MORNING MESSAGE
[Sanders
has] already promised to show workers why they can’t afford to support a
billionaire who promises massive tax breaks for the rich. He’ll work hard to
ensure that the young people he has inspired come out to vote. If she wins the
nomination, Clinton’s challenge isn’t winning Sanders' support, it is reaching
out to inspire the young voters and independents that are the heart of the
Sanders coalition. Sanders can’t do that for her, no matter how hard he
tries.
BURNING ISSUES: FRACKING AS FOREIGN POLICY
Charlie
Cray, a researcher at Greenpeace, in the latest Burning Issues video says
the United States has been promoting hydraulic fracturing – fracking – in dozens
of countries around the world despite the direct environmental risks and its
contribution to global warming.
CLINTON TRIES TO SALVAGE CALIFORNIA
Clinton
steps up her CA schedule. W. Post: “Clinton originally planned to campaign
for two days this week in New Jersey, but at the last minute canceled an event
on Thursday and will instead return to California for a five-day swing … Clinton
now plans to hold events in California from Thursday until the day before the
state’s June 7 primary.”
Clinton
runs Romney playbook on Trump. Politico: “To people in the Clinton political
operation, the Trump recording — which was part of his Trump University program
— is a clear echo of the recording secretly taken by a bartender at a 2012
Romney fundraiser, which was immediately used by Democrats to paint the GOP
nominee as out of touch.”
But
Team Clinton doesn’t think attacking Trump is enough. W. Post: “…in a
campaign season shaped by voter fury, Clinton’s team and her Democratic allies
believe that assailing Trump alone may not secure the White House for their
candidate. Clinton must be seen as a credible leader for middle-class Americans
exasperated by the gridlocked government and an economic system that they feel
has failed them.
WHEN CHINA BEAT TRUMP
Trump
lost court case with Hong Kong investors. NYT: “It began when a group of
Hong Kong billionaires, including one who has been called the Donald Trump of
China, helped rescue Mr. Trump from the verge of bankruptcy by investing in one
of his properties in Manhattan … when his Hong Kong partners sold the property
without his support, Mr. Trump waged a bitter, long-shot legal battle against
them. And far from winning his share of the Bank of America building, according
to court documents, he had to settle for it after losing in court.”
Trump
likely “over-valuing properties and ignoring his expenses” reports Politico:
“His businesses apparently generate a lot of revenue but may not put much cash
in his pocket; He assigns himself a net worth that is impossible to verify and
may be based in part on fantasy; And he is selling assets and increasing debt in
ways that suggest a man scrambling for ready cash.”
BREAKFAST SIDES
TPP
supporters make “geopolitical” case. The Hill: “‘If the U.S. abandons TPP,
our Asian allies and partners will perceive America as yielding to China, and
they will accommodate accordingly,’ said [Former World Bank President Robert]
Zoellick … U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said recently that there is
no way to measure ‘the cost to American leadership if we fail to pass TPP and
allow China to carve up the Asia-Pacific through their own trade
agreement.'”
Verizon
workers win concessions as strike ends. WSJ: “Verizon Communications Inc.
offered its unions a nearly 11% raise, a small bump in pension benefits, and a
promise to add 1,400 new union jobs. Verizon also agreed to scale back
subcontracting and withdrew a proposal to relocate employees for extended
periods…”
The
homeless are getting older. NYT: “There were 306,000 people over 50 living
on the streets in 2014, the most recent data available, a 20 percent jump since
2007 … They now make up 31 percent of the nation’s homeless population. The
demographic shift is mirrored by a noticeable but not as sharp increase among
homeless people ages 18 to 30 … They make up 24 percent of the homeless
population.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America's
Future. more
»