Right The right sees this as a resounding triumph for Netanyahu. “The Israeli people are largely content with Netanyahu’s conduct in office. On his watch, Israel’s economy has prospered and the country has never been more secure or less diplomatically isolated. While his opponents warned that Israel could not thrive or escape being made an international pariah without a peace deal, Netanyahu has proved them wrong. With no credible rivals on the right and the country’s left-wing parties in shambles, Netanyahu has succeeded not just in winning elections but also in making himself appear to be the country’s one indispensable man.” Jonathan Tobin, National Review “With peace and security dominating the race, Netanyahu had a formidable record on which to run: isolation of the Palestinian Authority, containment of the Hamas threat in Gaza and growing alliances, once unthinkable, with Arab states. He also had a powerful and none-too-subtle ally in President Trump, who has taken great pains to strengthen the US-Israeli relationship that had become frayed under President Barack Obama.” Editorial Board, New York Post “Now it is time for Netanyahu to prove himself the ally Trump needs, especially when it comes to curbing China’s malicious global influence and advancing Trump’s Middle East peace plan… Netanyahu has got to get a little less cozy with Beijing. Israel’s technology sector is a crown jewel of its economy and thus a central source of export value and foreign investment appeal, but China’s growing footprint in Israel is greatly problematic for U.S. national security… Trump should ask Netanyahu to restrict China’s access to value-added technologies capable of dual-use manipulation and to present safeguards in relation to China’s construction of Haifa Port… “Netanyahu [also] owes it to Trump and himself to keep an open mind about any proposed peace plan and to signal a willingness to make concessions under the right circumstances… By treating the Trump proposal seriously, Netanyahu will demonstrate that future American presidents can get further by fostering closer ties and creating more trust between the U.S. and Israel.” Editorial Board, Washington Examiner “The end of the Syrian civil war will, sooner or later, bring Iranian forces to the foot of the Golan. The stand-off with Hamas in Gaza contains no prospect beyond another short and costly war. And a combination of factors — the annexationist mood of Netanyahu’s coalition, the enduring Israeli Jewish distrust of the PLO after the Second Intifada, the corruption of the Palestinian Authority, the popularity of Hamas — all threaten the relatively peaceful status quo in the West Bank… “There is no guarantee that the next US president will be a Republican, and after the Obama years, Netanyahu knows he can expect little from an incoming Democratic president. The next two years are the window of opportunity for shaping his legacy.” Dominic Green, Spectator USA “The press loves to liken Netanyahu to Donald Trump, and there is a resemblance — and one that Bibi took pains to emphasize in his campaign. Both are brash, both are politically incorrect, both are despised by the establishment, and if we are to believe the fourth estate and prosecutors, both are crooked… “We do not know whether Netanyahu will seek a unity government with Blue and White, or cobble his own right-wing coalition together. Nor do we know the course of the legal charges against him. Pundits are already declaring that this government will fall sooner rather than later. Perhaps. But in the meantime, consider: Decisiveness, security-mindedness, bluntness, and economic well-being trumped political correctness, character assassination, and hand-outs in Israel. The Democratic Party should take note.” Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute On the bright side… Cadbury Creme Egg-flavored mayo is now, unfortunately, a thing. Today Share Tweet Forward Sign Up Here Copyright © 2019 The Flip Side, All rights reserved. You can unsubscribe from this list here. |
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King Announces Town Halls in Hancock, Hamilton, and Pocahontas Counties
By Caffeinated Thoughts on Apr 10, 2019 05:01 pm U.S. Rep. Steve King will hold town hall meetings in Britt and Stanhope on April 15th, and a town hall meeting in Laurens on April 17th. Read in browser » Pate Asks Iowa Voters to Respond to No Activity Notices By Caffeinated Thoughts on Apr 10, 2019 12:59 pm Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate asks Iowans who receive a “No Activity in 4 Years” mailing from his office to respond quickly. Read in browser » Ultrasounds Save Unborn Babies By Shane Vander Hart on Apr 10, 2019 12:35 pm Mat Staver: “These mandatory ultrasound laws are great victories in Kentucky and South Dakota for children, mothers and families.” Read in browser » Iowa Senate Passes E-Verify By Jack Whitver on Apr 10, 2019 12:14 pm Under SF 516 employers would be required to use the federal e-verify program to determine an employee qualifies to work legally in the United States. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Ernst: An Unborn Child Is In Every Way A Child America’s Last Christian Generation? Hoaxes, Scams, and Your Medical Care Iowa Pro-Life Coalition Launches $50K Billboard Campaign Beto O’Rourke Calls Benjamin Netanyahu Racist Launched in 2006, Caffeinated Thoughts reports news and shares commentary about culture, current events, faith and state and national politics from a Christian and conservative point of view. Caffeinated Thoughts P.O. Box 57184 Des Moines, IA 50317 (515) 321-5077 Editor, Shane Vander Hart Connect: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Share Tweet Share Forward Copyright © 2019 Caffeinated Thoughts, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
ROLL CALL
Morning Headlines
‘Medicare for All’ keeps defining 2020 political landscape
The
“Medicare for All” bill that presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders
released Wednesday is more likely to be litigated on the campaign trail
than in the halls of Congress. And it highlights a rare political
divide among Democrats on one of their marquee issues even as the party
seeks to appear unified. Read More…
How Gephardt’s 2004 Iowa team boosted the Democratic Party
Dick Gephardt’s 2004 presidential hopes ended with a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, but his campaign team would go on to boost Democrats at the state and federal level, and even elect a president four years later. Read More…
Punishment for border wall money transfer could pinch Pentagon
President Donald Trump’s controversial border wall could propel lawmakers to end a time-honored “gentleman’s agreement” that has allowed the Pentagon to shift billions of dollars around in its budget — a move that could hamstring the military’s ability to respond quickly to unforeseen events. Read More…
In his White House drama, Trump’s favorite word is ‘acting’
OPINION — Henry Ford, famous for both revolutionizing the auto industry and his anti-Semitism, declared more than a century ago, “History is more or less bunk.” Read More…
Bernhardt nears confirmation, but Capitol Hill isn’t finished with him
Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt will likely be confirmed in the Senate by a comfortable margin this week — but that could be his easiest day on Capitol Hill for a while. Read More…
Trump tries to revive North Korea talks in meeting with South Korea’s Moon
President Donald Trump will try to revive his push to strip North Korea of its nuclear weapons when he hosts South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday. The visit comes as lawmakers worry about Kim Jong Un’s arsenal, with experts encouraging talks in hopes of even a “small deal.” Read More…
Democratic presidential hopefuls appeal for union votes
“Unions are here to stay!” Sen. Elizabeth Warren exclaimed Wednesday to an enthusiastic crowd as leaders and members of construction unions packed a Washington Hilton ballroom to hear from nine Democrats running for president or thinking about it. Read More…
Pelosi says Barr is ‘off the rails,’ raises concerns about DHS upheaval
LEESBURG, Va. — Attorney General William Barr is “going off the rails,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Wednesday after the head of the Justice Department told Senate appropriators that U.S. intelligence agencies spied on President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Read More…
Treasury won’t meet deadline to release Trump tax returns
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he needed more time to review House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal’s request for six years of President Donald Trump’s tax returns. Read More…
2020 Democrats at labor event can’t stop talking jobs
A host of Democratic presidential candidates spoke Wednesday on the second day of the North America’s Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference. Their message was clear: jobs, jobs, jobs. NABTU supports strong labor laws and workforce development. Each candidate, from John Hickenlooper to Eric Swalwell, made sure to emphasize the importance of America’s working class — a demographic that was key to President Donald Trump’s 2016 win. Watch the video here…
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CDN Daily News Blast
04/11/2019
Excerpts:
President Donald Trump’s Schedule for Thursday, April 11, 2019
By R. Mitchell –
President Donald Trump will. Keep up with Trump on CDN’s Presidential
Schedule Page. President Trump’s schedule for 4/11/19 All Times EDT
12:00 PM The president and first lady participate in the arrival of the
President of the Republic of Korea and Mrs. Kim Jung-sook – South
Portico 12:10 PM The president …
President Donald Trump’s Schedule for Thursday, April 11, 2019 is original content from Conservative
Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary
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Read on » Kevin McCarthy Challenges Democrats To Name One Problem They’ve Solved Since Winning The Majority By Molly Prince – House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy challenged Democrats on Wednesday to list the problems, if any, that the House of Representatives has solved under the new Democratic leadership. “We are three days away from the 100-day mark of Democrats holding the majority of the House … and you can sum of … Kevin McCarthy Challenges Democrats To Name One Problem They’ve Solved Since Winning The Majority is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Twitter’s Algorithm Goes Haywire, Inadvertently Gives New York Times A Trumpian Nickname By Chris White – Twitter’s algorithm suffered a glitch Wednesday that directed users to the The New York Times’ account when they composed a tweet with the words “Enemy of the People.” “This is a bug in our search typeahead system limited to desktop that we are working to fix. The issue is that … Twitter’s Algorithm Goes Haywire, Inadvertently Gives New York Times A Trumpian Nickname is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » CBP Officials Reduce Otay Mesa Commercial Processing to Eight Lanes Due to Illegal Alien Crisis By R. Mitchell – SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are informing the trade community of a temporary change in operations at the Otay Mesa commercial facility. As of Monday, April 1, the Otay Mesa commercial facility will operate eight out of the 10 truck lanes for the inspection and processing … CBP Officials Reduce Otay Mesa Commercial Processing to Eight Lanes Due to Illegal Alien Crisis is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Twitter Punts After Being Asked Whether It Will Submit To An Independent Political Bias Audit By Chris White – A Twitter executive appeared to punt after Republican Sen. Josh Hawley asked him Wednesday during a congressional testimony whether the company would be willing to submit to an independent political audit. Carlos Monje Jr., Twitter’s director of public policy and philanthropy, evaded questions about whether the social media company is … Twitter Punts After Being Asked Whether It Will Submit To An Independent Political Bias Audit is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Trump Signs Executive Orders To Fast-Track Oil And Gas Pipelines By Michael Bastasch – President Donald Trump signed two executive orders to speed up oil and gas pipeline projects. Trump seeks to curtail the ability of states, like New York and Washington, to kill vital energy projects. New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo blocked gas pipeline projects, triggering an energy crunch in the northeast. … Trump Signs Executive Orders To Fast-Track Oil And Gas Pipelines is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Methodists Decide to Believe the Bible By Michael R Shannon – Recently the United Methodist Church held a denomination meeting in St. Louis and the outcome for Christians was almost as momentous as the lifting of the siege of Vienna in 1683. The threat to Christendom at Vienna was external. An Islamic army of Ottoman Turks was knocking on the door … Methodists Decide to Believe the Bible is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Watch: People Slam Trump’s Immigration Comments — But They’re Actually Obama’s By DCNF Video Team – People were quick to slam former President Barack Obama’s comments promoting cultural assimilation when presented under the guise that they were President Donald Trump’s. Obama said at a town hall Saturday: “If you’re going to have a coherent, cohesive society, then everybody has to have some agreed upon rules. It’s … Watch: People Slam Trump’s Immigration Comments — But They’re Actually Obama’s is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Predictions of Enviro-Religious Doom Has AOC’s Believers Seeking Redemption By Dave King – One supposes that even liberal Democrats can at times see the error of their ways, and will occasionally seek forgiveness for the things they believe they’ve done wrong. The current fretting by Warming/Change advocates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, has all of the qualities of the periodic predictions of … Predictions of Enviro-Religious Doom Has AOC’s Believers Seeking Redemption is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Barr: ‘I Think Spying Did Occur’ Against Trump Campaign By Chuck Ross – Attorney General William Barr dropped a bombshell Wednesday, telling a group of Senators that he believes spying against the Trump campaign did take place in 2016. “I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal,” Barr said during an exchange with New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a member … Barr: ‘I Think Spying Did Occur’ Against Trump Campaign is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » William Barr Reportedly Forms Team To Investigate Origins Of Russia Probe By Chuck Ross – Attorney General William Barr has formed a team to investigate how the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign began, according to CBS News. On Tuesday, Barr told Congress that he is “reviewing the conduct of the investigation and trying to get my arms around all the aspects of the … William Barr Reportedly Forms Team To Investigate Origins Of Russia Probe is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » FBI Charges Michigan Man who Joined ISIS with Additional Weapons and Terror Crimes By R. Mitchell – A 28-year old man who last resided in Dearborn, Michigan and who was previously indicted in July, 2018, with providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was today charged with additional offenses of conspiring to provide … FBI Charges Michigan Man who Joined ISIS with Additional Weapons and Terror Crimes is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Pentagon Doles Out Nearly $1 Billion In Border Wall Spending Contracts | By Jason Hopkins – The Department of Defense awarded two military contracts worth almost $1 billion for wall construction on the U.S-Mexico border, the first funds granted since President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. The Pentagon on Tuesday announced it had awarded a $789 million contract to Texas-based company, SLSCO Ltd. for “border replacement wall … Pentagon Doles Out Nearly $1 Billion In Border Wall Spending Contracts | is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Bezos, The Book Burning Clown – Ben Garrison Cartoon By Ben Garrison – For many years Amazon has allowed free speech to flourish on its site. Jeff Bezos, its billionaire CEO, has now pretty much cornered the market on book sales. Some people refuse to use Amazon due to the fact Bezos is aligned with the CIA and the Deep State. Amazon has … Bezos, The Book Burning Clown – Ben Garrison Cartoon is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » Giant Sucking Sound – A.F. Branco Cartoon By A.F. Branco – The Democrats have no desire to stop the flow of illegal immigrants coming across the border because they feel it gives them an endless supply of voters. Political cartoon by A.F. Branco ©2019. See more Branco toons HERE Giant Sucking Sound – A.F. Branco Cartoon is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » WaPo Asks For Sandmann’s Lawsuit Against Them to be Thrown Out By Neetu Chandak – The Washington Post asked a federal court Tuesday to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann in February. Several Covington Catholic boys, including Sandmann, were caught in a viral encounter with American Indian activist Nathan Phillips in January. An initial video made it appear like … WaPo Asks For Sandmann’s Lawsuit Against Them to be Thrown Out is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » House Republicans Try Once Again to Get Democrats On The Record With Anti-BDS Bill By Evie Fordham – House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Republicans are trying once again to get House Democrats on the record against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel, this time with the possibility of using a discharge petition, according to Politico Playbook. If the petition gets 218 signatures, the anti-BDS bill … House Republicans Try Once Again to Get Democrats On The Record With Anti-BDS Bill is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more. Read on » See all breaking news, conservative commentary, political cartoons and more posted to CDN at our Home Page. Follow on Twitter Friend on Facebook Add on Google Plus Copyright © 2019 Conservative Daily News, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? 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POLITICO PLAYBOOK
POLITICO Playbook: Assange arrested in London as Mueller report looms
By BLAKE HOUNSHELL and DANIEL LIPPMAN
04/11/2019 06:46 AM EDT
Presented by
DRIVING THE DAY
BREAKING … “WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Is Arrested in London,” by NYT’s Richard Pérez-Peña: “Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who released reams of secret documents that embarrassed the United States government, was taken into police custody on Thursday after being evicted from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has lived for almost seven years.
“The Metropolitan Police said in a statement
that Mr. Assange had been arrested by officers at the embassy on a
warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court in 2012, for failing to
surrender to the court.” NYT … Video of his arrest
— Quick thought:
Assange’s arrest suggests that the arm of the Russia probe is long
indeed. It also could scramble traditional political fault lines in
Washington. In the Obama days, it was the left that defended the
WikiLeaks enterprise, but many Democrats had soured on Assange by the
2016 campaign — and then they came to despise him. Meanwhile, some on
the right like Fox News host Sean Hannity and candidate Donald Trump
became his biggest fans. What will they say now?
THE DHS MESS … “It’s Trump vs. Trump as immigration divides White House,” by Eliana Johnson, Nancy Cook and Anita Kumar: “As the president faces blowback from his slow motion decapitation of the Department of Homeland Security, Trump is presenting two public faces on immigration. He is offering rhetoric that undersells the dramatic moves underway in his administration to curb illegal immigration and asylum seekers from entering the country.
“And he is toggling between [Jared] Kushner, who has spent months fashioning an immigration package that can attract bipartisan support and appease the business community, and [Stephen] Miller, who as a Senate aide was notorious for killing legislation like that.” POLITICO
DHS DEPARTURE LOUNGE — The top ranks at DHS — so far it’s Kirstjen Nielsen (secretary), Tex Alles (Secret Service), Claire Grady (acting deputy secretary), Ron Vitiello (ICE) and most likely Frank Cissna (USCIS) — are emptying out. NBC’s Nigel Chiwaya notes that with these changes, “12 of the 30 leadership positions on the department’s organization chart will have been vacant, replaced or filled on an interim basis.” NBC (hat tip: Ted Hesson)
TIMESTAMP: APRIL 10, 2019 — The New York Times declares the U.S. immigration system has reached a “breaking point.” NYT
— WAPO: “Wait times at border soar as officers are reassigned to deal with migrants”
Good Thursday morning. Blake Hounshell and Daniel Lippman here filling in for Jake and Anna, who are out today due to the launch of their terrific new book, “The Hill to Die On” (seriously, read it). The House is gone for recess and the Senate is headed out soon, but we hear that at least one key committee could return when the [redacted] Mueller report drops early next week.
Blake spoke with House Intel chair ADAM SCHIFF (D-Calif.) after Wednesday’s stunner from Attorney General William Barr, who claimed the FBI had been “spying” on the Trump campaign. “I thought it was a grave disservice to the men and women of the bureau,” Schiff said. “I had deep concerns about him given how he got the job, but this is far worse than I would have imagined.”
— More Schiff: “The post-Watergate protections are being broken down one at a time. You can intervene in a case in which you’re implicated. You can fire the FBI director. You can fire the attorney general. You can hire a new attorney general who talks about how biased he is against the investigation. And when that attorney general is on the job, he can edit or redact what’s given to him by the special counsel. … It looks like the president is well on his way to having his own Roy Cohn after all.”
— And a rocket from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, via @JonLemire: “I don’t trust Barr, I trust Mueller.” AP
A message from AARP:
Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world while drug companies game the system to make billions. No wonder voters of all stripes support bipartisan action to create competition and lower prescription drug prices. President Trump, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Grassley, thank you for working together to protect us.
2020 WATCH — PETE VS. THE PENCES: “Pete Buttigieg, Gay and Christian, Challenges Religious Right on Their Own Turf,” by NYT’s Jeremy Peters: “As a religious gay man who believes his party has ceded discussion of religion and spirituality to Republicans, Pete Buttigieg, a Democratic candidate for president, is talking about God and sexuality in an unconventional way: He is using the language of faith to confront the Christian right on territory they have long claimed as their own.” NYT
— THE MONEY PRIMARY: Unofficial fundraising hauls so far for the first three months of 2019 — Bernie Sanders: $18.2 million; Kamala Harris: $12 million; Beto O’Rourke: $9.4 million; Pete Buttigieg: $7 million; Elizabeth Warren: $6 million; Cory Booker: $5 million.
— NEW DNC WAR ROOM … USA Today’s Heidi Przybyla: “Responding to criticism that Democrats were too focused on Trump’s temperament and personal attributes during Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, the party’s main organizing arm says it’s making a major expansion of its opposition research team that will be ‘hyper-focused’ on the impact of Trump’s policies on local communities.
“A team of several dozen staffers have compiled an archive of thousands of documents obtained through local news and Freedom of Information Act requests that will be used to spotlight promises Trump made during visits to specific communities — and to ‘put a human face’ on what’s happened since then.” USA Today
— THE TRUMP MACHINE … ALEX ISENSTADT: “A pair of the president’s top lieutenants, Bill Stepien and Justin Clark, are joining [West Virginia Gov.] Justice’s campaign as advisers as the governor tries to navigate a treacherous 2020 reelection bid.
“The move illustrates how Republicans up and down the ballot are hitching themselves to Trump’s ever-expanding and newly professionalized 2020 political machine. With the president lining up a team of experienced political strategists, deploying an ambitious national field program, and exercising nearly universal control over the party apparatus, Republicans are eager to exploit his organization for their own benefit.” POLITICO
Playbook PM
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MUELLER’S COLLATERAL DAMAGE — “Former Obama White House Counsel Expects to Be Indicted,” by WSJ’s Byron Tau and Aruna Viswanatha: “Former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig expects to be indicted in the coming days on charges stemming from work he performed for Ukraine in 2012, Mr. Craig’s legal team said. Mr. Craig has refused to accept a plea deal, and the matter could be presented to a grand jury for indictment as soon as Thursday, people familiar with the matter say.” WSJ
— Ken Vogel: “Craig would become the first person who made his name in Democratic Party politics to be charged in a case linked to the special counsel’s investigation.” NYT
TRUMP TAX FIGHT LATEST — “Treasury misses congressional deadline for turning over Trump’s tax returns,” by Brian Faler: “The Trump administration missed a Wednesday deadline set by Democrats to hand over the president’s tax returns, as the two sides edge closer to an epic legal battle that could rise all the way to the Supreme Court.
“In a letter released Wednesday evening, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he needs more time to consider House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal’s demand while also making clear the administration looks dimly on the request.” POLITICO… The letter
A message from AARP:
Both sides agree that prescription prices are too high. Thank you, President Trump, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Grassley, for working together to lower drug prices.
TRUMP’S THURSDAY — The president and first lady Melania Trump will meet with Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea, at 12:10 p.m. (Moon, who is also meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, is desperate to revive the stalled peace talks with North Korea.) They will take part in a larger bilateral working lunch at 12:40 p.m. Trump will then meet with World War II veterans in the Oval Office at 2:15 p.m.
VP MIKE PENCE today is visiting Nogales, Ariz., along the U.S.-Mexico border, as the administration hammers home its immigration message. Pence is due to get a briefing from CBP agents, who will “spotlight drug interdiction efforts and the growing humanitarian crisis at the border,” per an administration official. He’ll also tour existing segments of the border fence/wall and make a few remarks.
— Note: In February, the Nogales city council passed a resolution condemning the razor wire added recently to the local stretch of border barrier as “lethal” and “inhuman.” (The city’s mayor also threatened a lawsuit, but has yet to follow through.) Back in November, Trump said, “I noticed all that beautiful barbed wire going up today. Barbed wire used properly can be a beautiful sight.”
PLAYBOOK READS
BANNON HANDICAPS 2020 — Our own Ben Schreckinger spent two hours with Steve Bannon on Tuesday night. The former White House chief strategist and Trump campaign CEO had a lot to say about the 2020 presidential race:
On the Democrats: “Every other day I see another person jumping into the race. I think those people are rational and the people around them are rational. They must see something in the field that makes them feel like they can make a run. … I don’t see anybody in that field as of now who can take on Trump one-on-one.”
On beating Trump: “You’re not going to beat Trump with policies, right? … Elizabeth Warren has an incredibly detailed and probably the most well thought-through set of policy prescriptions, and they keep coming every day. She’s at, what, 7%, 8%?”
On Dems drafting Hillary Clinton in 2020: “If they don’t think that they’ve got somebody that can beat him, the vampire is going to be in the bullpen. She did get 63 million votes.”
On what the president will do if he wins: “You’re going to get pure Trump off the chain. Four years of Donald Trump in payback mode.”
On Ted Cruz’s facial hair: “If he had that beard [in 2016], he might have taken Trump all the way to the convention. The beard’s badass.”
BREXIT LATEST — The European Union set a new deadline of Oct. 31 for the U.K. government to sort out its EU exit strategy. “Please do not waste this time,” an exasperated European Council President Donald Tusk urged British pols Wednesday. More from POLITICO Europe
— POLITICO’s @tommctague: “Conclusion from last night: Britain will never leave without a deal and the EU will never kick Britain out.”
— @realdonaldtrump at 10:52 p.m.:“Too bad that the European Union is being so tough on the United Kingdom and Brexit. The E.U. is likewise a brutal trading partner with the United States, which will change. Sometimes in life you have to let people breathe before it all comes back to bite you!”
A message from AARP:
President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Grassley: Thank you for working together to lower drug prices.
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST ELECTION — Voting begins Thursday in India, where some 900 million people (!) are eligible to cast their ballots, and continues through May 19. P.M. Narendra Modi and his nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are expected to win re-election, albeit with a smaller majority than in 2014. Could come down to crucial Uttar Pradesh state. WSJ
DEPT. OF NON-DENIAL DENIALS — From the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association: “Mount Vernon President Doug Bradburn and Regent Sarah Coulson escorted the presidents and first ladies on a tour of the Mansion on April 23, 2018. During the tour, all parties were interested and engaged in the story of George Washington and his beloved home.
“Conversations touched on topics like business dealings, real estate, and related matters that were of relevance and interest to the touring parties, and questions were asked by both leaders with curiosity and respect. Comments pulled from sources who were not present for the tour do not properly convey the tone and context in which they were delivered.” ICYMI: Read POLITICO’s original story
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TALKER — “It’s the Sexism, Stupid,” by Kate Manne in POLITICO Magazine: “Two white male presidential candidates — Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders — have led the Democratic field from the start, and two others — Beto O’Rourke and Pete Buttigieg — have basked in glowing coverage. Meanwhile, experienced female rivals — Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren — haven’t generated nearly the same media buzz, or led any recent polls.
“What’s going on here? The evidence is mounting that these patterns are the work of sexism and misogyny — albeit often unconscious, unwitting and the result of implicit bias.”
MEDIAWATCH — “National Enquirer expected to be sold imminently as parent company faces pressure,” by WaPo’s Sarah Ellison and Marc Fisher: “American Media Inc. is actively seeking to sell off the National Enquirer, according to three people familiar with the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The decision to sell came after the hedge fund manager whose firm controls American Media became ‘disgusted’ with the Enquirer’s reporting tactics, according to one of these people. …
“In August, just as AMI and two of its top officers were finalizing a non-prosecution agreement with federal investigators, the company’s board of directors started looking for ways to unload the tabloid business ‘because they didn’t want to deal with hassles like this anymore,’ another person said.” WaPo
— Amazon.com founder and WaPo owner Jeff Bezos is expected to meet with federal prosecutors about claims that his electronic devices were hacked. CNN’s Erica Orden and Shimon Prokupecz: “The meeting signals that the U.S. attorney’s office is escalating its inquiry connected to Bezos’s suggestion that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was behind a National Enquirer story that exposed his extramarital affair and his claim that the tabloid attempted to extort him.” CNN
— Mark Magnier will be a U.S. correspondent for the South China Morning Post. He most recently was a fellow with the University of Michigan Knight-Wallace fellowship and before that was China economics editor in Beijing with the WSJ.
PLAYBOOKERS
SPOTTED: Kirstjen Nielsen at a going-away party Wednesday night at Mission Navy Yard that drew around 50 people. … Lara Trump outside the Rosslyn Sweetgreen on Wednesday. “She was sitting and talking to … two men when [a] woman walked up and yelled ‘Congratulations.’ Presumably about the announcement of the new baby,” according to our tipster. Pic
OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED Wednesday night at Sfoglina for a party celebrating Jake and Anna’s book “The Hill to Die On,” hosted by Robert and Dr. Elena Allbritton, Patrick Steel and Lee Satterfield and Maria and Fabio Trabocchi: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Harris, Carrie Budoff Brown, Matt Kaminski, Irene Jefferson, Patrick Mellody, Tammy Haddad, Heather Podesta, Craig Gordon, Robb Watters, Alyssa Farah, Andrew Kovalcin, Christopher Gindlesperger, Matt and Rebecca Haller, Edith Gregson, Brad Dayspring, Ron Bonjean, Dan Conston, Bennett Richardson, Eli Stokols, Annie Karni, Matt Gorman, Sudeep Reddy, Seung Min Kim and Tara Palmeri.
— SPOTTED Wednesday night at the American Task Force for Lebanon gala: Rep. Darin LaHood (D-Ill.), who received the Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service and was introduced by former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), and HHS Secretary Alex Azar, who received the Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service and was introduced by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. Also spotted: John Sununu, Ray LaHood, Peter Rahal and David Yazbek.
TRANSITIONS — Danny Weiss has been named a senior fellow in the Century Foundation’s D.C. office. He most recently was chief of staff for Speaker Nancy Pelosi. … Jarrett Lewis has joined as a partner at survey research firm Public Opinion Strategies, where he will focus on health care. He previously was head of health policy at the Health Management Academy.
BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Ed Skyler, Citi’s head of public affairs and former NYC deputy mayor for operations. How he got his start in politics: “My first job was working for the New York City Parks Department during the Giuliani administration. I was hired by Henry Stern, who just passed away, and became the longest serving Parks Commissioner since Robert Moses. … I learned that fixing small problems prevents big problems — something that I definitely applied later when I was a deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration and we had all of New York City to worry about.” Playbook Plus Q&A
BIRTHDAYS: Ethel Kennedy is 91 … Janet Montesi, special assistant to the White House press secretary … Meghan McCann … Alex Phillips … Erika Masonhall, who does comms at Netflix (h/t Tucker Bounds) … Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) is 64 … William P. Lauder is 59 … J.D. Harrison (h/t Blair Latoff Holmes) … former Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.), president of the University of North Dakota who is likely to become the University of Colorado’s next president, is 62 … David Wofford … Sydney Rubin … Castlen Kennedy (h/t Stephen Cox) … Missi Tessier of Cogent Strategies … Michele Ballantyne, COO of RIAA … Marcia Hale (h/ts Jon Haber) … Laura Braden Quigley … Henry Gass … Hayley Richard … Chris Malagisi, executive director of outreach for Hillsdale’s Kirby Center … POLITICO’s Boris Seka … Nina Verghese … Aaron Bennett … Rae Robinson Trotman, SVP at SKDKnickerbker (h/t Cameron French) …
… Marc Ross, founder of Caracal Global … Mariel Saez … Tucker Bourne … Manuel Ortiz … MSNBC’s Raelyn Johnson … Donna Borak … Kate Warren … Chris Gates … Hillary Alvaré … Benjamin Bryant … DAGA’s Jason Bargnes is 35 (h/t Lizzie Ulmer) … Sebastian Silva … Joshua Lapidus is 29 … Jon Berrier, senior director of public affairs at JUUL Labs, is 37 (h/ts Josh Raffel, Tevi Troy and Matt David) … Lauren Kane … Paul Arden … Kevin O’Neill … Don Graves … Alex Douglas is 3-0 … Vinnie Nordmann … Mitch Carney … CSIS’ Holly Geffs (h/t Henry Elkus) … Jesse Dougherty … Linda Lipsen, CEO at AAJ … Google’s Julie Tarallo … Sarah Beth Lowe … Nancy Yacoub … Jacob Peterson is 33 … Kim Aagaard … Julie Westfall … Jim Parenti … Adam Kramer … Jake Peterson is 34 … Elliott Suthers … Bob Fois is 57 … William Hamby … Gil Gross … Beth Osborne … Teresa Thomas-Boyd … Ellen Goodman is 78 (h/t AP)
A message from AARP:
If there’s one issue that unites Republicans and Democrats alike, it’s that the price of prescription drugs is too high. Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world while drug companies game the system so they can rake in billions. Their greedy tactics are forcing millions of seniors and hardworking Americans to choose between buying food and buying medicine. Once and for all, we must stop price gouging by big drug companies. Voters overwhelmingly support bipartisan action that creates competition and lowers prescription drug prices. AARP supports the ongoing efforts of President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Grassley to work together, along with other Republicans and Democrats, in finding permanent, commonsense solutions to lower the price of prescription drugs for all Americans.
- Anna Palmer @apalmerdc
- Jake Sherman @JakeSherman
- Daniel Lippman @dlippman
THE BLAZE
| Having trouble viewing this email? Click here Trending now A former Obama aide will reportedly be charged as a result of Mueller investigation findings Treasury Secretary Mnuchin responds to House demand for President Trump’s taxes — and Democrats are angry More from TheBlaze Kim Foxx, who dropped Jussie Smollett’s charges, also gave a break to a man convicted of murder Progressive Democrats deal a devastating defeat for Nancy Pelosi’s agenda, and Republicans are laughing Texas state rep submits bill that would make abortion a homicide Ilhan Omar takes a shot at Dan Crenshaw, and he fires back this scorching response more stories One last thing… Here’s how an airline CEO responded when a ‘mortified’ flight attendant spilled a tray of drinks on him Maddie Peters said she had never spilled a drink on a passenger in all her four years of working as a stewardess for American Airlines. That’s why she was “mortified” when a passenger bumped her and made her spill an entire tray on another passenger. But that got even worse after she realized who the passenger was — the CEO of American Airlin… Read more Share Tweet Email |
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Thursday, April 11, 2019 |
Americans Deserve a Spygate Investigation Yesterday, Attorney General William Barr confirmed to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that the FBI and possibly other intelligence agencies spied on the Trump campaign in 2016. The AG made the following remarks: “I think spying did occur… But the question is whether it was adequately predicated and I am not suggesting that it wasn’t adequately predicated… I am not suggesting those rules were violated, but I think it is important to look at that. And I am not talking about the FBI necessarily, but intelligence agencies more broadly… spying on a political campaign is a big deal — it’s a big deal.” Mollie Hemingway, with an assist from Sean Davis, writes in The Federalist: “The fact of the matter is that federal intelligence agencies spied on a rival political campaign. They illegally leaked information about that surveillance. They abused their authority to at best undermine the duly elected president and at worst to attempt a soft coup against him. They did so with the near-total cooperation of the American media establishment. This is a scandal of epic proportions. It is one that threatens the foundations of constitutional government. It is a direct attack on American democracy. If it is true, as the Washington Post asserts, that democracy dies in darkness, then every single improper deed done under the cloak of secrecy must be fully brought to light. The only way to restore the definitively lost credibility of the FBI and other intelligence agencies is through a thorough investigation of what happened, who was involved, and how they will be held accountable.” Deadly Blast in Durham A gas leak caused a horrific explosion in Durham yesterday, killing one and injuring a further 15 people. The impact of the explosion was felt for blocks around the busy downtown area. “Witnesses described flames and dark smoke overtaking the blue sky, shattered windows for blocks as well as screams and injured people calling for help… He’s just one of many who felt the impact of the blast on North Duke Street, which came shortly after a gas leak was reported about 9:38 a.m. Hundreds of people work in the area surrounding the explosion, and the area is home to several restaurants and shops. The cause of the leak is under investigation, police said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference.” Get updates from local newspaper the News & Observer here. Fashion Moment of the Week My hot Twitter fashion take of the week is this slight against flats. I’ve been vocal about my love for heels and hatred for ugly shoes in the past (and keep your eyes peeled for my rage-piece against those hideous designer dad sneakers soon). But here I thought I’d list some of my very favorite places to buy heels, especially those that allow me to walk 5-10 miles in them without hurting my feet. Zara Block-Heeled Pump. rotates colors and patterns seasonally for their basic point-toed block heel, which runs from about 2” to 3.5” high. I have them (or similar) in yellow, red, green velvet, and houndstooth fabric, and they are definitely my go-to silhouette for the typical day. Right now they have them in snakeskin and neutral beige with a funky plastic heel, among other variations. Also, Zara makes a great sandal variation on these. I’m on my fourth summer wearing a pair of their gray sandals basically non-stop. Banana Republic Madison 12-hour Block-Heel Pump.This season’s iteration is pink suede, but like the Zara ones, they are always updating the basic shoe with new colors and fabrics for the seasons. I have them in patent black and red suede, and I’m kicking myself for not purchasing the nice burgundy color they had last fall. Ladies, IMHO, these shoes will change your life. These are without a doubt the most comfortable pair of legit heels (~3.5”) I have ever put on my feet. They aren’t kidding around with the 12-hour name, they’ve cracked the formula! Manolo Blahnik BB Pointy-Toe Pump. Let’s be honest, these Carrie Bradshaw favs are pricy AF, and no 4” stiletto without a platform can truly be comfortable. But bearing the profile of the shoe as a given, these distribute your weight really well. And of course they’re just gorgeous. If you don’t like pointy toes, as my Federalist colleague Georgi Boorman informs me is the case for many, these basic shoe shapes can easily be found with a rounded toe (Ivanka Trump’s brand makes a lot of these). Personally, I think a pointy toe makes the lower heel heights look more intentional and less orthopedic, while a higher pump is easier to pull off with either. Thursday Links No, Mike Pence doesn’t hate gay people. Chad Felix Greene busts the myth. (The Federalist) Scientists capture first-ever image of a black hole. (The New York Times) And the internet loves Katie Bouman, the 29-year-old MIT grad who helped make that photo possible. (C-Net) Netanyahu’s victory cements his status as Israel’s “indispensable man.” (National Review) Why it’s stupid to equate Western and Anglo institutions like the common law with whiteness. Isn’t it weird how both the racist alt-right and the intersectional left have the same bad take? (The Federalist) Speaking of law, inspired by her role in recent criminal justice reforms, Kim K is studying for the bar exam. (TMZ) Why does the media seem to hate Saudi Arabia more now than in the past? (The Federalist) IWF has relaunched its podcast with a new name – “She Thinks” – and org president Tammy Bruce as the first guest, talking about how she made her journey to conservatism. Check it out! (Soundcloud) ICYMI, Candace Owens gave spirited testimony at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. (C-SPAN) Glenn Reynolds: this rockstar knows more about free speech than CNN “journalist” Christiane Amanpour. (USA Today) Aaaand, a dumb condom package requires four hands to open as a statement on consent. That’ll solve it! (CBS News) BRIGHT is brought to you by The Federalist. |
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Today’s BRIGHT Editor
Inez Feltscher Stepman is a senior policy analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum and a senior contributor to The Federalist. She is a San Francisco Bay Area native with a BA in Philosophy from UCSD and a JD from the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Jarrett Stepman, her puggle Thor, and her cat Thaddeus Kosciuszko. You can follow her on Twitter at @inezfeltscher and on Instagram (for #ootd, obvi) under the same handle. Opinions expressed on this website are her own and not those of her employers. Or her husband. Copyright © BRIGHT, All rights reserved. www.GetBRIGHTemail.com Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Note: By using some of the links above, Bright may be compensated through the Amazon Affiliate program and Magic Links. However, none of this content is sponsored and all opinions are our own. |
THE RESURGENT
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The Resurgent’s Morning Briefing for April 11,2019
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It’s Really Okay to Appreciate and Like People You Disagree With
About
two months ago one of my high school students showed me the Strange
Planet cartoons of Nathan Pyle. I laughed enough at the couple I saw
that I started following the Strange Planet Instagram account and enjoy
reading at the lovable aliens he illustrates. Pyle’s work is clever,
simple, and above all unique.
For my money, this isn’t on par with Gary Larson’s Far Side, but Strange Planet is original and going places.
Well,
it was. But just like everything these days, the thought police on the
left can’t just let a good thing be a good thing. Apparently, some
intrepid new wave feminist decided that his cartoons couldn’t be enjoyed
until she knew that Pyle was cool
Read More… Netanyahu’s Win Means Land for Peace Is Dead. I’ll Shed No Tears. Benjamin Netanyahu was always skeptical of the framework of trading Israeli land for peace. Since 1979, when Menachem Begin gave back the entire Sinai to Egypt in exchange for a durable peace treaty, the formula and framework for peace has been that the Israelis give up land, and in exchange they get peace. In reality, Israel has given up land and also given up peace. Land for peace is dead because those who receive the land don’t want it. Read More… Pro-Life Texas State Rep. Jeff Leach Delivers Death Sentence to 110,000 Preborn Human Beings The culture of death was assailed on Monday as 446 abolitionists showed up to the Texas State capitol to support the Abolition of Abortion in Texas Act (TX HB896), a bill which would completely end abortion in the state. 330 of them testified in favor of the bill, causing the hearing to last until nearly 3 a.m. Wednesday brought somber news, however, as Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee Chair Jeff Leach (R-Plano) released a statement declaring that the TX HB896 will not be voted on. Leach lambasted the bill Read More… Bibi Set to Return as Prime Minister of Israel Parliamentary elections were held in Israel yesterday, with the main contenders for Prime Minister being Benjamin Netanyahu (“Bibi”) and Benny Gantz (see story from yesterday for more background on them and their parties). It now appears that Netanyahu is set to return to office for his 5th term as Prime Minister (it’s his 4th consecutive term, with an additional term being served in the late 1990’s). Gantz has conceded defeat, and Netanyahu’s Likud party and other allied right-wing parties have enough seats (65 versus the 55 seats of the opposition) for Netanyahu to have a large enough coalition to become Prime Read More… BOMBSHELL BARR: “I think spying did occur.” Attorney General William Barr testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee today to answer questions about the forthcoming release of the Mueller Report, which contains the findings of the two-year long special counsel probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to interfere with the 2016 presidential election. During the course of his remarks, Barr also acknowledged that the Department of Justice would be taking a close look at the circumstances that led the FBI to obtain warrants to surveil certain figures connected to the campaign. When asked by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, as to why he would be doing that, things got really interesting. Read More… Abortion Survivor: ‘We Hear All This Talk About Women’s Rights, But Where Were My Rights in the Womb?’ WATCH: Remember, as always, to go check out The Resurgent and be sure to like us on Facebook. Thanks for reading and tuning in. Erick Erickson THE RESURGENT Facebook Twitter Instagram Copyright © 2019 The Resurgent Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences |
SCOTT RASMUSSEN
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ScottRasmussen.com Launch – Check Out My All New Website
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Good morning,Things are looking better for President Trump than they did when the year began. The latest evidence is that 54% of voters nationwide now believe it is at least somewhat likely the president will be re-elected in 2020. That’s up from 50% a month ago and 46% in early February.Obviously, there’s a long way to go until Election Day. And, we won’t really have a good handle on the race until we know the state of the economy next year and who the Democrats nominate to challenge Trump.Still,
it’s worth considering why things are looking better for the president.
It’s not because people are revising their opinion of the president:
his job approval rating has remained steady in the mid-40s.But,
it’s
interesting to note that expectations for President Trump have improved
alongside a growing perception that Congress is moving to the left
politically. Forty-four percent (44%) now believe the legislature is too liberal while 36% say too conservative. That’s a complete reversal from before the 2018 elections.That
may help explain why both former President Barack Obama and House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi have expressed concerns about their party drifting
too far to the left ideologically. Their party’s loudest voices might
best be described as 20-percenters because they advocate proposals
supported by about 20% of the population (or less).For
example, Senator Bernie Sanders is promoting a health care plan
sometimes called “Medicare for All.” Rhetorically, it taps into a deeply
held belief that every American should have access to quality health
care. But the Sanders plan thinks the way to make that happen is by
getting rid of private health insurance companies and requiring everyone
to go through the federal government for medical care. While many
Democratic presidential hopefuls have signed on to the plan, only 17% of voters agree.Then
there’s the Green New Deal which progressives envision as a tool for
having the federal
government transform the entire economy. While concern about the
environment is real, voters tend to think private sector innovation is
the most likely source of solutions. Just 18% believe the threat of climate change makes it necessary to give the federal government sweeping new powers to control the economy.This
past weekend, many Democratic presidential contenders pledged support
for the concept of paying cash reparations to descendants of slaves. Twenty percent (20%)
of voters are supportive.Progressives
in the House of Representatives prevented passage of a proposed federal
budget because it didn’t increase spending enough. But, just 18% of voters believe increased government spending is good for the economy.On a different topic, the loudest Democrats are voicing support for allowing abortions at any point during a pregnancy. Only 12% of voters agree.Beyond specific issues, the attitudes being
voiced by many progressive Democrats seem almost designed specifically
to antagonize Midwestern voters—20% of all voters consider owning a gun immoral and
20% also believe it is immoral to call for limits on government. Eleven
percent (11%) think eating meat and having children are also immoral.Clearly,
not all—or even most–Democrats embrace these extreme views. And, it’s
far from certain that the Democrats will nominate a candidate who shares
them. But, for now, the Democratic 20-percenters are boosting President
Trump’s prospects for Election 2020.Thank you for your interest in our work,Scott
Stay Informed Up To The Minute and Share ContentDeeper CurrentsScott Rasmussen offers his personal insight, analysis, and opinion on current political races, issues, and controversy.
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Scott’s ColumnsPresident
Trump has perfected the art of antagonizing his opponents with
provocative tweets. He demonstrated this skill recently in declaring
that the tax reform act,…
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SCOTT RASMUSSEN info@scottrasmussen.com https://www.scottrasmussen.com 142 W 57th Street, 11 Floor New York, NY 10023 ScottRasmussen.com Launch – Check Out My All New Website Like Tweet Share Forward Preferences | Unsubscribe |
THE FEDERALIST
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Your daily update of new content from The Federalist Be lovers of freedom and anxious for the fray April 11, 2019 Working Moms Need Your Encouragement, Not Your Judgment By Jennifer Babisak Working moms get snide remarks sometimes from people who don’t know anything about all the tradeoffs and factors that went into their decisions. Can that stop? Full article Democrats’ Denial Over The Lack Of Russian Collusion Could Re-Elect Trump By Jonathan S. Tobin Doubling down on accusations and demanding the un-redacted Mueller report is no substitute for collusion myths, but Democrats’ inability to let it go helps the president. Full article The Latest Stats Reveal The Border Crisis Is Getting Worse By John Daniel Davidson In March, federal authorities apprehended or turned back more than 103,000 noncitizens, more than half of them families claiming asylum. Most of them are not eligible for asylum, but it gets them into the U.S. Full article How Christian Science Became A Dying Religion By Alfred Siewers Mainstream Christians can learn from Christian Science’s rise and steep decline, and see its new incarnation in ‘Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.’ Full article ‘Unplanned’ The Book Reveals Women Who Abort Are Not All Duped By Georgi Boorman Abby Johnson’s eight years of experience working for Planned Parenthood offer valuable insight into the diversity of women who get abortions. Full article Boston Globe Op-Ed Urges Waiters To Tamper With Trump Official’s Food By Michele Blood Former waiter expresses ‘eternal dismay’ over missed opportunity to urinate in Bill Kristol’s salmon, then the Boston Globe retroactively changes his piece. Full article 6 Criminal Referrals The DOJ Is Ignoring Because The Perpetrators Are Anti-Trump By Adam Mill The Department of Justice is slow-walking or no-walking its investigations of many lawless acts to undermine the Trump administration and interfere with the 2016 election. Full article Stephen King’s ‘Pet Sematary’ Broods On Resurrection And Guilt By Ron Capshaw The film implies the dead should have been left alone for their souls to enter the afterlife, but filmmakers chose not to beat viewers over the head here. Full article If You Don’t Like Gerrymandering, Complain To Your Representatives, Not To Courts By Thomas Wheatley The Constitution demands we solve it at the ballot box, or in our state and federal legislatures. We should stop expecting the Supreme Court to step up. Full article Why Single-Payer Wouldn’t Get Americans More Health Care By Christopher Jacobs Bernie Sanders’ single-payer bill doesn’t guarantee access to care. Instead, it merely guarantees that people will have their care covered—if they can access it. Full article Barr Confirms Multiple Intel Agencies Implicated In Anti-Trump Spy Operation By Mollie Hemingway ‘I’m not talking about the FBI necessarily, but intelligence agencies more broadly,’ Barr said. Full article In The Era Of Niches, Pop Culture Is Starting To Feel More Mysterious Than Ever By Emily Jashinsky What does cultural impact look like in an era of proliferating niches, where the metrics are murky? Full article FCC Commissioner Carr Pushes Back On Zuckerberg’s Call To Censor The Internet By The Federalist Staff Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioner, joins Ben Domenech on the Federalist Radio Hour to discuss why government regulation of the Internet is a bad idea. Full article Attorney General Tells Senate: ‘Spying Did Occur’ Against Trump Campaign By Madeline Osburn The attorney general plans to review the “genesis and the conduct” of the FBI’s investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Full article Mike Pence Doesn’t Hate Gay People By David Marcus Mike Pence has become an avatar of anti-gay hatred. It is an absurd accusation that people should stop making. Full article THE WHITE HOUSE’S INTERNAL BATTLE OVER IMMIGRATION If you want to see how much the internal battle over the border and immigration policy in the administration today is playing out in public, consider these two pieces in conservative media over the circumstances surrounding Francis Cissna, the head of the USCIS. Read more of The Transom by signing up for a free trial today. follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend Copyright © 2019 The Federalist, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences |