MORNING MESSAGE
Don’t Be Fooled, TPP Is Still Very Much Alive. You Help Kill It For Good
There
are lots of stories in the media claiming that the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) is dead for now ... But here’s the thing: Wall Street wants TPP and the
giant multinational corporations want TPP. And what Wall Street and giant
multinational corporations want from Congress, Wall Street and giant
multinational corporations usually get from Congress ... The bottom line is that
we all need to stay aware, we need to stay organized and we need to understand
that TPP isn’t dead until it’s actually dead. But we can win this.
GOP PANICS
RNC
chair hits panic button. AP: “Party chairman Reince Priebus appealed to the
New York billionaire’s adult children to help … Priebus also joined a handful of
high-profile Trump allies in considering whether to confront the candidate
directly following a series of startling stances and statements …”
“Trump
tries to stop the bleeding” reports Politico: “…Paul Manafort, Trump’s top
strategist, flatly denied a report that Republican National Committee Chairman
Reince Priebus, Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani are planning an intervention
after a stunning streak of unforced errors … But sources close to the campaign
tell a different story of dysfunction and dismay inside Trump Tower.”
Kochs
won’t meet with Trump. The Hill: “Koch’s team, led by general counsel Mark
Holden, has already met with the Trump campaign and decided there is not enough
policy alignment for Koch to support Trump. “
Conservatives
hammered in Kansas Republican primaries. NYT: “Republican voters in Kansas
rebelled against the policies of Gov. Sam Brownback on Tuesday … add[ing]
pressure for the governor to reconsider some of his tax policies, which were
predicated on a supply-side theory of economics and championed by conservatives
nationally … At least six conservative senators lost their primaries … along
with five conservative House members. Three more conservative House members were
trailing moderates in close races. Other moderate candidates won primaries in
districts where the conservative incumbent did not seek another term.”
SWING STATES (MOSTLY) TURNING BLUE
Trump
drags down NH Sen. Kelly Ayotte. WBUR: “Hillary Clinton is enjoying a
dramatic post-convention bump and now leads Donald Trump by 15 points … The last
time we polled in New Hampshire, three months ago, the presidential contest was
virtually tied … the presidential contest is having a big effect on New
Hampshire’s Senate race between the incumbent Republican, Kelly Ayotte, and the
Democrat, Gov. Maggie Hassan …Hassan now leads by 10 points…”
And
Sen. Pat Toomey in PA. Times-Tribune: “Mrs. Clinton leads Mr. Trump by 13
percentage points among registered voters — 48 percent to 35 percent, according
to the Franklin & Marshall College poll. Her lead narrows to 11 points — 49
percent to 38 percent — when the poll counts only likely voters. In the U.S.
Senate race, Democratic nominee Katie McGinty leads Republican U.S. Sen. Pat
Toomey 38 percent to 30 percent among registered voters, but the lead shrunk to
one point, 39 to 38 percent, among likely voters.”
GOP
Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio racks up union endorsements. The Hill: “Sen. Rob
Portman (R-Ohio) has been endorsed by Local 18 of the International Union of
Operating Engineers (IUOE), the fourth endorsement he has received from a union
that backed his opponent in previous races … The [Ted] Strickland campaign
sought to downplay the latest endorsement, saying IUOE Local 18 has backed
Republicans in the past and that the Democrat has received most of the union
endorsements in the race.”
Clinton
pulls ads from Colorado. NYT: “In a sign of growing confidence in what it
calls its ‘Sun Belt states’ electoral path, the Clinton campaign pulled its
television ads in Colorado last week, shifting resources elsewhere, as polls
show Mrs. Clinton running stronger in the diverse Rocky Mountain battleground
than President Obama did in his 2012 re-election race.”
ENVIRO JUSTICE PUSH AT EPA CLIMATE HEARING
Environmental
justice activists rally as EPA holds hearing on implementing Obama’s climate
regs. Progress Illinois: “Environmentalists from across the country were in
Chicago Wednesday to testify before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
about its proposed Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP). CEIP is an optional
component of the Clean Power Plan [and] seeks to reward early investment in
energy efficiency and solar projects in low-income communities … several hearing
attendees … urged the EPA to establish a mandatory baseline definition of
‘low-income community’ … to include past and present disproportionate exposure
to air pollution…”
George
Goehl of People’s Action argues “Clean air and healthy communities can’t be
optional” in The Hill oped: “Low-income families and families of color need
to be involved in shaping the [Clean Power Plan]. Not only are they most likely
to live nearer to dirty energy factories, they also devote more of their
paycheck to paying for that energy – up to 17 percent of their income.”
“Add
Your Voice for a ‘Just Transition'” urges OurFuture.org’s Jacob
Swenson-Lengyel: “If you want to add your voice to the movement for a just
transition, take a minute to send
the EPA a comment now calling on the agency to expand the CEIP and make it
mandatory.
BERNIE BUILDS "OUR REVOLUTION"
Sanders
looks to sustain “Our Revolution.” USA Today: “Sen. Bernie Sanders began
fundraising Wednesday for his new political organization, tapping supporters in
an email for contributions … ‘Our Revolution,’ … aims to bring ‘millions’ of
working and young people into the political system; recruit and support the
‘next generation of progressive leaders’ running for office … The Vermont
senator plans to officially launch the organization later this month with a
live-streamed event …”
CNN
will host a Green Party town hall on Aug. 17. W. Post: “The Green Party’s
presidential ticket will get a prime-time special on CNN later this month,
modeled after the two ‘town halls’ the cable network has held for the
Libertarian Party’s ticket.”
Libertarian
Gary Johnson says he’ll “wake up” on racial discrimination during CNN town hall.
The Hill: “Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson says the Black
Lives Matter movement has alerted him to the struggles facing minorities. …
‘We’ve all had our heads in the sand … Let’s wake up. This discrimination does
exist, and it has existed. For me personally, slap, slap, wake up.'”
Progressive
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