Progressive Breakfast: Whatever Happens to Trump in November, Populism is Here to Stay

MORNING MESSAGE

Whatever happens with Donald Trump this November, right-wing populism is most likely here to stay. The neoliberal consensus that has dominated the globe for nearly 40 years is collapsing. As the old dies and the new has yet to be born, two populisms are rising in its wake, struggling to define the future.

TRUMP EXCORIATED FOR "SECOND AMENDMENT" ThREAT

Trump’s faces massive backlash after “Second Amendment” remarks. NYT: “…Trump’s remark quickly elicited a wave of condemnation from Democrats, gun control advocates and others, who accused him of suggesting violence … [Speaker Paul Ryan said,] “You should never joke about that. I hope he clears it up quickly.” Mr. Trump and his campaign did not treat his remark as a joke; instead, they insisted he was merely urging gun rights supporters to vote as a bloc against Mrs. Clinton.”

PROGRESSIVE PRESSURE ON CLINTON

Progressive coalition calls on Clinton to eschew Wall Street appointments to her transition team and administration. Bloomberg: “The groups—which include MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, and the Communications Workers of America—said rejecting people with Wall Street connections would demonstrate Clinton is serious about her promises … ‘we urge you to publicly state that, should you win the presidency, you will appoint personnel from backgrounds in public interest advocacy, academia, and public service to influential positions within your administration, rather than merely drawing from the usual set of corporate insiders.'”
Progressives also push Clinton to denounce TPP in Thursday economic speech. The Hill: “On Wednesday, the grassroots liberal groups Democracy for America and CREDO will begin circulating petitions urging Clinton to go further by making a public statement ‘urging the White House and Democratic congressional leadership to oppose any vote on the TPP, especially during the post-election lame duck session of Congress. ‘The groups would like Clinton to make that declaration in her policy address on the economy this Thursday outside of Detroit.”

SANDERS EYES KEY COMMITTEE

Sen. Bernie Sanders could get chair of Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. USA Today: “The former Democratic presidential candidate said it would give him ‘enormous pleasure’ to lead the effort to make public colleges tuition-free for working families and to see a doubling of funding for community health care centers … Sanders’ prospects for heading the committee depend on whether Democrats regain control of the Senate in the November elections — and on what Sen. Patty Murray of Washington decides to do as the committee’s top-ranking Democrat … Sanders also would be in line to chair the Senate Budget Committee. But the HELP committee is where he could offer substantive legislation to carry out ideas he fought for in his presidential campaign…”
Sanders targets Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in FL primary. The Atlantic: “On Tuesday, Sanders tapped into his vast grassroots network to raise money for Tim Canova … ‘If we can win this tough fight in Florida, it will send a clear message about the power of our grassroots movement.'”

BANKERS EYE BAYH FOR KEY COMMITTEE

Evan Bayh wouldn’t get Banking Committee chair, despite push from bankers. Roll Call: “Former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh won’t be allowed to reclaim seniority and leapfrog a champion of progressive causes on the Senate Banking Committee should Bayh win the Indiana Senate race. Financial services insiders in an American Banker report broached the possibility that Bayh, who is viewed more favorably by the industry, could cut in front of Sherrod Brown … ‘There’s no doubt Senator Brown will have the top slot on the banking committee next year,’ [a Democratic] aide told Roll Call.”
Bayh rumor started by lobbyists, perhaps to influence committee composition. TNR’s David Dayen: “…how did this fevered speculation get placed in American Banker … Practically everyone quoted … is a financial lobbyist. Unquestionably, they want to prevent Sherrod Brown from running roughshod over Wall Street and making the lives of their clients more unbearable. They’d love Evan Bayh to run the committee, even if that’s highly unlikely to happen. But they can also constrain Brown by changing the makeup of the committee membership.”

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