Progressive Breakfast: The Test of Leadership as Sanders Rolls in Oregon

MORNING MESSAGE

That Sanders is continuing to win primaries, even after the entire mainstream media has counted him out and turned its attention to the Trump-Clinton face-off, is a clear testament to the power of his message and the passions that it evokes. Were Sanders to stand down suddenly, he would be doing a disservice not only to his cause, but also to Democrats and to Clinton. He is generating energy and interest that would otherwise be sorely lacking.

DEM DIVIDE DEEPENS

Clinton, Sanders each win one. NYT: “…winning Kentucky would give her a symbolic triumph that could blunt the effect of her loss in Oregon … Clinton won in a landslide against Barack Obama in the 2008 primary. Mr. Sanders noted that landslide on Tuesday in pointing out that this year’s Kentucky primary ended in a virtual tie.”
Sanders campaign and Democratic officials square off over Nevada convention friction. Mother Jones:Sen. Bernie Sanders is refusing to apologize after a group of his supporters sparked chaos over a dispute on convention rules and delegate eligibility at the Nevada Democratic Party convention on Saturday … A defiant Sanders … blame[d] Democratic leadership for using ‘its power to prevent a fair and transparent process from taking place.'”
Potential for “unrest” at national convention, reports NYT: “‘You are going to see a variety of tactics,’ said Elizabeth Arnold, 32, a former staff member for the Sanders campaign in Philadelphia who said she planned to demonstrate. ‘I personally don’t like being arrested. But it’s essential that we speak our minds and assert our First Amendment rights.’ … Nina Turner, a prominent surrogate for Mr. Sanders, said that she had seen several emails from people planning acts of civil disobedience…”

TRUMP SIDES WITH WALL STREET, POLLUTERS

Trump would repeal Dodd-Frank, scrap Paris climate deal. Reuters: “He said he would want to renegotiate the [Paris] deal because it treats the United States unfairly and gives favorable treatment to countries like China … ‘at a maximum I may do something else,’ he said ... he planned to release a detailed policy platform in two weeks that would propose dismantling nearly all of Dodd-Frank…”
Trump prepares to solicit big money donors. NYT:Donald J. Trump and the Republican National Committee announced on Tuesday night that they had forged a joint fund-raising agreement allowing donors to make contributions as large as $449,400, spread among the national committee and party committees in 11 states … But the 11 states include only one swing state, Virginia.”

WH EXPANDS OVERTIME

Obama administration expands overtime pay eligibility. NYT: “Under the new regulation to be issued by the Labor Department on Wednesday, most salaried workers earning up to $47,476 a year must receive time-and-a-half overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours during a week. The previous cutoff for overtime pay, set in 2004, was $23,660.”
EPI estimates 12.5M people will benefit: “…raising the overtime salary threshold will directly benefit a broad range of working people, including: 6.4 million women … 1.5 million blacks … 2.0 million Hispanics … 4.5 million millennials … 3.2 million workers with a high school degree but not more education…”

BREAKFAST SIDES

Verizon strike “Day of Action” tomorrow. OurFuture.org’s Dave Johnson: “CWA is holding a Verizon “Day of Action” march & rally set Thursday in Washington. They will picket from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the 13 & F street Verizon Wireless store. Then strikers and their supporters will march to Lafayette Park for a rally beginning at 6 p.m.”
Democrats hold forum on Garland nomination today. Politico: “Senate Democrats will hold a forum Wednesday, featuring proxies for Garland, but that may be the closest the chamber gets to a confirmation hearing for him before November … Public polling suggests many voters back the Democratic position, but that fact that hasn’t budged Republicans from their dug-in opposition.”

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