Members phkrause Posted June 14 Author Members Posted June 14 🗳️ Biden's debate cram Joe Biden, busy being president, is leaving most of the prep sessions for his big debate against Donald Trump to the last minute, Axios' Hans Nichols writes. Why it matters: Their June 27 showdown — two weeks from tonight on CNN — is one of the few opportunities either candidate will have to shake up a race that's been stubbornly static. ✈️ Zoom in: Biden's jammed June schedule is crowding out the live-fire debate prep many Democrats believe is crucial for the 81-year-old president. He landed in Italy late last night, returning to Europe for the G7 summit. From Italy, Biden will fly straight to L.A. — a nine-hour time change — for a Saturday night fundraiser with former President Obama and George Clooney. Three days later, he'll be back on East Coast time for a big-dollar Virginia event with former President Clinton. That leaves 1½ weeks for Biden to focus on his face-off with Trump, 77, in Atlanta. 🔭 Between the lines: Incumbent presidents — across party lines — tend to do poorly in their first re-election debate. They're used to being coddled, not popped. Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain is leading Biden's debate prep. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 14 Author Members Posted June 14 Trump in DC Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Republicans on Capitol Hill today for the first time since becoming the presumptive Republican nominee — as well as a convicted felon. His appearance will also mark some of his first meetings with key GOP lawmakers since the January 6, 2021, insurrection there, including Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell. In an effort to shore up support in the party, Trump is set to hold a series of closed-door meetings with key congressional allies, vice presidential hopefuls and even a few former outspoken opponents — all of whom are expected to line up behind him this fall. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 15 Author Members Posted June 15 👀 N.C. swing voters split on jailing Trump North Carolina swing voters are split over whether they think Trump should go to jail after his historic conviction on 34 felony counts in New York, according to our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups. ⚖️ It's unlikely that Trump will receive a lengthy sentence, but some of the swing voters fear jailing the presumptive GOP presidential nominee would cause chaos. "That's going to do nothing but make him a martyr for his cause or incite even more violence," said Michelle C., 55, of Candler, N.C., who is opposed to jailing Trump. Six of the 12 North Carolina swing voters interviewed — who said they voted for Biden in 2020 after voting for Trump in 2016 — said the ex-president should serve time. "He committed a crime and he should pay the same time that any other American would have to pay," said Lindsay M., 42, of Raleigh, N.C. Four of the North Carolina voters are registered Democrats, two are registered Republicans and six are independents. Read more. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 16 Author Members Posted June 16 Where Biden's winning Data: New York Times, 2024 New York Times/Siena Poll. Chart: Axios Visuals President Biden appears to be making serious inroads with America's oldest voters — and could become the first Democrat to win the demographic in over two decades, Axios' Noah Bressner writes. Why it matters: If current polling holds, November's election between two historically old candidates would upend long voting patterns. Former President Trump, as we told you yesterday, appears to be making stunning gains among young voters. The polls could still be wrong. But unlike young voters, older Americans still (sometimes) answer their phones, making them easier to reliably poll. 🔎 Zoom in: Older Americans — perhaps driven by old-school respect for institutions and distaste for Trump's unorthodox style — are flocking to Biden, according to a series of recent polls. (Another theory: The hippies got old.) The most recent New York Times/Siena poll shows that Biden has a 9-point lead in a head-to-head matchup against Trump among voters aged 65 or older. In a Quinnipiac University poll released last month, Biden is beating Trump by 12 points with the 65+ set. Republicans have — with the exception of 1992, 1996 and 2000 — won the senior vote in every presidential race for the last half-century. Preserving democracy has emerged as one of the clearest dividing lines between younger and older voters. When asked by Quinnipiac to identify "the most urgent issue facing the country today," 10% of registered voters aged 18-34 said democracy. For those 65 and up, that number rose to 35% — higher than any other single issue including the economy and immigration. 🏓 State of play: Biden — who has torn into Republicans for eyeing cuts to Social Security and Medicare — is making a play at older voters with a new program announced this week called Seniors for Biden-Harris. The outreach effort includes bingo nights and pickleball tournaments. Biden campaign pollster Geoff Garin pointed to two key factors going for the president with older voters: "First, older voters strongly support what Biden has done to lower drug costs for seniors on Medicare," he told Axios. "Second, older voters pay much more attention to the news than any other group, so they are the most aware of any group of how unhinged and extreme Donald Trump has become." Between the lines: Biden's gains among older voters could be valuable in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — the so-called "blue wall" swing states. Those three states, which would likely give Biden the 270 electoral votes he needs to win, skew older than the Sun Belt swing states that he also won in 2020: Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 17 Author Members Posted June 17 🎤 Debate rules: Muted mics During the Biden-Trump debate 11 days from now, CNN says candidates' microphones "will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak." Why it matters: The Biden campaign pushed for that in an effort to control former President Trump, who likes to play by his own rules. 📺 CNN announced more details about the debate, which will be hosted in Atlanta by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, with no studio audience: The 90-minute debate will include two commercial breaks ... [C]ampaign staff may not interact with their candidate during that time." "Both candidates agreed to appear at a uniform podium, and their podium positions will be determined by a coin flip." "While no props or pre-written notes will be allowed on the stage, candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 17 Author Members Posted June 17 Trump challenges Biden to a cognitive test but confuses the name of the doctor who tested him WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump on Saturday night suggested President Joe Biden “should have to take a cognitive test,” only to confuse who administered the test to him in the next sentence. https://apnews.com/article/trump-mental-acuity-gaffe-biden-ronny-jackson-0d45b6d89ae295b690f5ad12ca0bd38a? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 17 Author Members Posted June 17 RFK Jr.'s debate squeeze 🪟 The window for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to qualify for the first presidential debate on June 27 is closing rapidly, Axios' Erin Doherty writes. CNN, host of the first debate, reported Saturday that "though not impossible," it's unlikely any candidate other than President Biden and former President Trump will qualify. That's what the Biden and Trump campaigns want: a 1-on-1 showdown. 🗳️ CNN said Kennedy is officially on the ballot in states that account for just 89 electoral votes, well short of the debate's requirement that participants be on the ballot in enough states to give them a chance of winning the 270 electoral votes needed to be elected president. 📈 The network also is requiring candidates to have at least 15% support in four national polls. It said Kennedy has hit that mark in three polls, so is one short. The debate, moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash in Atlanta, will be the first in more than three decades that won't be managed by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. On Saturday, CNN unveiled rules that aim to rein in the interruptions that made that 2020 Biden-Trump debate a chaotic mess. 📺 The 90-minute clash will have two commercial breaks. Campaign staffers won't be allowed to interact with their candidate during the breaks, CNN said. 🎤 A candidate's microphone will be muted when it's not his turn to speak. That could hinder Trump, who tries to rattle opponents with interruptions — though Biden's most memorable line from their 2020 debate was when he responded to Trump by saying, "Will you shut up, man?" 🪙 The candidates' podium positions on stage will be determined by a coin flip. Moderators "will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion," CNN said. Kennedy's campaign is scrambling to get on states' ballots. He has railed against Biden and Trump for "colluding" to keep him out. 📆 The deadlines for independent candidates to collect verified signatures and meet other requirements to get on ballots vary from state to state. Most are between now and the first week of September. ✍️ As of Friday, Kennedy's campaign claimed to have enough signatures for ballot access in states totaling 292 electoral votes. But in several states the campaign's signatures📢 haven't been verified — and it's unclear when they might be. Read more. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 17 Author Members Posted June 17 Biden's reelection team launches $50 million ad campaign targeting Trump before the first debate The spending includes boosting a new ad that highlights former President Donald Trump's felony conviction, and it signals that the Democratic incumbent is seeking harder than ever to make his opponent’s legal woes an issue. Read more. What to know: Announced Monday, such a costly advertising push is unusual with Election Day still more than four and a half months away. But Biden’s campaign says it wants to more clearly define the choice between the two candidates ahead of their first debate on June 27. The campaign producing an ad that leans heavily into Trump’s conviction, and including it in such a large advertising buy, indicates a renewed effort to make Trump’s legal problems an election issue in ways Biden’s team previously resisted. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ What to know about Trump’s outreach with Arab Americans led by his daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law ‘Biden Bingo': The president’s campaign adapts a classic game to include malarkey and aviators AI experimentation is high risk, high reward for low-profile political campaigns Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 19 Author Members Posted June 19 🏃🏻 Trump's busiest surrogate 💥 Donald Trump's campaign has sent North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to at least 10 different states to campaign with or for the former president, Axios has learned. The campaign's frequent deployment of Burgum to swing and Democratic-leaning states the Trump campaign wants to put in play has set Burgum apart from most contenders vying to be Trump's running mate. Trump has said he plans to name his VP pick next month. 🐘 This week, Burgum will be in Michigan for a meet-and-greet with the state's Republican Party, and in Wisconsin to campaign for Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Tony Wied. 🚀 Zoom in: The visits will be the latest in a long series of Trump campaign stops for Burgum, who briefly ran for the White House but quickly endorsed the former president after dropping out of the primary race in December: On March 9, Burgum spoke at the Collier County GOP dinner in Naples, Fla. On March 16, he spoke at the Clark County GOP Party Convention in Nevada. On April 13, he spoke at a Virginia GOP Dinner. Twelve days later, Burgum spoke at a Cheshire County GOP dinner in New Hampshire. On May 12, Burgum flew with the former president to a rally in Wildwood, N.J., and made brief remarks before Trump took the stage. On May 17, he opened for Trump at a Minnesota GOP dinner. The next day, Burgum spoke at a Vermont GOP luncheon. On May 25, he spoke at the North Carolina GOP convention From June 6-8, Burgum accompanied Trump in California for fundraisers in San Francisco, Beverly Hills and Newport Beach. He later flew with Trump from California to Nevada. Go deeper. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 19 Author Members Posted June 19 💵 McAuliffe’s $8M take for Biden ⚡️ President Biden will rake in $8 million during a Virginia fundraiser tonight with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic officials tell Axios. 💰 Before Biden buckles down for debate prep later in the week, he's vacuuming up cash at big-dollar events such as tonight's, hosted by former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). Biden's campaign is using its cash advantage over Trump's team to go big on TV ad campaigns — including a $50 million buy this month. Zoom in: Tonight's event in McAuliffe's backyard in McLean, is the largest non-auditorium Biden fundraiser of this election cycle. It sold out in seven days, according to Democratic officials. The biggest givers will receive a two-dimensional token for their five-figure generosity: A photo with two presidents. 🍸 By the numbers: Tonight is a two-tiered affair, with nearly 500 guests booked for a cocktail reception on McAuliffe's lawn. For roughly 100 high rollers, dinner will be served on the former governor's tennis court under air-conditioned tents. Those donors are expected to contribute $50,000 to $250,000. Donations by the lawn guests are in the $1,000 to $6,600 range. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 20 Author Members Posted June 20 The meme debate Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Morry Gash/AP President Biden's team is waging a furious campaign not just against former President Trump, but against a viral internet culture that threatens his image with undecided voters, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Why it matters: A week from today, Biden and Trump will square off in a debate likely to spawn millions of online memes, TikToks and rapid-response videos churned out by both campaigns. For Biden, the 90-minute CNN showdown is a prime opportunity to expose voters to Trump's radical rhetoric and views on abortion. For Trump — and a right-wing ecosystem that thrives on highlighting Biden's "senior moments" — the debate is a chance to drive home why so many voters think the president isn't up to the job. 🔎 Zoom in: Debates have always been about soundbites. But changing consumption habits means fewer voters will see this debate in its totality than see snippets — spliced to maximize shares and reinforce narratives about the contenders. Trump's polling lead is fueled in large part by "lower-engaged" voters — some of whom will essentially be tuning into the race for the first time on June 27. Many more low-information voters will consume the debate passively — through seconds-long social media clips that show up on their algorithmic feeds, for example. That means one explosive viral moment could reverberate across platforms and be seen by far more young and tuned-out voters than mainstream media coverage attracts. Between the lines: The Biden campaign believes the rules of the debates — muted microphones and no live audience — favor their candidate. But the playing field on social media has proven far harder to control. White House officials spent the last week accusing Republican rapid-response accounts and conservative media of spreading misleading or deceptively edited videos of Biden. 👀 What we're watching: You can expect to see clips from the debate featured in campaign ads, with Biden holding a significant spending advantage. But for reaching less-engaged voters, the Trump campaign's powerful digital machine — which now features a rapidly growing TikTok account — will be hard to match. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 20 Author Members Posted June 20 🗳️ Poll: Rising Hispanic trust for Trump Migrants waiting to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol near San Diego. Photo: Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images As many Hispanic voters in seven battleground states trust former President Trump on immigration (41%) as trust President Biden (38%, with a ±2.6-point margin of error), Axios' Russell Contreras writes from a new poll. Why it matters: Such a result would have been unthinkable four years ago. Zoom in: Once a key part of the Democrats' coalition, Latinos increasingly identify as independents. "Great uncertainty in support" is a major problem for the president among Latino voters, said Carlos Odio, co-founder of EquisLabs, which polled 1,592 registered Latino voters in Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. An estimated 36.2 million Latinos are eligible to vote in this year's election. What we're watching: Biden's move this week to grant protection to half a million undocumented people with citizen spouses could "move the needle among Latino voters," Odio said. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 20 Author Members Posted June 20 Debate countdown President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set for a historic showdown in exactly one week, with the stage now set for CNN's June 27 presidential debate. The event will make history as the first debate between a sitting president and a former president — and could be a pivotal moment in the 2024 race as millions of potential voters tune in. The debate qualification window closed at midnight, with Biden and Trump meeting the constitutional, ballot qualification and polling thresholds set by the network. Both teams have spent the past weeks working to fine-tune their message on a wide array of issues, from the economy to foreign affairs to their rival's fitness for office. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fails to qualify for CNN’s debate. It’ll be a showdown between Biden and Trump COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has failed to qualify for next week’s debate in Atlanta, according to host network CNN, falling shy of benchmarks both for state ballot qualification and necessary polling. https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-cnn-debate-qualify-de23c5bf08e33e0df8639ff11d1ff424? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 21 Author Members Posted June 21 Trump dwarfs Biden in latest fundraising numbers after felony convictions Donald Trump’s campaign outraised President Joe Biden by more than $60 million last month, according to federal filings made public Thursday that detailed a Republican fundraising explosion sparked by Trump’s felony convictions. Read more. Why this matters: The latest Federal Election Commission filings suggest Democrats may still maintain a cash advantage in the 2024 presidential contest. But almost four months before Election Day, Trump’s side is closing the gap — if it isn’t closed already. At almost any other time in U.S. history, a presidential candidate would have been forced to leave an election after being convicted of dozens of felonies. But Trump’s guilty verdict has instead fueled a fundraising surge that will allow him to ramp up advertising and swing-state infrastructure just as voters begin paying closer attention to the election. Trump’s campaign declined to report how much money it had in the bank at the end of May, prompting Biden’s campaign to question whether the groups were still spending heavily to cover Trump’s legal fees. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ How Biden and Trump are taking very different approaches to preparing for next week’s debate Trump's Florida case is moving in slow motion Trump is proposing to make tips tax-free. What would that mean for workers? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 21 Author Members Posted June 21 Trump's $$$ plans for VP Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Emily Elconin/Getty Images Fundraising ability will be a key factor in former President Trump's choice for his running mate, Republican sources tell Axios' Sophia Cai. Why it matters: Whoever Trump picks, raising cash will be one of the would-be VP's top assignments for the rest of the campaign. 🥊 Reality check: Clicking with Trump, and skill on TV, remain essential prerequisites. Money is less of a worry for the campaign than it used to be, because so much has rolled in since his convictions. 💰 In figures out last night, the Trump campaign and the RNC said they raised $141 million in May — significantly more than the $85 million Biden's political operation raised for its various accounts. Separately, Trump's super PAC raised nearly $69 million in May — including a $50 million donation from billionaire businessman Tim Mellon that rolled in the day after Trump was found guilty. 🐘 State of play: Several of the top contenders to be Trump's VP — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — have been particularly active on the fundraising circuit lately. The Trump-controlled RNC has been hashing out a fundraising plan for his eventual VP pick, Axios has learned. The RNC's finance team meets every Wednesday to discuss VP fundraising, a person familiar with the committee's planning tells Axios. 🧀 On Day 3 of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, there are plans for Trump and his VP pick to host a Strength in Unity Reception. The event will raise money for the Trump 47 Committee, the Save America PAC, the RNC and state Republican parties, in that order of priority. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 21 Author Members Posted June 21 Trump's tipping bet Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios Former President Trump's call to eliminate taxes on workers' tips is the kind of Vegas gamble a casino would never allow: It has multiple potential payouts and it's being made, essentially, with house money, Axios' Hans Nichols writes. Why it matters: Trump is signaling to working-class voters — many of whom are frustrated by high inflation — that he wants them to keep more of the money they earn. But he's also betting that waitresses and bartenders will care more about a possible tax cut than other workers — who don't get paid in tips — might worry about paying the eventual tab, which could run up to $250 billion over 10 years. 💡 Between the lines: The ex-president hasn't said how he'd make up the revenue lost by making tips tax-free. But there are only two options. It would be paid for by tax increases on other — perhaps unsuspecting — groups, or it would just add to the federal deficit, as Trump's tax cuts did. Keep reading. 🚨 Breaking — Trump on green cards for grads: Trump said on the influential "All-In" podcast that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges — a sharp departure from his anti-immigrant rhetoric, AP reports. "What I want to do," Trump told the Silicon Valley podcast, "and what I will do is: You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too — anybody who graduates from a college." But in a statement, campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's proposal would "only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers." She said the process would "exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters." YouTube of the interview. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 21 Author Members Posted June 21 📊 Biden's post-verdict bump Screenshot: Split Ticket For the first time this year, President Biden leads former President Trump in FiveThirtyEight's national polling average. Why it matters: You've heard the cautionary adage: polls are a snapshot in time, not a forecast. What this data does point to, however, is a small, but clear shift toward Biden in the three weeks since Trump's conviction, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. 🧮 By the numbers: Nationally, Biden gained 1.8 points in the FiveThirtyEight average since Trump's guilty verdict on May 30, according to an analysis by the election enthusiasts at Split Ticket. The shift toward Biden also appears in swing-state polls — and is particularly notable given how little the polls had moved before now. Yes, but: The averages show Trump retaining his lead in five of the seven swing states. Next Thursday's CNN debate could produce momentum in either direction. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 23 Author Members Posted June 23 🧠 J.D. Vance shows range defending Trump In a campaign full of slams and soundbites, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — who's No. 1 (usually) or No. 2 on the VP speculation list of most Trump insiders — has given an unusual tour of his brain that showcases his range. Why it matters: Vance, 39 — originally famous for his "Hillbilly Elegy" bestseller — would help former President Trump energize rural voters in the vital states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. But Vance also speaks the language of college-educated suburban voters, who could tip the election. Vance flexed those muscles in a nearly two-hour interview with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, who called the Rust Belt native and Yale Law grad "arguably America's leading Trumpist." "I first met Trump in 2021," Vance, a former Marine who served in Iraq, said in the column, "What J.D. Vance Believes." "One of the stories he told me was about how some of our generals were changing the timings of troop redeployments in the Middle East so that they could tell him that the troop levels were coming down when in reality they were just changing the way in which troop levels jump up and down in the short term." Asked whether there's a comprehensive populist economic agenda, the first-term senator replied: "Well, I have one." "The main thrust of the postwar American order of globalization has involved relying more and more on cheaper labor," he said. "The trade issue and the immigration issue are two sides of the same coin: The trade issue is cheaper labor overseas; the immigration issue is cheaper labor at home, which applies upward pressure on a whole host of services, from hospital services to housing and so forth." The bottom line: Vance — a former Trump critic who now impresses the Mar-a-Lago crowd with his TV sparring — can defend Trump and Trumpism with depth and substance, in places it's almost never defended. Ashley Etienne, a former top aide to Vice President Harris and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, turned heads when she said on CNN this week that Vance "would pose the greatest threat" to Harris in a VP debate. Read the interview (gift link — no paywall). 🎁 Trump’s giveaway season Donald Trump is raising eyebrows with a series of unexpected policy proposals aimed at winning over targeted voter groups, with little downside. Why it matters: These ideas are stark departures from the major themes of his campaign and the policies he pursued in office. But they just might help him win over some new voters, Axios' Neal Rothschild writes. 🔎 Zoom in: This week, Trump said on the All-In Podcast that foreign students who graduate from American colleges — even junior colleges — should automatically get green cards. That's a changeup from his campaign drumbeat of anti-immigrant rhetoric and from the hardline positions of his top policy adviser, Stephen Miller. While the students themselves may not be eligible to vote in November, employers in sectors like tech and members of some immigrant communities have lobbied for a clearer path to work for high-skilled grads. 💸 He also called for the elimination of taxes on tips. Trump made that promise in Nevada, a swing state where hospitality constitutes a big slice of the workforce. 📱 The former president also came out against a TikTok ban in March after proposing one while in office. It was a youth-friendly move that may also have been influenced by his relationship with mega-donor Jeff Yass, who has a huge financial stake in TikTok's parent company. 🪙 While in office, Trump said he was "not a fan" of cryptocurrencies. Now, he's a crypto booster, vowing to make the U.S. a leader in the industry, in sharp contrast to the Biden administration's tough stance. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 Former first lady Melania Trump stays out of the public eye as Donald Trump runs for president WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — After Melania Trump missed key events in her husband’s presidential bid earlier this year — from the kickoff of the 2024 election in Iowa to Donald Trump’s Super Tuesday victory party — reporters asked the former first lady whether she planned to hit the campaign trail. Her response: “Stay tuned.” https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-donald-campaign-role-first-lady-433bbc2c7d51e6b72a43a831c382c850? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 🔎 Biden lags other Dems Data: Real Clear Polling; Note: From 16 Senate and presidential polls in Arizona, 8 in Michigan, 7 in Nevada, 10 in Pennsylvania and 9 in Wisconsin; Table: Jacque Schrag/Axios 🏃🏻 Democratic Senate candidates continue to run ahead of President Biden in battleground states, a polling spread that presents acute challenges — and opportunities — for both parties, Axios' Hans Nichols, Stephen Neukam and Erin Doherty write. The mixed messages suggest there's a slice of the electorate that is frustrated with Biden but sticking with his party on the state level. 🗳️ It raises critical questions for the 2024 election: Whether Democrats can fix the lack of enthusiasm for Biden — or whether he'll drag down other Democrats on the ballot. 🔬 Zoom in: It's another indication that 2024 will be exceedingly close, with a difference-making bloc of voters open to arguments from both parties on the best way to move the country forward. 🤔 It could present two interesting dynamics on Nov. 5: Biden could be forced to rely on strong state candidates to win, or Trump could win without carrying some of his Senate candidates across the line. Reality check: In the last two presidential elections, only a single Senate candidate — out of 69 races — won a state that their presidential nominee lost. Her name: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). State of play: In the five battleground states where there are also Senate races, Biden and the Democratic candidate are up in both only in Wisconsin, according to Real Clear Politics' averages of polls released since May 1. In the other four — Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania — Trump leads, while the Republican Senate candidates have clear deficits. Michigan is effectively a toss-up on the presidential side, with Trump leading slightly based on Real Clear Politics' polling average, but Biden is narrowly ahead based on FiveThirtyEight's average. 🙂 Some Democrats are taking an optimistic view of the polling gap: Sure, Biden might be (currently) unpopular in swing states, but the Democratic brand is holding up. That's good news, they say. Democrats also believe that once voters process Trump's potential return to the White House, they'll move more toward their Senate preference and go with Biden. 😒 Other Democrats have a darker view. It's hard to argue that polling is fundamentally broken — or unfairly skewed against Democrats — if multiple surveys show Democratic candidates maintaining persistent leads in toss-up states as Biden lags in them. That's an ominous position for an incumbent, especially when his opponent is so well-known. And it could make it more likely that Biden will drag Senate Democratic candidates down with him, instead of them drafting for him. Go deeper. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 Trump's rally-speak In Donald Trump's far-fetched rally-speak, which he uses to entertain loyalists, President Biden will be "jacked up" on drugs for Thursday night's debate. Fictional killer Hannibal Lecter is "a wonderful man." Sharks are bad. And Trump won the 2020 election. Decide for yourself about sharks. The rest are false. Why it matters: Trump's bombastic speeches have always mixed anger, falsehoods, conspiracy theories and vague, sweeping plans. But recently he's gone deeper into bizarre tales and vulgarities, Axios' Erin Doherty writes. 🔎 Zoom in: We often tell you to listen when Trump says the quiet part out loud. But it's also worth paying attention to the loud parts that get lost in the noise: 1. Last month in Wildwood, N.J., he was accusing the Biden administration of allowing criminals into the U.S. when he took a rhetorical left turn to praise "the late, great Hannibal Lecter." "He's a wonderful man," Trump said. 2. The same rally featured what amounted to a vulgar call-and-response in which Trump prompted the crowd to chant "bullsh*t." He also led the crowd in a chant directed at Biden's administration: "Everything they touch turns to what," Trump said. "Sh*t!" the crowd responded. 3. Last week in Racine, Wis., Trump attempted to recover from reports he called Milwaukee — the host of next month's Republican convention — "horrible." He said he prefers Lake Michigan to the oceans — because there aren't sharks. 4. Saturday in Philadelphia, Trump — who frequently attacks Biden's fitness for office — claimed the president will get a "shot in the ass" before Thursday's debate and that he'll "come out all jacked up." 🔭 Zoom out: Biden's campaign has hit back by circulating videos and posts on social media highlighting Trump's rants, and his incendiary rhetoric. Trump appeared to address those criticisms this weekend: "The fake news will say: 'Trump is rambling.' No, it's genius what I'm doing up here, but nobody understands." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 💰 Trump's debt bomb Data: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Chart: Axios Visuals Former President Trump ran up the national debt by about twice as much as President Biden, Axios' Neil Irwin writes from an analysis of their fiscal track records released this morning. Why it matters: The winner of November's election faces a gloomy fiscal outlook. Debt levels are rapidly rising at a time when interest rates are already high and demographic pressure on retirement programs is rising. Both candidates added trillions to the tally. But Trump's contribution was significantly higher, thanks to tax cuts and spending deals struck in his four years in the White House, according to the fiscal watchdogs at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. 🧮 By the numbers: Trump added $8.4 trillion in borrowing over a 10-year window. Biden's figure clocks in at $4.3 trillion with seven months remaining in his term. If you exclude COVID relief spending from the tally, the numbers are $4.8 trillion for Trump and $2.2 trillion for Biden. Between the lines: Deficit politics may return to the forefront of U.S. policy debates with much of Trump's tax law set to expire at the end of next year. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 Here’s a look at Trump’s VP shortlist and why each contender may get picked or fall short NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has narrowed his vice presidential shortlist to a handful of contenders as he prepares to announce his pick in the days before — or perhaps even at — next month’s Republican National Convention. https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-rubio-vance-burgum-scott-8b6a3a22eecdfff668a5002ddfd3af18? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 24 Author Members Posted June 24 🔮 Trump's takeover plot A second Donald Trump presidency would bring an unpredictable era of federal micromanaging over local Washington. Why it matters: Trump's vow to "take over our horribly run" capital is one of his most commonly repeated phrases, an Axios analysis found. Ranting about potholes and crime, he told a crowd in Wisconsin last week, "It's going to be run properly." On social media last year he said, "An important part of my platform for President is to bring back, restore, and rebuild Washington, D.C. into the 'crown jewel of our Nation.'" The big picture: Presidents usually leave hometown D.C. alone. But Trump wants to make an example out of a Democratic city and punish the "swamp." Trump's allies are planning to install up to 54,000 loyalists across the federal government — a move that would upend the lives of the career civil servants who call Washington home. 🔎 Zoom in: The District's unique status as a federal enclave leaves the city itself particularly vulnerable. As president, Trump could: Send in the National Guard to stamp out crime. Push Congress to constrain the purse strings of the city council. Shape the look of downtown. The president alone has the power to deploy the D.C. Army National Guard, not the mayor (unlike governors of states). Another play would be appointing a tough-on-crime federal prosecutor for D.C. Trump could lean on conservatives in Congress to squeeze D.C.'s spending and change city laws. Already, House Republicans want to block D.C.'s noncitizen voting law, prohibit the city from following California emissions rules, and scrap traffic speed cameras. 🧱 Then there's the cityscape: You could expect micromanaging of federal land like the FBI building. Trump insists it should stay on Pennsylvania Avenue, but locals prefer it be demolished and redeveloped into mixed real estate. "DON'T MOVE THE FBI!" Trump posted late December after the Biden administration announced relocation plans to the Maryland suburbs. 🧠 Reality check: Taking away the city's self-governance would require the feds to learn how to run a $21 billion city. Trump will need both chambers of Congress on board for his most sweeping plans. Read full column Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted June 25 Author Members Posted June 25 Trump's business flop Data: Yale School of Management. Chart: Axios Visuals Zero Fortune 100 CEOs — a group that historically leans Republican — have donated to former President Trump this election cycle, Axios' Felix Salmon writes from data compiled by Yale's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld. Why it matters: It's easy to overstate how much America's business establishment supports Donald Trump. Just because corporate America has serious issues with President Biden doesn't mean they're in Trump's camp. 🧮 By the numbers: Donations by CEOs of the country's 100 biggest companies haven't recovered since Trump became the Republican nominee in 2016. He also received no donations from the group when he opposed Hillary Clinton in 2016. In 2020, when he was running as the incumbent, Trump managed to pick up the support of two Fortune 100 CEOs — Energy Transfer LP's Kelcy Warren and Oracle's Safra Catz. The last time a non-Trump Republican incumbent ran for president, in 2004, George W. Bush picked up the support of 42 CEOs. Between the lines: Roughly two-thirds of CEOs are registered Republicans, but they're not MAGA. "The top corporate leaders working today, like many Americans, aren't entirely comfortable with either Mr. Trump or President Biden," writes Sonnenfeld in a New York Times op-ed. "They largely like — or at least can tolerate — one of them. They truly fear the other." 💰 The other side: Big-name investors seem to be more likely to support Trump than big-name CEOs. Steve Schwarzman of Blackstone is Trump's most prominent investment world supporter. Susquehanna's Jeff Yass — who holds a massive stake in TikTok's parent company — is described by Bloomberg Businessweek as "a former Never Trumper who's recently softened to become an OK-Fine-Might-As-Well-Be Trumper." The bottom line: "Mr. Trump continues to suffer from the lowest level of corporate support in the history of the Republican Party," Sonnenfeld writes. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
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