MORNING MESSAGE
On
Wednesday, we learned two things. In 2014, the undocumented immigration
population reached its lowest point since 2003. In 2015, the global temperature
was at its highest point in recorded history. So what are Republicans talking
about more? Immigration, of course.
Sanders Surge
NYT
explores the poll data underlying the “Sanders Surge”: “… he shows signs of
encroaching on her advantage among once-reliable demographic groups … it is hard
to predict how many of his supporters can be relied on to actually vote. But the
latest Times/CBS News poll showed that his supporters are no less likely to have
voted in the past than were Mrs. Clinton’s…”
Clinton
accuses Sanders of calling Planned Parenthood and Human Rights Campaign part of
“the establishment.” W. Post quotes: “I was somewhat confused when Senator
Sanders said … that’s why they’re supporting Hillary Clinton because it’s all
part of the establishment … I thought, boy I wish it were.”
Biden
follows swipe at Hillary with swipe at Bernie. The Hill: “Vice President
Biden on Wednesday offered criticism of ‘socialism’ during a speech abroad,
seemingly a shot at Bernie Sanders … ‘We need a more progressive tax code — not
confiscatory policy. Not socialism. A tax code.’ … He faced backlash for remarks
last week praising Sanders and calling Clinton ‘relatively new’ to the issue of
income inequality.”
But
“socialism” attack could backfire. The Atlantic: “In [a] 2015 Gallup poll,
59 percent of Democrats said they’d vote for a socialist. Or just look at key
Democratic demographics like young people and African Americans. Broken down by
age, 69 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds agreed, as did 50 percent of those from
30-49 … A Bloomberg News/Des Moines Register poll found that a]mong Iowa
Democrats, 43 percent described themselves as ‘socialist’—a solid bit more than
the 38 percent who self-identified as ‘capitalist.'”
Flint Fallout
Flint
political fallout spreads, reports Reuters: “Facing protests, lawsuits and
calls for his resignation, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder … called for the state
to spend $28 million on fixes. The Michigan House quickly approved Snyder’s
funding request on Wednesday … The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, while
saying it was reviewing its handling of the crisis and could have acted faster
to inform the state of what measures it should take, also blamed the state on
Tuesday … [Rep. Dale] Kildee said the EPA may bear some blame for not blowing
the whistle publicly earlier, but the state bears most of the
responsibility.”
In
Michigan, Obama promises help for Flint. USA Today: “On Wednesday, before he
addressed the crowd at the UAW-GM Human Resources Center on auto matters, he
said: ‘The only job that’s more important to me than president, is the job of
father. I would be beside myself if my kids health would be at risk. Yesterday I
met with Mayor Weaver, and I told her we’re going to have her back…'”
Breakfast Sides
California
targets Exxon. NYT: “California’s attorney general is investigating Exxon
Mobil on whether the company lied to the public and shareholders about the risks
of climate change, and whether the company’s statements over the years
constitute violations of securities laws and other statutes. The investigation
is similar to one started in November by the New York attorney general, Eric T.
Schneiderman, for which the company has already produced thousands of
documents.”
An
“obscure commission holds sway” in TPP debate. W. Post: “…advocates and foes
are appealing to the [International Trade Commission] in order to influence its
report on the deal’s economic impact, which the commission hopes to produce by
May 18. Lawmakers will use the report’s findings to bolster their arguments,
while the White House — if the report is favorable to its views — will use it to
sell the pact to wavering members.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
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