Castro rolls out his housing policy, Bullock qualifies for the second debates, a brief look at the Republican presidential primary—surprise!, Biden reveals his Q2 fundraising numbers…maybe not intentionally, and Klobuchar releases policy plans for her first 100 days. Links : People First Housing – Part 1 (Julián for the Future) Julian Castro calls for surge in federal spending to end homelessness (LA Times) Tweet confirming Bullock’s qualification for July debates (Twitter/Kendall Karson) Weld p...
Jun 18, 2019•20 min
Buttigieg raised a boatload of money in April, an analysis of which candidates are on which nights of the debates and how much it matters, a look at what’s driving media coverage of Warren, and Booker talks about being vegan on the BET show Black Coffee . Links : Pete Buttigieg raised staggering $7 million in April alone (Politico) Fundraising totals for 2020 as reported so far—currently Q1 (and prior) only (FEC) April Quarterly/Monthly report notice for presidential committees (2019) (FEC) Pete...
Jun 17, 2019•19 min
The DNC confirms its list of candidates for the first debates, plus a list of which candidates will appear on which nights, key moments from Julián Castro’s Fox News town hall, Schultz takes a break from his independent run, and a profile of Gabbard’s childhood. Links: Tweet confirming list of June debate candidates (Twitter/The Democrats) Here’s How the Candidates Will Be Divided for the Democratic Debates (NYT) Back surgery sidelines Howard Schultz’s exploratory campaign (Politico) Julián Cast...
Jun 14, 2019•19 min
How McDonald’s workers are shaping the primary, Sanders defines “Democratic Socialism” and recalls FDR’s New Deal, and the DNC releases the official list of who’s in and who’s out of the debates...after our press deadline. Links : Bernie Sanders Marches with Striking McDonald’s Workers to Dem Event (Iowa Starting Line) Democratic presidential candidates to join striking workers in early nominating states (NBC News) 2020 Candidates Call Out McDonald's Over Sexual Harassment (Fortune) McDonald's s...
Jun 13, 2019•18 min
A new poll shows Democrats beating Trump in hypothetical elections, The Young Turks propose a progressive pledge, Biden joins the call for a climate-focused debate, an examination of the candidates’ walk-up songs, and Castro releases a plan to eliminate lead poisoning nationwide. Links : Top Dems Lead Trump in Head-to-head Matchups, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Democratic Primary Race Narrows as Biden Goes Flat (Quinnipiac University) More brutal 2020 poll numbers for Trump (WaPo) ...
Jun 12, 2019•17 min
NBC reveals the moderators for the first debates, the DNC will hold a lottery at 30 Rock to determine candidate placement in those debates, FiveThirtyEight explains how Mike Gravel could win this whole thing, and a few more lesser-heard voices from Sunday’s Iowa event. Links : NBC announces five moderators for first Democratic debate (NBC News) Democratic debate lottery to be held at NBC’s 30 Rock (The Hill) DNC boss says candidates to be involved in debate lottery (The Hill) How Mike Gravel Cou...
Jun 11, 2019•19 min
Key moments from the Iowa Hall of Fame Celebration, a handy calendar of all the key election dates and times, and organizers warn that candidates are ignoring Latinx communities. Links : Gillibrand tweet announcing 65,000 donors (Twitter/Kirsten Gillibrand) In Iowa, 19 Democrats times 5 minutes equals 2020 campaign ‘speed-dating’ (LA Times) 2020: Key dates on the presidential election calendar (LA Times) Full speech: Tulsi Gabbard | Iowa Democrat's Hall of Fame event (4/19) (YouTube/DMRegister) ...
Jun 10, 2019•21 min
Biden reverses his position on the Hyde Amendment, Moulton wants to retroactively improve the discharge status for gay veterans, Warren’s campaign unionizes, and a DNC rule clarification means bad news for Bullock. Links : What Is the Hyde Amendment? A Look at Its Impact and History (NYT) Access Denied: Origins of the Hyde Amendment and Other Restrictions on Public Funding for Abortion (ACLU) Joe Biden's long evolution on abortion rights still holds surprises (NBC News) Can Senator Elizabeth War...
Jun 07, 2019•19 min
The DNC refuses a climate-change debate, O’Rourke calls for term limits in Congress and the Supreme Court, a look at Booker’s plan for affordable housing, and Gillibrand wants to legalize marijuana nationwide. Links : DNC opts against climate change debate, Inslee says (Politico) Inslee Twitter thread on DNC decision (Twitter/Jay Inslee) Warren agrees on Twitter (Twitter/Elizabeth Warren) Tom Perez thread explaining why no climate debate on Twitter (Twitter/Tom Perez) Al Gore tweet re climate de...
Jun 06, 2019•17 min
A look at Buttigieg’s plan to change the Supreme Court, Warren’s plan for “Economic Patriotism,” and Biden releases his climate plan. Links : Inside Pete Buttigieg's plan to overhaul the Supreme Court (NBC News) Supreme Court – Size of the court (Wikipedia) 7 Things You Might Not Know About the U.S. Supreme Court (History) Pete Buttigieg Pitches Supreme Court Reform to Chris Wallace (YouTube/Contemptor/Fox News) 4TR Presidential hopeful Buttigieg wants to overhaul Supreme Court (YouTube/Local 4 ...
Jun 05, 2019•21 min
Moulton, Ryan, and Swalwell hold CNN Town Halls; Bennet meets the polling criteria for the debates…becoming the 21stcandidate to do so; and how Booker and Warren are betting big on Iowa. Links : 9 takeaways from Seth Moulton, Tim Ryan and Eric Swalwell's CNN town halls (CNN) [NOTE: has serious typo in quote form Ryan re: Medicare for All] Moulton on systemic racism (Twitter/Seth Moulton) Ryan on job automation (Twitter/LiberalTed) Swalwell town hall, including response/clarification on Medicare ...
Jun 04, 2019•19 min
A protestor interrupts Harris onstage at the MoveOn Big Ideas Forum, Sanders holds a grassroots fundraiser at a San Francisco nightclub, and what happened at the California Democratic Party convention. Links : Video clip of Harris protestor incident (Twitter/Face the Nation) Full Video of Harris’s remarks (YouTube/MoveOn) Christopher Cadelago tweet re: protestor (Twitter/Christopher Cadelago) Joy Reid tweet (Twitter/Joy Reid) People have rightfully not gotten over a man storming Kamala Harris’s ...
Jun 03, 2019•21 min
A look at how Millennials, Gen X, and Gen Z voters turned out in 2018, Warren releases a child care cost calculator, Greenpeace releases a scorecard on the candidates’ climate positions, and the new DNC debate requirements are really not going over great with some campaigns. Links : Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X outvoted older generations in 2018 midterms (Pew Research) Generational graph showing midterm turnout (Pew Research) Young Americans Outvoted Baby Boomers in 2018 Midterm Elections. Mille...
May 31, 2019•18 min
A look at Julián Castro’s immigration plan, what we learned from the documentary Running with Beto , and how the candidates are preparing for June’s debates. Links : Putting people first (Medium/Julián Castro) People First Immigration: Immigration Plan Summary (Julián for the Future) Other (philosophy) (Wikipedia) Julián Castro wants to radically restrict immigration enforcement (Vox) Julián Castro Talks About Barack Obama, Ben Carson and Immigration (NBC/Late Night with Seth Meyers) O’Rourke tw...
May 30, 2019•19 min
The DNC increases its qualifying requirements for the third set of debates, key moments from Harris’s MSNBC Town Hall, a brief glimpse at Republican primary polling four years ago today, and a look at how close presidential elections have become since the late 80s. Links : DNC to raise qualifying threshold for third presidential debate (NBC News) Democrats up requirements for 2nd round of primary debates (AP) Reproductive Rights Act: Blocking Dangerous and Deadly Abortion Restrictions Before The...
May 29, 2019•20 min
On Memorial Day, Buttigieg and Moulton accuse Trump of dodging the draft; an update on who’s in and who’s probably out for the debates; and how the Hispanic vote might be key for the primaries. Links : Buttigieg Doubles Down On Trump’s Vietnam Deferment: He Faked ‘Disabled Status’ (Talking Points Memo) The Daily 202: Veterans running for the Democratic nomination call Trump a draft dodger as he travels overseas (WaPo) Trump received ‘bone spurs’ diagnosis as a ‘favor,’ doctor’s daughters allege ...
May 28, 2019•20 min
Primary candidates rally with McDonald’s workers, Marianne Williamson will be in the DNC debates, a look at Warren’s campaign right now, and Sanders and Gillibrand propose a tax on financial trading. Links : Fight for $15 and a Union McDonald’s Workers Are Striking, and 2020 Candidates Are Paying Attention (NY Mag) Bernie Sanders: Fight for $15 Town Hall at McDonald’s Shareholder Meeting (Facebook) Political positions of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary candidates (Wikipedia) Butti...
May 24, 2019•19 min
Gillibrand introduces a Family Bill of Rights, two candidates are now accepting cryptocurrency donations, how Buttigieg’s comments on Jefferson and Jackson have played in the media, and Nevada is poised to join states in sidestepping the Electoral College. Links : The Family Bill of Rights: a new economic policy for my first 100 days in office (Medium/Kirsten Gillibrand) How Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand would address maternal and child health (Politico) Rep. Eric Swalwell Is Accepting Crypto Donation...
May 23, 2019•20 min
A new poll shows who registered voters like most—and least, eight primary candidates want a climate-focused debate, Booker proposes a “White House Office of Reproductive Freedom,” and a summary of O’Rourke’s CNN town hall. Links : New poll reveals the least liked Democrat running for president (NBC News) May 21, 2019 - Good Feelings On Economy Don't Help Trump, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Biden Is Only Contender With Positive Score (Quinnipiac University) US Youth Climate Strike (...
May 22, 2019•20 min
How the field will winnow, according to Charlie Cook; Buttigieg releases policy proposals (sort of); and the hidden value of Inslee’s climate plans. Links : It Won't Take Long for the Deep Dem Field to Start Thinning (Cook Political Report) Week-By-Week Look at Google Searches of 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates (Cook Political Report) Issues: It’s time to reclaim the values that drive our policy decisions (Pete for America) Pete Buttigieg unveils first list of policy proposals (Axios) Na...
May 21, 2019•21 min
Buttigieg criticizes Fox News during his Fox News Town Hall, Harris has a plan to close the gender wage gap, and Biden holds his campaign kickoff event in Philadelphia. Links : Town Hall with Pete Buttigieg | Part 1 (YouTube/Fox News) Town Hall with Pete Buttigieg | Part 2 (YouTube/Fox News) Town Hall with Pete Buttigieg | Part 3 (YouTube/Fox News) Town Hall with Pete Buttigieg | Part 4 (YouTube/Fox News) 'I don't care': Buttigieg draws applause at Fox News town hall for dismissing Trump's tweet...
May 20, 2019•20 min
Warren calls on Congress to act on abortion rights, a grab bag of media appearances by the candidates, Rachel Maddow's rise as a must-visit primary show, and do Americans really care if a given candidate is over 70 years old? Links : Warren video tweet re abortion (Twitter/Elizabeth Warren) Congressional Action to Protect Choice (Medium/Team Warren) Elizabeth Warren Has a Plan to Save Abortion Rights (Sarah Jones) Sen. Michael Bennet’s Own Daughters Mock Him for Being "Mild-Mannered" (YouTube/La...
May 17, 2019•19 min
Bill de Blasio is running, Pennsylvania polling looks good for Democrats, and Warren proposes a climate change plan for the US military. Links : Working People First | Bill de Blasio 2020 (YouTube/Bill de Blasio) Yashar Ali thread regarding de Blasio and his city vehicle (Yashar Ali/Twitter) Who Hasn’t Told Bill de Blasio That He Shouldn’t Run for President? (NY Mag) Mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio has had three different legal names, court records show (NY Daily News) New York City Mayor Bill de...
May 16, 2019•18 min
O’Rourke reintroduces his campaign, we check in on Joe Biden, and what the primary candidates think about daily press briefings. Links : Beto O’Rourke plans ‘reintroduction’ as 2020 buzz fizzles (AP) A Beto Reboot Is in the Works, As His Campaign Sags (NY Mag) “Public Service Announcement” by Jay-Z (Genius) O’Rourke: I need to ‘do a better job … of talking to a national audience’ (Politico) CNN to host Beto O'Rourke town hall May 21 (CNN) RACHEL MADDOW ONE-ON-ONE WITH BETO O’ROURKE (MSNBC) Trump...
May 15, 2019•18 min
Steve Bullock is running, the importance of the Senate in 2020 and beyond, and Warren gives Fox News a hard pass in a Twitter thread for the ages. Links : Fair Shot (Steve Bullock/YouTube) Una Oportunidad Para Todos (subtítulos en español) (Steve Bullock/YouTube) My biggest supporters. (Steve Bullock/YouTube) Clean And Fair Elections (Montana DOJ) Montana Gov. Steve Bullock jumps into crowded 2020 presidential race (WaPo) Brian Tylor Cohen thread (Twitter) 2021 Could Be a Nightmare for Democrats...
May 14, 2019•20 min
The DNC announces new tie-breaker rules for the debates, Andrew Yang wants to abolish the penny, Howard Schultz appears to be reconsidering his independent run, half of the field could drop out after the Iowa caucuses, and Montana Governor Steve Bullock is definitely probably maybe running. Links : Here’s How The Democrats Will Limit The Debate Field If Too Many People Qualify (FiveThirtyEight) DNC ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR THE FIRST TWO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATES (UPDATED) (DNC) The Penny Makes N...
May 13, 2019•17 min
We now have a specific location for the first primary debates, how cable TV town halls have become a key part of primary coverage, Andrew Yang plans to use holograms to spread his message, Sanders teams up with Ocasio-Cortez on banking reform, and Elizabeth Warren is on the cover of TIME Magazine. Links : First Democratic presidential debate set for Miami's Arsht Center, host NBC News announces (NBC News) How CNN’s Town Hall Industrial Complex Is Shaping The 2020 Race (FiveThirtyEight) President...
May 10, 2019•18 min
How Amy Klobuchar’s Fox News Town Hall turned out, campaign workers for two candidates have now joined unions, Kamala Harris introduces a bill to help public defenders, and Elizabeth Warren releases her plan to eliminate opioid addiction. Links : Amy Klobuchar’s Fox News town hall: 4 takeaways to know (Fox News, includes video) On Fox News, Amy Klobuchar Makes Her Case to the Left and the Right (NYT) Town Hall with Amy Klobuchar | Part 2 (Includes Kavanaugh exchange) (YouTube/Fox News) Amy Klobu...
May 09, 2019•19 min
A deep dive into why the Democratic primaries are on different dates, and every state doesn’t just go at once; Gillibrand says she’ll only nominate judges who will uphold Roe v. Wade; and a look at Fox News and its unlikely position as a power player in the Democratic primary. Links : 2020 Presidential Primary Calendar (Frontloading HQ, Josh Putnam) Colorado Democrats plan to hold 2020 primary on Super Tuesday (VIDEO) (Colorado Politics) Why Does Iowa Vote First, Anyway? (NPR Politics) Why aren'...
May 08, 2019•18 min
A look at Sanders and his old cable access TV show, a new poll shows Biden pulling support away from pretty much everybody else, and all about Warren’s tax proposal on the ultra-wealthy. Links : ‘Anyone Ever Seen Cocaine?’ What We Found in the Archives of Bernie Sanders’s Long-Lost TV Show. (Politico Magazine) Bernie Speaks 50: Bernie Sanders' Remarks at the Vanguard Media Mash - 04/19/1988 (YouTube) CCTV Bernie Speaks with the Community Archive The State of the Democratic Primary (Morning Consu...
May 07, 2019•18 min
