MORNING MESSAGE
We
live in a political era dominated by corporate cash, billionaire “beauty
pageants,” and a right-wing noise machine whose rhetorical phasers are
permanently set to “stun.” It’s easy to lose track of ourselves when we’re
distracted from moment to moment by Fox News pinwheels and celebrity-driven
media circuses. But out behind the tents, where the carnival lights aren’t as
bright, a lot of people are fighting the good fight. How’s that fight going? One
way to track its progress is by measuring recent developments against a populist
or progressive agenda.
Bernie Shakes Up Race
Bernie
Sanders kicks off campaign in Vermont. AP: “‘With your support and the
support of millions of people throughout this country, we begin a political
revolution to transform our country economically, politically, socially and
environmentally,’ Sanders declared to about 5,000 supporters along the shore of
Lake Champlain. ‘Now is not the time for thinking small [or] the same old-same
old establishment politics and stale inside-the-Beltway ideas.'”
Draws
distinctions with Hillary. NYT: “[A] contrast Mr. Sanders drew with Mrs.
Clinton was his promise to ‘break up the largest financial institutions in the
country,’ taking aim at Wall Street firms and financial services companies that
have contributed heavily to Mrs. Clinton’s past campaigns. He also decried the
emergence of super PACs; Mrs. Clinton is relying on one in her campaign…”
Will
the media give Bernie a “fair shake” asks Politico’s Dylan Byers: “…the
basic laws of editorial judgment suggest that he should get at least as much
fair-minded coverage as Ted Cruz — especially since he is Clinton’s only primary
challenger to date — and significantly more than, say, Donald Trump.”
Fast Track Could Tip 2016 Races
Dems
feeling heat from labor over fast track. Politico: “…Democratic members and
staffers who spoke under the condition of anonymity related a range of threats
from local and national labor groups to pressure Democrats into opposing Obama.
Permanently cut off campaign donations. Pour money into opponents’ coffers
instead. Run television ads. Launch protests … primaries from the left.”
Midwest
Republicans take risk voting for fast track. Roll Call: “A trio of Rust Belt
Senate Republicans — Ohio’s Portman, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin andPatrick J.
Toomey of Pennsylvania — ended up voting for Trade Promotion Authority, backing
Obama, Republican leadership and a top priority of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
… In states where manufacturing is a major part of the economy — and the scars
from globalization dot the countryside — trade bills can be particularly
toxic.”
Breakfast Sides
“Greece
Likely to Miss May Deal Deadline” reports Bloomberg: “Greece is nowhere
close to an agreement with the European Commission and International Monetary
Fund, missing a target for a deal by the end of May set last week by German
Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, said the
people, who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations.
Underscoring how far apart they remain, creditors don’t believe the Greek budget
numbers add up, two people said.”
Immigration
activists warn GOP about squelching Obama’s executive actions: “The 2-1
decision by a panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday was a
victory for opponents of Obama’s plan to extend deportation protection … It also
probably will push the court case stemming from a suit by 26 states into the
middle of the 2016 presidential campaign … Frank Sharry, executive director of
America’s Voice, [said for] Hispanics, ‘It’s not going to be a debate about some
abstract constitutional principle.'”
Politico
investigates how enviros are beating back coal: “Beyond Coal isn’t the
stereotypical Sierra Club campaign … it usually wins by arguing that ditching
coal will save ratepayers money … Sierra Club finds itself in foxholes with
big-box stores, manufacturers and other business interests, fighting coal
upgrades that would jack up electricity bills, pushing for cheaper renewables
and energy efficiency instead.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
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