talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-23--Biden Wants Clyburn’s Endorsement. Clyburn Has Yet To Budge.

Although Rep. James Clyburn ( D-SC ) remains mum on who he will endorse in next week ’ s South Carolina primary , he was willing to share his thoughts on Democratic presidential candidates during an interview on MSNBC ’ s “ Meet The Press ” Sunday morning .
After arguing that former Vice President Joe Biden would win if South Carolina had an election tomorrow , Clyburn was pressed by MSNBC ’ s Chuck Todd about Biden believing that he ’ ll get his endorsement .
On Tuesday night , Biden said in his post-debate remarks on MSNBC that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clyburn endorsement ” despite how the South Carolina Democrat said that he had no plans to endorse prior to the debate in the state .
However , Clyburn hinted that he would consider announcing his preference before the primary if he feels compelled to do so .
When asked by Todd about whether Biden has done enough to assuage any concerns in South Carolina about his electability , Clyburn said that people told him that Biden “ could have done more to engage during the debates.
” “ They thought he could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deserving , ” Clyburn said .
“ And so I think he suffered from that because he didn ’ t do enough , but I do believe that a lot of that had to do with the other candidates.
” After Clyburn said later in the interview that he still stands by his belief that the winner of the South Carolina primary would be the Democratic nominee , Todd pressed him on the likelihood of Sanders as the nominee , noting how his Democratic colleague in the state Rep. Joe Cunningham ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it due to Sanders ’ socialist label .
Clyburn replied that while he “ concurs ” with Cunningham ’ s conclusion , he doesn ’ t know that “ all that should apply ” to Sanders given how he ’ s “ worked very closely “ with Sanders on many issues for the past 15 years , which include community health centers .
“ I think that Bernie Sanders brings a lot to the table for people to consider , ” Clyburn said .
“ So I know why [ Cunningham is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refers to themselves as a democratic socialist , that word has always had really dire consequences throughout South Carolina.
” Asked about whether there ’ s a chance that he ’ d endorse publicly before the primary , Clyburn said “ there ’ s no chance that I won ’ t endorse ” and that he will announce his endorsement Wednesday morning — three days before the primary .
“ I ’ m not — I ’ ve just gotten there , ” Clyburn said .
“ I just believe it would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out as a person who has been in South Carolina politics for as long as I ’ ve been and not say to people who ’ ve been asking me who I ’ m for .
So I ’ m going to tell everybody who I ’ m going to vote for .
I ’ m just not going to do it today .
”

Although Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) remains mum on who he will endorse in next week’s South Carolina primary, he was willing to share his thoughts on Democratic presidential candidates during an interview on MSNBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday morning.
After arguing that former Vice President Joe Biden would win if South Carolina had an election tomorrow, Clyburn was pressed by MSNBC’s Chuck Todd about Biden believing that he’ll get his endorsement.
On Tuesday night, Biden said in his post-debate remarks on MSNBC that he thinks he will “get the Clyburn endorsement” despite how the South Carolina Democrat said that he had no plans to endorse prior to the debate in the state. However, Clyburn hinted that he would consider announcing his preference before the primary if he feels compelled to do so.
When asked by Todd about whether Biden has done enough to assuage any concerns in South Carolina about his electability, Clyburn said that people told him that Biden “could have done more to engage during the debates.”
“They thought he could have done more to say why he would be deserving,” Clyburn said. “And so I think he suffered from that because he didn’t do enough, but I do believe that a lot of that had to do with the other candidates.”
After Clyburn said later in the interview that he still stands by his belief that the winner of the South Carolina primary would be the Democratic nominee, Todd pressed him on the likelihood of Sanders as the nominee, noting how his Democratic colleague in the state Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) appears to be quite nervous about it due to Sanders’ socialist label.
Clyburn replied that while he “concurs” with Cunningham’s conclusion, he doesn’t know that “all that should apply” to Sanders given how he’s “worked very closely “with Sanders on many issues for the past 15 years, which include community health centers.
“I think that Bernie Sanders brings a lot to the table for people to consider,” Clyburn said. “So I know why [Cunningham is] nervous like that. Anybody who refers to themselves as a democratic socialist, that word has always had really dire consequences throughout South Carolina.”
Asked about whether there’s a chance that he’d endorse publicly before the primary, Clyburn said “there’s no chance that I won’t endorse” and that he will announce his endorsement Wednesday morning — three days before the primary.
“I’m not — I’ve just gotten there,” Clyburn said. “I just believe it would not be good for me to hold myself out as a person who has been in South Carolina politics for as long as I’ve been and not say to people who’ve been asking me who I’m for. So I’m going to tell everybody who I’m going to vote for. I’m just not going to do it today.”
Watch Clyburn’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-23--Biden Says Facebook Warned His Staff About Russian Bots Targeting His Campaign

Former Vice President Joe Biden said during an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning that Facebook alerted his staff about Russian bots targeting his campaign .
After saying that he doesn ’ t know if he can stop Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) given his momentum so far in the Democratic primary , Biden told CBS ’ Margaret Brennan about how “ the Russians don ’ t want me to be the nominee ” and that “ they spent a lot of money on bots on Facebook.
” “ And they ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy , ” Biden said .
“ They don ’ t want Biden running .
They ’ re not — no one ’ s helping me to try to get the nomination.
” When asked by Brennan who informed him of the Russian bots , Biden said that he has not spoken to the intelligence community but urged it to “ inform the rest of us who are running what they told Senator Sanders.
” On Thursday , the New York Times first reported that intelligence officials warned House lawmakers in a classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 presidential election in an effort to help the President ’ s re-election .
The briefing reportedly angered Trump .
On Friday , the Washington Post reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) was briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign in the Democratic presidential primary .
Biden then said that he wasn ’ t aware of a date for a briefing by the intelligence community , but that “ they should ” hold one .
When Brennan pressed Biden to clarify who informed him of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ didn ’ t get a call from Facebook ” but was “ told by my staff that ’ s what happened.
” Later in the interview , Brennan pointed out that U.S. intelligence has yet to make public what it knows about Russia ’ s interference in the 2020 election .
When Brennan added that the “ White House isn ’ t shedding much light ” either , Biden hit back .
“ The White House is shedding light , ” Biden said .
“ The President is angry because the intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders and I guess others and members of the Intelligence Committee that , in fact , the Russians want to see Trump reelected .
And they like Bernie .
”

Former Vice President Joe Biden said during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning that Facebook alerted his staff about Russian bots targeting his campaign.
After saying that he doesn’t know if he can stop Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) given his momentum so far in the Democratic primary, Biden told CBS’ Margaret Brennan about how “the Russians don’t want me to be the nominee” and that “they spent a lot of money on bots on Facebook.”
“And they’ve been taken down saying Biden is a bad guy,” Biden said. “They don’t want Biden running. They’re not — no one’s helping me to try to get the nomination.”
When asked by Brennan who informed him of the Russian bots, Biden said that he has not spoken to the intelligence community but urged it to “inform the rest of us who are running what they told Senator Sanders.”
On Thursday, the New York Times first reported that intelligence officials warned House lawmakers in a classified briefing that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in an effort to help the President’s re-election. The briefing reportedly angered Trump. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign in the Democratic presidential primary.
Biden then said that he wasn’t aware of a date for a briefing by the intelligence community, but that “they should” hold one.
When Brennan pressed Biden to clarify who informed him of the Russian bots, he said that he “didn’t get a call from Facebook” but was “told by my staff that’s what happened.”
Later in the interview, Brennan pointed out that U.S. intelligence has yet to make public what it knows about Russia’s interference in the 2020 election. When Brennan added that the “White House isn’t shedding much light” either, Biden hit back.
“The White House is shedding light,” Biden said. “The President is angry because the intelligence community, in fact, informed Bernie Sanders and I guess others and members of the Intelligence Committee that, in fact, the Russians want to see Trump reelected. And they like Bernie.”
Watch Biden’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-23--O’Brien Denies Russian Meddling Reports After Saying He Hasn’t Seen Intel

National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien denied reports that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in an effort to help President Trump ’ s re-election , during Sunday TV news appearances .
When pressed by ABC News ’ George Stephanopolous on whether he has seen analysis from the intelligence community showing that Russia aimed to help Trump , O ’ Brien replied that he has “ not seen that ” despite getting “ pretty good access.
” “ The national security adviser gets pretty good access to our intelligence .
I haven ’ t seen any intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get President Trump reelected , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ I think this is the same old story that we ’ ve heard before.
” O ’ Brien added that although he ’ s seen reports of intelligence officials warning House lawmakers of Russian interference during a classified briefing earlier this month , he said that he wasn ’ t there and that he ’ s “ seen no intelligence that suggests that.
” “ I ’ ve also heard that from the briefers that that ’ s not what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Brien said .
“ So , look , who knows what happened over at the House and the Intelligence Committee , but I haven ’ t seen any evidence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected.
” After calling reports of the briefing a “ non-story , ” Stephanopolous asked O ’ Brien whether he ’ s seen any analysis that one of Russia ’ s aims is to favor Trump .
“ No , I haven ’ t seen any intelligence on that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And I haven ’ t seen any analysis on that .
The only thing I ’ ve seen were the press reports on this House intel briefing , which are secondhand .
I don ’ t know if they were leaked out or how the papers got those .
So , so that ’ s the only thing I ’ ve seen.
” When Stephanopoulos pointed out at the end of the interview that O ’ Brien has a responsibility to find out as the national security adviser , O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ leaks , ” before being asked if he sought out analysis from the intelligence community .
“ Look , I want to get whatever analysis they ’ ve got and I want to make sure that the analysis is solid , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ From what I ’ ve heard , again , this is only what I ’ ve seen in the press , it doesn ’ t make any sense.
” O ’ Brien also repeated the same points on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t “ seen any intelligence to support the reports that were leaked out of the House .
”

National security adviser Robert O’Brien denied reports that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in an effort to help President Trump’s re-election, during Sunday TV news appearances.
When pressed by ABC News’ George Stephanopolous on whether he has seen analysis from the intelligence community showing that Russia aimed to help Trump, O’Brien replied that he has “not seen that” despite getting “pretty good access.”
“The national security adviser gets pretty good access to our intelligence. I haven’t seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected,” O’Brien said. “I think this is the same old story that we’ve heard before.”
O’Brien added that although he’s seen reports of intelligence officials warning House lawmakers of Russian interference during a classified briefing earlier this month, he said that he wasn’t there and that he’s “seen no intelligence that suggests that.”
“I’ve also heard that from the briefers that that’s not what they intended the story to be,” O’Brien said. “So, look, who knows what happened over at the House and the Intelligence Committee, but I haven’t seen any evidence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected.”
After calling reports of the briefing a “non-story,” Stephanopolous asked O’Brien whether he’s seen any analysis that one of Russia’s aims is to favor Trump.
“No, I haven’t seen any intelligence on that, George,” O’Brien said. “And I haven’t seen any analysis on that. The only thing I’ve seen were the press reports on this House intel briefing, which are secondhand. I don’t know if they were leaked out or how the papers got those. So, so that’s the only thing I’ve seen.”
When Stephanopoulos pointed out at the end of the interview that O’Brien has a responsibility to find out as the national security adviser, O’Brien insisted that the reports are just “leaks, ” before being asked if he sought out analysis from the intelligence community.
“Look, I want to get whatever analysis they’ve got and I want to make sure that the analysis is solid,” O’Brien said. “From what I’ve heard, again, this is only what I’ve seen in the press, it doesn’t make any sense.”
Watch O’Brien’s remarks on ABC News below:
"I haven't seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump reelected," Robert O'Brien tells @GStephanopoulos amid reports that intel officials told lawmakers Russia is meddling in 2020, with a preference for Trump. https://t.co/kHUIBjiIBB pic.twitter.com/AxdWI6mqEr — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 23, 2020
Robert O’Brien repeatedly says he has “not seen” U.S. intel reports that Russia is meddling in 2020 to help Trump.@GStephanopoulos: “Don’t you have a responsibility as national security adviser to find out?” O’Brien: "… I haven’t seen the intel." https://t.co/kHUIBjiIBB pic.twitter.com/rbK7XEOe5f — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 23, 2020
O’Brien also repeated the same points on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, saying that he hasn’t “seen any intelligence to support the reports that were leaked out of the House.”
Watch O’Brien’s remarks on CBS below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-23--Trump Congratulates Sanders On NV Win, Says He Should Be Treated ‘Fairly’

President Trump congratulated Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) on Sunday for his projected win in the Nevada caucuses .
While speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for India Sunday , Trump said he thinks “ it was a great win for Bernie Sanders.
” “ We ’ ll see how it all turns out .
They ’ ve got a lot of winning to do , ” Trump said .
“ I hope they treat him fairly.
” Trump added that he doesn ’ t care who he runs against but that he hopes the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal.
” “ Frankly , I don ’ t care who I run against .
I just hope they treat him fairly , ” Trump said .
“ I hope it is not going to be a rigged deal because there ’ s a lot of bad things going on and I hope it ’ s not going to be one of those .
So , we ’ ll see what happens.
” Although he didn ’ t clarify the “ bad things ” he referred to , Trump ’ s remarks come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported Thursday that intelligence officials warned House lawmakers that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in an effort to help the President ’ s re-election .
The classified briefing reportedly angered Trump .
On Friday , the Washington Post reported that Sanders was briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign in the Democratic presidential primary .
Trump previously congratulated Sanders on Saturday night in a tweet that slammed former Vice President Joe Biden and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg .
Minutes later , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help Sanders ’ campaign in another tweet .

President Trump congratulated Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Sunday for his projected win in the Nevada caucuses.
While speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for India Sunday, Trump said he thinks “it was a great win for Bernie Sanders.”
“We’ll see how it all turns out. They’ve got a lot of winning to do,” Trump said. “I hope they treat him fairly.”
Trump added that he doesn’t care who he runs against but that he hopes the election won’t be a “rigged deal.”
“Frankly, I don’t care who I run against. I just hope they treat him fairly,” Trump said. “I hope it is not going to be a rigged deal because there’s a lot of bad things going on and I hope it’s not going to be one of those. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Although he didn’t clarify the “bad things” he referred to, Trump’s remarks come days after The New York Times first reported Thursday that intelligence officials warned House lawmakers that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in an effort to help the President’s re-election. The classified briefing reportedly angered Trump. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Sanders was briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign in the Democratic presidential primary.
Trump previously congratulated Sanders on Saturday night in a tweet that slammed former Vice President Joe Biden and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Minutes later, Trump alluded to reports of Russia attempting to help Sanders’ campaign in another tweet.
Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates. Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020
“The Kremlin is reportedly backing Bernie Sanders bid to win the White House.” Jon Scott @FoxNews Why didn’t somebody tell me this? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2020
Watch Trump’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Biden Ekes Out Second Place Finish In Nevada To Stay In The Hunt

While only a small percentage of precincts have actually reported full vote tallies to the Nevada Democratic Party , multiple news outlets called the Nevada caucuses for Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) early Saturday evening .
With 88 percent of precincts reporting , Sanders was the projected winner by a landslide with 47 percent of delegates .
With 21 percent of delegates , Biden ’ s runner-up finish in Nevada comes after the first two primaries painted a picture of a campaign on life support .
NBC News projected Biden would come in second late Sunday .
Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Hampshire , trailed Biden with 13.7 percent of delegates .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in fourth with 9.6 percent of delegates .
While he ’ s projected to come in second with less than half the percent of delegates that Sanders racked up Saturday , Biden was cheerful while addressing supporters Saturday in the state as NBC News and ABC News both called the race for Sanders .
“ I think we ’ re in a position now to move on in a way that we haven ’ t been until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touting the support he ’ s expected to receive in South Carolina next week .
“ I don ’ t know the final results yet , but I feel really good .
You put me in a position , you know , the press is ready to declare people dead quickly .
But we ’ re alive , we ’ re coming back and we ’ re going to win.
” Biden ’ s campaign has maintained for weeks that the former vice president would enjoy better turnout in states with more diverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire .
Nevada is the most diverse state yet to hold its primary election , with a high concentration of Latino , African American and Pacific Islander voters .
Biden is likely banking on his strong favorability in South Carolina to reignite his presidential campaign .
Before the first two primaries , the former vice president was widely considered the 2020 frontrunner , by pundits and President Trump alike .
But after a flop in Iowa and a pitiful fifth place finish in New Hampshire — where he didn ’ t even stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that status was increasingly downgraded by the media .

Nevada kept former Vice President Joe Biden’s hopes alive.
While only a small percentage of precincts have actually reported full vote tallies to the Nevada Democratic Party, multiple news outlets called the Nevada caucuses for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) early Saturday evening. With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Sanders was the projected winner by a landslide with 47 percent of delegates.
With 21 percent of delegates, Biden’s runner-up finish in Nevada comes after the first two primaries painted a picture of a campaign on life support. NBC News projected Biden would come in second late Sunday.
Pete Buttigieg, who came in a strong second in New Hampshire, trailed Biden with 13.7 percent of delegates. Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in fourth with 9.6 percent of delegates.
While he’s projected to come in second with less than half the percent of delegates that Sanders racked up Saturday, Biden was cheerful while addressing supporters Saturday in the state as NBC News and ABC News both called the race for Sanders.
“I think we’re in a position now to move on in a way that we haven’t been until this moment,” he said, touting the support he’s expected to receive in South Carolina next week. “I don’t know the final results yet, but I feel really good. You put me in a position, you know, the press is ready to declare people dead quickly. But we’re alive, we’re coming back and we’re going to win.”
Biden speakers to supporters in Nevada pic.twitter.com/iBY5cz2is2 — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 23, 2020
Biden’s campaign has maintained for weeks that the former vice president would enjoy better turnout in states with more diverse populations and compared to Iowa and New Hampshire. Nevada is the most diverse state yet to hold its primary election, with a high concentration of Latino, African American and Pacific Islander voters.
Biden is likely banking on his strong favorability in South Carolina to reignite his presidential campaign. Before the first two primaries, the former vice president was widely considered the 2020 frontrunner, by pundits and President Trump alike. But after a flop in Iowa and a pitiful fifth place finish in New Hampshire — where he didn’t even stay in the state to await the results — that status was increasingly downgraded by the media.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Trump Re-Election Year CPAC Is A Fever Swamp-Filled, Star-Studded Coup-A-Palooza!

The conservative movement fully belongs to President Donald Trump , and nowhere is that more evident than the absolutely bonkers agenda for CPAC — the Conservative Political Action Conference .
The annual affair for Washington ’ s elite now also represents the choleric mud puddle at the heart of the right-wing fever swamp .
And the theme of this year ’ s tribute to the President is clear : The libs staged a “ coup ” by investigating Our President !
We need a do-over term in 2021 !
Everywhere one turns in this year ’ s schedule , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very , very unfairly .
Why else would Thursday ’ s schedule feature the full-length production of “ FBI Lovebirds “ ?
Yes , it ’ s what it sounds like : A live read of the text message chain between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page , who ’ s love affair on government phones — and subsequent congressional testimony — was made all the more irresistible by their blunt criticisms of the then-candidate .
The performance , apparently the first play in CPAC ’ s history , will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film about the patent system .
If only the first of those three options sounds compelling , you ’ re in luck : CPAC 2020 is coup-a-palooza !
Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page , for example , is no longer just a “ coffee boy ” as the President ’ s former campaign aide Michael Caputo once called him — he ’ s a “ Hero of Activism , ” according to his Wednesday , 5:50 p.m. speaking slot .
Attendees are encouraged to “ Meet the person the Deep State spied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump.
” The next morning at 7:55 a.m. , WABC ’ s John Batchelor delivers the first of CPAC ’ s six-part — six-part !
— series of panels on the “ Coup.
” Batchelor starts us off with “ The Coup on The Republic : A Prelude , ” followed by “ The Coup : The Day After Tomorrow , ” featuring CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp and Reps. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) and Mark Meadows ( R-NC ) .
Then , like a knock-off Disney+ franchise , the coups continue : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The Empire Strikes Back , ” “ The Coup : Impeachment — Hyped Slimes and Nancy ’ s Schemer , ” “ The Coup : SpyGate ” and , finally , “ The Coup : A Witch Hunt Begins — Hillary ’ s Ukrainian Insurance Policy.
” TPM counted 29 members of Congress on the CPAC speaking agenda , plus five senators , seven Cabinet-level administration officials , and two ambassadors — including Trump ’ s newly designated Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell .
The real show of force , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign : In addition to the President himself , Don Jr. , Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle , dozens of Trump campaign staff , surrogates and Republican vendors will school CPAC 2020 attendees on the tools they ’ ll need to win this election cycle — such as how to “ Weaponize Social Media.
” Still , at the end of the day , campaign talking points on offer at CPAC boil down to the time-tested technique of scaring old people with socialism .
In all , CPAC 2020 scheduled eight events on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exposing and Defeating the Socialist Plot to Hijack America ” and “ Socialism & The Great Awokening , ” the latter featuring various new media personalities .
The red scare spills onto the conference floor , as well : One of CPAC ’ s exhibitors this year , listed alongside the Koch brothers ’ political data firm i360 and Conservatives for Property Rights , is the confusingly named , “ Mises vs. Marx – The Definitive Capitalism vs. Socialism Rap Battle.
” That ’ s likely a reference to a semi-viral YouTube video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conservative American Institute for Economic Research .
Alas , no one really provides a window into the uniquely Trumpian mix of oddball internet humor and right-wing extremism like Carpe Donktum , the pro-Trump meme creator who was invited to the White House alongside several viral peers in July last year .
Donktum will speak on a Thursday panel , “ The Future of Social Media in the Public Square.
” On Twitter recently , Donktum — real name Logan Cook — got a bit of attention for a highlight reel he made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The video features interviews in which Tarczyński says he doesn ’ t care about being called a racist , and that “ not even one Muslim illegal migrant will come to Poland , ever.
” Against the montage of remarks from Tarczyński about Muslim migrants , viewers hear a thrash metal backing track : Megadeth ’ s “ Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.
” “ Please play this on main stage at @ CPAC ” the outcast conservative commentator Michelle Malkin replied to Donktum .
Donktum retweeted her request .

The conservative movement fully belongs to President Donald Trump, and nowhere is that more evident than the absolutely bonkers agenda for CPAC — the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The annual affair for Washington’s elite now also represents the choleric mud puddle at the heart of the right-wing fever swamp. And the theme of this year’s tribute to the President is clear: The libs staged a “coup” by investigating Our President! We need a do-over term in 2021!
Everywhere one turns in this year’s schedule, one understands that Mr. Trump has been treated very, very unfairly.
Why else would Thursday’s schedule feature the full-length production of “FBI Lovebirds“?
Yes, it’s what it sounds like: A live read of the text message chain between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who’s love affair on government phones — and subsequent congressional testimony — was made all the more irresistible by their blunt criticisms of the then-candidate.
The performance, apparently the first play in CPAC’s history, will be followed by a Catholic mass and a film about the patent system.
If only the first of those three options sounds compelling, you’re in luck: CPAC 2020 is coup-a-palooza!
Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, for example, is a “Hero of Activism,” according to his Wednesday, 5:50 p.m. speaking slot. Attendees are encouraged to “Meet the person the Deep State spied on in their attempt to topple President Trump.”
The next morning at 7:55 a.m., WABC’s John Batchelor delivers the first of CPAC’s six-part — six-part! — series of panels on the “Coup.”
Batchelor starts us off with “The Coup on The Republic: A Prelude,” followed by “The Coup: The Day After Tomorrow,” featuring CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp and Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Mark Meadows (R-NC).
Then, like a knock-off Disney+ franchise, the coups continue: “The Coup: Rosenstein & Comey — The Empire Strikes Back,” “The Coup: Impeachment — Hyped Slimes and Nancy’s Schemer,” “The Coup: SpyGate” and, finally, “The Coup: A Witch Hunt Begins — Hillary’s Ukrainian Insurance Policy.”
TPM counted 29 members of Congress on the CPAC speaking agenda, plus five senators, seven Cabinet-level administration officials, and two ambassadors — including Trump’s newly designated Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
The real show of force, though, comes from Trump’s campaign: In addition to the President himself, Don Jr., Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle, dozens of Trump campaign staff, surrogates and Republican vendors will school CPAC 2020 attendees on the tools they’ll need to win this election cycle — such as how to “Weaponize Social Media.”
Still, at the end of the day, campaign talking points on offer at CPAC boil down to the time-tested technique of scaring old people with socialism.
In all, CPAC 2020 scheduled eight events on the evils of socialism, including “Exposing and Defeating the Socialist Plot to Hijack America” and “Socialism & The Great Awokening,” the latter featuring various new media personalities.
The red scare spills onto the conference floor, as well: One of CPAC’s exhibitors this year, listed alongside the Koch brothers’ political data firm i360 and Conservatives for Property Rights, is the confusingly named, “Mises vs. Marx – The Definitive Capitalism vs. Socialism Rap Battle.” That’s likely a reference to a semi-viral YouTube video of the same name, produced by the conservative American Institute for Economic Research.
Alas, no one really provides a window into the uniquely Trumpian mix of oddball internet humor and right-wing extremism like Carpe Donktum, the pro-Trump meme creator who was invited to the White House alongside several viral peers in July last year. Donktum will speak on a Thursday panel, “The Future of Social Media in the Public Square.”
On Twitter recently, Donktum — real name Logan Cook — got a bit of attention for a highlight reel he made of the nativist Polish politician Dominik Tarczyński. The video features interviews in which Tarczyński says he doesn’t care about being called a racist, and that “not even one Muslim illegal migrant will come to Poland, ever.”
Against the montage of remarks from Tarczyński about Muslim migrants, viewers hear a thrash metal backing track: Megadeth’s “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.”
“Please play this on main stage at @CPAC” the outcast conservative commentator Michelle Malkin replied to Donktum. Donktum retweeted her request.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Sanders Takes Some Florida Heat On Castro Comments

Fresh off of an overwhelming victory in Nevada , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) offered up fodder for critics — many in Florida — Sunday as he maintained that some good came from Fidel Castro ’ s leadership during the Cuban Revolution .
“ We ’ re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba , but you know , it ’ s unfair to simply say everything is bad , ” Sanders said in a “ 60 Minutes ” interview with Anderson Cooper .
“ You know ?
When Fidel Castro came into office , you know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literacy program .
Is that a bad thing ?
Even though Fidel Castro did it ?
” When pressed on Castro ’ s unsavory tendency to imprison political dissidents , Sanders backed off a bit , saying that he “ condemns ” that behavior , and juxtaposed himself to President Donald Trump ’ s embrace of authoritarians like Russia ’ s Vladimir Putin .
Sanders has a history of pointing out good aspects of otherwise brutal authoritarian regimes , like low health care costs in the 1988 Soviet Union and China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , as reactions from Floridian lawmakers show , Sanders may have the most to worry about stemming from his many positive comments about Castro and the revolution .
Florida , the perennial swing state and general election bugaboo , has a large and influential Cuban-American population that Sanders wants to avoid alienating .
Accordingly , Sunshine State lawmakers lashed out at the comments .
“ Sen .
Sanders has clearly and consistently criticized Fidel Castro ’ s authoritarianism and condemned his human rights abuses , and he ’ s simply echoing President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress , especially in education , ” spokesperson Kolby Lee told TPM in an email .
Sanders ’ fellow presidential hopefuls also got in on the action .
“ After four years of looking on in horror as Trump cozied up to dictators , we need a president who will be extremely clear in standing against regimes that violate human rights abroad , ” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter .
“ We can ’ t risk nominating someone who doesn ’ t recognize this.
” He then translated the tweet into Spanish .
Cristóbal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden , went so far as to imply that Sanders lacks patriotism .
“ Make no mistake : Bernie Sanders ’ comments on Fidel Castro are a part of a larger pattern throughout his life to embrace autocratic leaders and governments across the globe , ” he said in a statement .
“ He seems to have found more inspiration in the Soviets , Sandinistas , Chavistas and Castro than in America .

Fresh off of an overwhelming victory in Nevada, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered up fodder for critics — many in Florida — Sunday as he maintained that some good came from Fidel Castro’s leadership during the Cuban Revolution.
“We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad,” Sanders said in a “60 Minutes” interview with Anderson Cooper. “You know? When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?”
When pressed on Castro’s unsavory tendency to imprison political dissidents, Sanders backed off a bit, saying that he “condemns” that behavior, and juxtaposed himself to President Donald Trump’s embrace of authoritarians like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Sanders has a history of pointing out good aspects of otherwise brutal authoritarian regimes, like low health care costs in the 1988 Soviet Union and China’s efforts to eradicate poverty last year.
But, as reactions from Floridian lawmakers show, Sanders may have the most to worry about stemming from his many positive comments about Castro and the revolution.
Florida, the perennial swing state and general election bugaboo, has a large and influential Cuban-American population that Sanders wants to avoid alienating. Accordingly, Sunshine State lawmakers lashed out at the comments.
“Sen. Sanders has clearly and consistently criticized Fidel Castro’s authoritarianism and condemned his human rights abuses, and he’s simply echoing President Obama’s acknowledgment that Cuba made progress, especially in education,” spokesperson Kolby Lee told TPM in an email.
Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL):
I’m hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro. https://t.co/Iwvmay9LOH pic.twitter.com/KT9sQ0pfkh — Donna E. Shalala (@DonnaShalala) February 24, 2020
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL):
As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments on Castro’s Cuba absolutely unacceptable. — Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020
Former mayor of Tallahassee:
No one should have sympathies for Fidel Castro’s brutal and repressive regime. Let’s stay focused, Democrats. — Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) February 24, 2020
Sanders’ fellow presidential hopefuls also got in on the action.
“After four years of looking on in horror as Trump cozied up to dictators, we need a president who will be extremely clear in standing against regimes that violate human rights abroad,” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter. “We can’t risk nominating someone who doesn’t recognize this.” He then translated the tweet into Spanish.
Cristóbal Alex, senior adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, went so far as to imply that Sanders lacks patriotism.
“Make no mistake: Bernie Sanders’ comments on Fidel Castro are a part of a larger pattern throughout his life to embrace autocratic leaders and governments across the globe,” he said in a statement. “He seems to have found more inspiration in the Soviets, Sandinistas, Chavistas and Castro than in America.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--This Provision In Trump’s Infamous NDAs Could Come Back To Haunt Him

What goes around often comes around .
And in the case of a former Trump campaign staffer who sued to free herself from its non-disclosure agreement , what is coming around is a provision in the NDA that could require the President ’ s campaign to pay her nearly $ 165,000 in attorneys fees .
The NDA language requires that the prevailing party in an NDA dispute have their legal fees and costs covered by the losing party .
Legal experts tell TPM that the language is fairly standard in NDAs and that it ’ s used as a deterrent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements .
But Jessica Denson — a former official on the 2016 campaign who sought release from her NDA amid claims of discrimination and bullying — is now wielding it against the Trump campaign , after a New York appeals court decision earlier this month in her favor .
In court filings submitted last week , Denson requested that the Trump campaign award her $ 164,685.57 in fees and costs .
She was able to make the request after securing the uncommon legal win by getting a court to reverse an arbitration decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted the NDA provision , which said “ Any court judgment or arbitration award shall include an award of reasonable legal fees and costs to the prevailing party.
” “ The fee and cost shifting clause is mandatory , ” Denson ’ s lawyer said in the filing , adding that “ in accordance with the mandatory language of Section 18 ( c ) of the NDA , the Judgment vacating the arbitration award should include an award of reasonable costs and fees to Ms. Denson.
” It ’ s unclear if Denson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump campaign has the option of seeking an appeal of the recent court decision overruling the arbitration award .
However , if that underlying court decision is allowed to stand , it could have ramifications for others who have sought to get out of NDAs , particularly in Manhattan and the Bronx , the jurisdiction the appellate court covers .
Denson ’ s legal battle with the campaign is a complicated one that has played out in both state and federal court .
It began in 2017 , with a state court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced discrimination , harassment and other forms of hostility while working on the campaign .
( Denson did not make any claims against Trump personally . )
The campaign countered by accusing Denson of violating her NDA in making those assertions against the campaign in her court filings .
A federal judge eventually ordered that the NDA dispute be moved to arbitration , an arena that is typically tilted toward the employer and where the proceedings are largely shielded from public view .
The arbitrator ultimately found that Denson , who did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated the agreement and ordered that she pay the Trump campaign nearly $ 50,000 to cover its legal fees for litigating the dispute .
Denson then turned to a state court to overturn that arbitration judgement .
She lost in a lower court , appealed , and on Feb. 6 , New York ’ s First Department of the Appellate Division ruled in her favor and reversed those decisions .
The appeals court decision was broadly supportive of NDAs , but said in this case , the arbitrator had erred by ruling against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filings .
“ Plaintiff ’ s negative statements about defendant , for which the arbitrator made an award , were made in the context of the federal action in which she sought a declaration that the NDA was unenforceable , ” the Manhattan-based appeals court said .
“ By concluding that the allegations in the federal action are tantamount to disclosure of confidential information violative of the NDA , the arbitrator improperly punished plaintiff for availing herself of a judicial forum.
” The appeals court also said the arbitrator had exceeded his authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct that was not in front of him .
The Trump campaign has until March 4 to respond to Denson ’ s attorneys fees request .
“ This particular NDA was used as a way of retaliating against Jessica for pursuing legitimate rights in court , ” Maury Josephson , one of Denson ’ s attorneys , told TPM .
“ Most of the damages the Trump camp was awarded [ in the arbitration decision that was vacated ] were legal fees .
Now that Jessica has prevailed , given the language of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she should be awarded her attorneys fees.
” Besides the question of Densons ’ attorneys fees , the Feb. 6 decision could make it easier for others to get around non-disclosure agreements , one outside legal expert in NDAs told TPM .
“ It ’ s exceptional and noteworthy to see a court go out of its way to overturn an arbitration like this , ” Josh Zuckerberg — a partner at the firm Pryor Cashman , where he specializes in labor employment law — told TPM , as courts have “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbiter ’ s authority .
But here , the court essentially said , according to Zuckerberg , that “ we ’ re going to have a hard time upholding an NDA ” for statements made under the “ absolute privilege ” of going to court .
Read Denson ’ s motion for fees and other relevant filings , including a copy of the NDA , below :

What goes around often comes around. And in the case of a former Trump campaign staffer who sued to free herself from its non-disclosure agreement, what is coming around is a provision in the NDA that could require the President’s campaign to pay her nearly $165,000 in attorneys fees.
The NDA language requires that the prevailing party in an NDA dispute have their legal fees and costs covered by the losing party.
Legal experts tell TPM that the language is fairly standard in NDAs and that it’s used as a deterrent to further discourage employees from violating disclosure agreements.
But Jessica Denson — a former official on the 2016 campaign who sought release from her NDA amid claims of discrimination and bullying — is now wielding it against the Trump campaign, after a New York appeals court decision earlier this month in her favor.
In court filings submitted last week, Denson requested that the Trump campaign award her $164,685.57 in fees and costs. She was able to make the request after securing the uncommon legal win by getting a court to reverse an arbitration decision against her.
The latest filings specifically quoted the NDA provision, which said “Any court judgment or arbitration award shall include an award of reasonable legal fees and costs to the prevailing party.”
“The fee and cost shifting clause is mandatory,” Denson’s lawyer said in the filing, adding that “in accordance with the mandatory language of Section 18(c) of the NDA, the Judgment vacating the arbitration award should include an award of reasonable costs and fees to Ms. Denson.”
It’s unclear if Denson’s gambit will be successful. The Trump campaign has the option of seeking an appeal of the recent court decision overruling the arbitration award.
However, if that underlying court decision is allowed to stand, it could have ramifications for others who have sought to get out of NDAs, particularly in Manhattan and the Bronx, the jurisdiction the appellate court covers.
Denson’s legal battle with the campaign is a complicated one that has played out in both state and federal court. It began in 2017, with a state court lawsuit in which Denson alleged that she faced discrimination, harassment and other forms of hostility while working on the campaign. (Denson did not make any claims against Trump personally.)
The campaign countered by accusing Denson of violating her NDA in making those assertions against the campaign in her court filings. A federal judge eventually ordered that the NDA dispute be moved to arbitration, an arena that is typically tilted toward the employer and where the proceedings are largely shielded from public view.
The arbitrator ultimately found that Denson, who did not participate in the arbitration proceedings, had violated the agreement and ordered that she pay the Trump campaign nearly $50,000 to cover its legal fees for litigating the dispute.
Denson then turned to a state court to overturn that arbitration judgement. She lost in a lower court, appealed, and on Feb. 6, New York’s First Department of the Appellate Division ruled in her favor and reversed those decisions.
The appeals court decision was broadly supportive of NDAs, but said in this case, the arbitrator had erred by ruling against Denson based on statements made in court filings.
“Plaintiff’s negative statements about defendant, for which the arbitrator made an award, were made in the context of the federal action in which she sought a declaration that the NDA was unenforceable,” the Manhattan-based appeals court said. “By concluding that the allegations in the federal action are tantamount to disclosure of confidential information violative of the NDA, the arbitrator improperly punished plaintiff for availing herself of a judicial forum.”
The appeals court also said the arbitrator had exceeded his authority by also ruling on the basis of conduct that was not in front of him.
The Trump campaign has until March 4 to respond to Denson’s attorneys fees request.
“This particular NDA was used as a way of retaliating against Jessica for pursuing legitimate rights in court,” Maury Josephson, one of Denson’s attorneys, told TPM. “Most of the damages the Trump camp was awarded [in the arbitration decision that was vacated] were legal fees. Now that Jessica has prevailed, given the language of the NDA, it is only fair that she should be awarded her attorneys fees.”
Besides the question of Densons’ attorneys fees, the Feb. 6 decision could make it easier for others to get around non-disclosure agreements, one outside legal expert in NDAs told TPM.
“It’s exceptional and noteworthy to see a court go out of its way to overturn an arbitration like this,” Josh Zuckerberg — a partner at the firm Pryor Cashman, where he specializes in labor employment law — told TPM, as courts have “been very permissive and supportive of the arbiter’s authority.
But here, the court essentially said, according to Zuckerberg, that “we’re going to have a hard time upholding an NDA” for statements made under the “absolute privilege” of going to court.
Read Denson’s motion for fees and other relevant filings, including a copy of the NDA, below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--WH Vows To ‘Take Appropriate Action’ Against Officials Deemed Disloyal

White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley and counselor Kellyanne Conway seemed to add more fuel to the fire that has emerged from Axios ’ Sunday evening report detailing the Trump administration ’ s list of officials that it ’ s looking to oust .
Axios reported Sunday evening that for the past 18 months , the White House and its allies “ assembled detailed lists of disloyal government officials to oust and trusted pro-Trump people to replace them.
” When asked about whether there is truth to Axios ’ report during an interview on Fox News Monday morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty clear about the fact that he wants people in this administration who want to forward his agenda.
” “ Donald Trump was the only one elected , ” Gidley said .
“ He was the only one that the American people voted for .
They didn ’ t vote for someone at any of these other agencies , any of these other departments.
” After railing against the media for “ pushing their own selfish political agenda ” by reporting on federal government workers working against the President , Gidley argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has the right to have people in positions that forward and execute his agenda.
” Asked again if there is truth to the lists reportedly being assembled by the administration , Gidley claimed that “ if there are any lists , I ’ ve not seen them ” but that “ we know there are people actively working against this President.
” Fox News co-anchor Sandra Smith then asked if there are plans to actively fire any of those people on that list , which prompted Gidley to suggest that government officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President will face consequences .
“ It ’ s not a secret we want people in positions that work with this President and not against them , ” Gidley said .
“ Too often we have people in this government — the federal government is massive with millions of people and there are a lot of folks out there working against this President .
If we find them , we will take appropriate action.
” Later Monday , Conway was also pressed on Fox News about the White House ’ s reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I differ a little bit with the details as they ’ ve been reported.
” While rambling about how “ the most important list ” is “ people who want to work to promote the agenda and want to work on behalf of this country , ” Conway argued that “ we should not have people in government who are undermining the President ’ s agenda.
” When Fox News ’ Harris Faulkner pointed out that the criticism from Axios ’ report stems from Trump saying after his acquittal in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people who had gone against him , Conway responded that “ the payback is coming through the nomination of Bernie Sanders.
” After sarcastically thanking Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) , Conway added that she ’ d like to thank Never Trumpers as well for “ delivering Bernie Sanders as the possible nominee .
”

White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley and counselor Kellyanne Conway seemed to add more fuel to the fire that has emerged from Axios’ Sunday evening report detailing the Trump administration’s list of officials that it’s looking to oust.
Axios reported Sunday evening that for the past 18 months, the White House and its allies “assembled detailed lists of disloyal government officials to oust and trusted pro-Trump people to replace them.”
When asked about whether there is truth to Axios’ report during an interview on Fox News Monday morning, Gidley said that Trump has been “pretty clear about the fact that he wants people in this administration who want to forward his agenda.”
“Donald Trump was the only one elected,” Gidley said. “He was the only one that the American people voted for. They didn’t vote for someone at any of these other agencies, any of these other departments.”
After railing against the media for “pushing their own selfish political agenda” by reporting on federal government workers working against the President, Gidley argued that “every President, this one included, has the right to have people in positions that forward and execute his agenda.”
Asked again if there is truth to the lists reportedly being assembled by the administration, Gidley claimed that “if there are any lists, I’ve not seen them” but that “we know there are people actively working against this President.”
Fox News co-anchor Sandra Smith then asked if there are plans to actively fire any of those people on that list, which prompted Gidley to suggest that government officials who are deemed to be working against the President will face consequences.
“It’s not a secret we want people in positions that work with this President and not against them,” Gidley said. “Too often we have people in this government — the federal government is massive with millions of people and there are a lot of folks out there working against this President. If we find them, we will take appropriate action.”
Watch Gidley’s remarks below:
Gidley: "There are a lot of folks out there working against this President. If we find them, we will take appropriate action." pic.twitter.com/LbD0Bv9TkP — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 24, 2020
Later Monday, Conway was also pressed on Fox News about the White House’s reaction to Axios’ report, saying that “I differ a little bit with the details as they’ve been reported.”
While rambling about how “the most important list” is “people who want to work to promote the agenda and want to work on behalf of this country,” Conway argued that “we should not have people in government who are undermining the President’s agenda.”
When Fox News’ Harris Faulkner pointed out that the criticism from Axios’ report stems from Trump saying after his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial that there may be payback for people who had gone against him, Conway responded that “the payback is coming through the nomination of Bernie Sanders.”
After sarcastically thanking Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Conway added that she’d like to thank Never Trumpers as well for “delivering Bernie Sanders as the possible nominee.”
Watch Conway’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Bloomberg Blames Sanders Campaign For Office Vandalism With Zero Evidence… Again

For the second time , 2020 candidate Michael Bloomberg ’ s campaign has accused Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ ( I-VT ) supporters of vandalizing one of the campaign ’ s offices without providing any evidence .
The Bloomberg campaign reported on Monday that vandals had spray painted “ OLIGARCH ” on the entrance of its office in Chicago , Illinois Sunday night , which the campaign described as “ an act of hate.
” Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey admitted in a statement that “ while we do not know who is directly responsible , ” Sanders and his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the word ‘ oligarch ' ” to describe the billionaire .
“ Sen .
Sanders ’ refusal to denounce these illegal acts is a sign of his inability to lead , and his willingness to condone and promote Trump-like rhetoric , has no place in our politics , ” Sheekey said .
His statement included a photo of the defaced office entrance , which shows the vandals had also spray painted “ SEXIST , ” “ RACIST ” and “ GOP.
” However , the campaign manager did not mention those words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Anthony Guglielmi , the chief communications officer at the Chicago Police Department , confirmed to TPM that the office had been vandalized by what appeared to be three people , who have not yet been identified .
“ It is still premature for us to comment on who may be responsible , ” said Guglielmi .
The Sanders campaign declined to comment .
In a similar episode last week , the Bloomberg campaign pointed the finger at Sanders after the campaign ’ s office in Knoxville , Tennessee had been spray painted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ resist , ” and “ oligarch.
” And similar to the incident in Chicago , the campaign offered zero evidence for its accusation .
“ We don ’ t know who is responsible for this vandalism , but we do know it echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters , ” Sheekey said at the time .
During the Democratic debate on Wednesday , Sanders condemned those who made “ ugly remarks ” on his behalf .
“ I disown those people , ” he said .

For the second time, 2020 candidate Michael Bloomberg’s campaign has accused Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) supporters of vandalizing one of the campaign’s offices without providing any evidence.
The Bloomberg campaign reported on Monday that vandals had spray painted “OLIGARCH” on the entrance of its office in Chicago, Illinois Sunday night, which the campaign described as “an act of hate.”
Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey admitted in a statement that “while we do not know who is directly responsible,” Sanders and his campaign “have repeatedly invoked this language, and the word ‘oligarch'” to describe the billionaire.
“Sen. Sanders’ refusal to denounce these illegal acts is a sign of his inability to lead, and his willingness to condone and promote Trump-like rhetoric, has no place in our politics,” Sheekey said.
His statement included a photo of the defaced office entrance, which shows the vandals had also spray painted “SEXIST,” “RACIST” and “GOP.” However, the campaign manager did not mention those words in his condemnation of “hateful rhetoric.”
Anthony Guglielmi, the chief communications officer at the Chicago Police Department, confirmed to TPM that the office had been vandalized by what appeared to be three people, who have not yet been identified.
“It is still premature for us to comment on who may be responsible,” said Guglielmi.
The Sanders campaign declined to comment.
In a similar episode last week, the Bloomberg campaign pointed the finger at Sanders after the campaign’s office in Knoxville, Tennessee had been spray painted with the words “Fuck Bloomberg,” “resist,” and “oligarch.” And similar to the incident in Chicago, the campaign offered zero evidence for its accusation.
“We don’t know who is responsible for this vandalism, but we do know it echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters,” Sheekey said at the time.
During the Democratic debate on Wednesday, Sanders condemned those who made “ugly remarks” on his behalf.
“I disown those people,” he said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Fox Business Host Confusingly Blames Dow Plunge On Sanders’ Nevada Win

Fox Business Network host Charles Payne argued during a Monday morning segment on Fox News that Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ ( I-VT ) win in the Nevada Democratic caucuses last weekend is to blame for a plunge in the stock market .
The Associated Press reported Monday morning that global markets have fallen sharply amid a worrisome spread in coronavirus cases , prompting investors to run for safety .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average , S & P 500 index and the Nasdaq have all taken notable hits as of Monday morning .
Upon asking Payne if the spread in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell-off in overseas markets , Fox News co-host Ed Henry also asked him if this is the first time the markets are open since Sanders became the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary .
Payne replied that “ the Bernie factor is finally rearing its head in the stock market ” before listing off a series of stocks that have taken a hit .
“ Molina Health — one of the biggest health insurance companies in this country — is down 8 percent , United Health is down over 6 percent , Anthem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Hospital stocks are getting hit.
” When asked by co-host Sandra Smith whether he directly attributes that to Sanders , Payne replied “ absolutely ” before throwing Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) under the bus as well .
“ There ’ s absolutely no doubt , ” Payne said .
“ These stocks got hammered when Elizabeth Warren was in the lead .
And when she had her biggest point of leading in the polls , all of these stocks were under an extreme amount of pressure as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names came out with great earnings estimates .
They rebounded pretty nicely.
” Payne added that “ this is the first time I think Wall Street has taken Bernie Sanders very seriously .
”

Huh?
Fox Business Network host Charles Payne argued during a Monday morning segment on Fox News that Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) win in the Nevada Democratic caucuses last weekend is to blame for a plunge in the stock market.
The Associated Press reported Monday morning that global markets have fallen sharply amid a worrisome spread in coronavirus cases, prompting investors to run for safety. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq have all taken notable hits as of Monday morning.
Upon asking Payne if the spread in coronavirus cases is to blame for the sell-off in overseas markets, Fox News co-host Ed Henry also asked him if this is the first time the markets are open since Sanders became the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary.
Payne replied that “the Bernie factor is finally rearing its head in the stock market” before listing off a series of stocks that have taken a hit.
“Molina Health — one of the biggest health insurance companies in this country — is down 8 percent, United Health is down over 6 percent, Anthem is down 5 percent,” Payne said. “Hospital stocks are getting hit.”
When asked by co-host Sandra Smith whether he directly attributes that to Sanders, Payne replied “absolutely” before throwing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) under the bus as well.
“There’s absolutely no doubt,” Payne said. “These stocks got hammered when Elizabeth Warren was in the lead. And when she had her biggest point of leading in the polls, all of these stocks were under an extreme amount of pressure as she began to wane and some of these names came out with great earnings estimates. They rebounded pretty nicely.”
Payne added that “this is the first time I think Wall Street has taken Bernie Sanders very seriously.”
Watch Payne’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Weinstein Officially A Convicted Rapist But Cleared On Most Serious Charges

Harvey Weinstein has been convicted by a New York jury of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree , skirting more serious charges that would have meant life behind bars .
He now faces five to 25 years in prison , per New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance .
He was acquitted on predatory sexual assault charges , which carry the heaviest sentences .
“ It ’ s rape whether committed by an indigent person or man of immense power , prestige and privilege , ” Vance said at a press conference after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the survivor reports within an hour , within a year , or perhaps never.
” He added that he was not “ dissatisfied ” with the conviction despite the possible paltry minimum sentence , saying that the case had “ shattered myths ” about sexual assault that have long plagued the criminal justice system .
The jury — comprised of seven men and five women — deliberated for 26-and-a-half hours over five days .
Per the Los Angeles Times , jurors struggled over the predatory sexual assault counts , and asked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide on the other counts .
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge James Burke ordered them to keep deliberating .
The jury heard from six women who , sometimes emotionally , told their stories of rape and the pernicious power Weinstein held over those in the movie-making world .
The prosecution tried to paint the women as opportunists who engaged in consensual sex to further their careers .
Weinstein ’ s landmark case was the beginning of the # MeToo movement , a wellspring of women coming forward with allegations of sexual assault against powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though few men have actually faced legal consequences for the acts — notably , comedian Bill Cosby who is currently serving a three to 10 year prison sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand — many have , at the very least , lost their jobs and suffered damage to their reputation .
Weinstein , for one , is not out of the woods yet — he faces four more counts of rape and sexual battery charges in Los Angeles County .

Harvey Weinstein has been convicted by a New York jury of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, skirting more serious charges that would have meant life behind bars.
He now faces five to 25 years in prison, per New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance.
He was acquitted on predatory sexual assault charges, which carry the heaviest sentences.
“It’s rape whether committed by an indigent person or man of immense power, prestige and privilege,” Vance said at a press conference after the conviction. “Rape is rape whether the survivor reports within an hour, within a year, or perhaps never.”
He added that he was not “dissatisfied” with the conviction despite the possible paltry minimum sentence, saying that the case had “shattered myths” about sexual assault that have long plagued the criminal justice system.
The jury — comprised of seven men and five women — deliberated for 26-and-a-half hours over five days. Per the Los Angeles Times, jurors struggled over the predatory sexual assault counts, and asked the judge if they could remain deadlocked but decide on the other counts. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge James Burke ordered them to keep deliberating.
The jury heard from six women who, sometimes emotionally, told their stories of rape and the pernicious power Weinstein held over those in the movie-making world.
The defense tried to paint the women as opportunists who engaged in consensual sex to further their careers.
Weinstein’s landmark case was the beginning of the #MeToo movement, a wellspring of women coming forward with allegations of sexual assault against powerful men in a wide swath of industries. Though few men have actually faced legal consequences for the acts — notably, comedian Bill Cosby who is currently serving a three to 10 year prison sentence for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand — many have, at the very least, lost their jobs and suffered damage to their reputation.
Weinstein, for one, is not out of the woods yet — he faces four more counts of rape and sexual battery charges in Los Angeles County.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--How The Judge Gutted Stone’s Ridiculous Attempt To Get Her Removed From His Case

Trump ally Roger Stone tried to get U.S. District Judge Amy Jackson Berman to recuse herself from his criminal case on Friday , claiming that she could not be trusted to be impartial because she mentioned the jurors had “ served with integrity ” in the trial .
The judge responded to Stone ’ s request by shredding his accusation into itty-bitty pieces .
Stone , who claims one of the jurors was biased and therefore he deserves a new trial , accused Berman Jackson of being biased herself when she made the comment about “ integrity ” during Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Sure , the defense is free to say , ‘ So what ?
Who cares ?
’ But I ’ ll say this : Congress cared , ” she had said .
“ The United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney ’ s Office for the District of Columbia that prosecuted the case and is still prosecuting the case cared .
The jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances cared .
The American people cared .
And I care.
” Here ’ s how Berman Jackson dismantled Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Comment Wasn ’ t Directed At His Motion For A New Trial Berman Jackson asserted that she had made a simple observation about the case and Stone ’ s flippant defense of his actions when she mentioned the jurors , not a judgment call about his claim that one of the jurors was biased .
“ The Court ’ s very general comment that ‘ jurors ’ served with integrity – three words on the 88th page of the 96-page transcript of a two-and-a-half-hour hearing – did not purport to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she wrote .
She Didn ’ t Make The Comment Outside The Courtroom The judge pointed out that the comment was not an “ extrajudicial ” statement .
In fact , she hadn ’ t made any comment about the case at all outside the courtroom , and moreover , Stone ’ s lawyers aren ’ t even arguing that she did .
In order for Stone ’ s argument to hold up , Berman Jackson would ’ ve had to have discussed the case in a partial manner outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim of bias rests entirely on three words : “ served with integrity ” and nothing more , she noted .
Stone ’ s legal team is essentially trying to get Berman Jackson kicked out for daring to comment on a case based on the evidence laid out in front of her …which is exactly what judges are supposed to do .
“ If parties could move to disqualify every judge who furrows his brow at one side or the other before ruling , the entire court system would come to a standstill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Actually Been Pretty Accommodating To Him , All Things Considered Besides , Berman Jackson argued , it would be laughable to accuse her of being biased against Stone , given how much leeway she ’ s given him in the case by allowing his team to remove nearly 60 potential jurors from the trial and the fact that she “ repeatedly resolved bond issues in his favor , ” even after he violated his gag order and blabbed about his case on social media .
Additionally , the judge noted that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months was far shorter than the seven to nine years the original prosecutors in Stone ’ s case had recommended before the Justice Department walked back the recommendation .
He ’ s Doing This As A Political Stunt Finally , she called out Stone ’ s true motivation for his request : To push a certain narrative .
“ At bottom , given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for disqualification , the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumption that has the words ‘ judge ’ and ‘ biased ’ in it , ” she wrote .
President Donald Trump began attacking Stone ’ s case less than two weeks ago by baselessly claiming the juror and Berman Jackson were deliberately working against his friend .
Stone has since followed suit by filing motions for a new trial on the basis that he was treated unfairly , even though Trump ’ s attacks against the juror has no basis in reality and , as Berman Jackson proved , neither does his @ @ @ @ @

Trump ally Roger Stone tried to get U.S. District Judge Amy Jackson Berman to recuse herself from his criminal case on Friday, claiming that she could not be trusted to be impartial because she mentioned the jurors had “served with integrity” in the trial.
The judge responded to Stone’s request by shredding his accusation into itty-bitty pieces.
Stone, who claims one of the jurors was biased and therefore he deserves a new trial, accused Berman Jackson of being biased herself when she made the comment about “integrity” during Stone’s sentencing hearing last week.
“Sure, the defense is free to say, ‘So what? Who cares?’ But I’ll say this: Congress cared,” she had said. “The United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia that prosecuted the case and is still prosecuting the case cared. The jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances cared. The American people cared. And I care.”
Here’s how Berman Jackson dismantled Stone’s argument on her alleged bias.
The Comment Wasn’t Directed At His Motion For A New Trial
Berman Jackson asserted that she had made a simple observation about the case and Stone’s flippant defense of his actions when she mentioned the jurors, not a judgment call about his claim that one of the jurors was biased.
“The Court’s very general comment that ‘jurors’ served with integrity – three words on the 88th page of the 96-page transcript of a two-and-a-half-hour hearing – did not purport to, and did not, address the motion,” she wrote.
She Didn’t Make The Comment Outside The Courtroom
The judge pointed out that the comment was not an “extrajudicial” statement. In fact, she hadn’t made any comment about the case at all outside the courtroom, and moreover, Stone’s lawyers aren’t even arguing that she did.
In order for Stone’s argument to hold up, Berman Jackson would’ve had to have discussed the case in a partial manner outside of the case proceedings. Stone’s claim of bias rests entirely on three words: “served with integrity” and nothing more, she noted.
As A Judge, She’s Allowed To Make Observations
Stone’s legal team is essentially trying to get Berman Jackson kicked out for daring to comment on a case based on the evidence laid out in front of her …which is exactly what judges are supposed to do.
“If parties could move to disqualify every judge who furrows his brow at one side
or the other before ruling, the entire court system would come to a standstill,” she wrote.
She’s Actually Been Pretty Accommodating To Him, All Things Considered
Besides, Berman Jackson argued, it would be laughable to accuse her of being biased against Stone, given how much leeway she’s given him in the case by allowing his team to remove nearly 60 potential jurors from the trial and the fact that she “repeatedly resolved bond issues in his favor,” even after he violated his gag order and blabbed about his case on social media.
Additionally, the judge noted that her prison sentence of three years and four months was far shorter than the seven to nine years the original prosecutors in Stone’s case had recommended before the Justice Department walked back the recommendation.
He’s Doing This As A Political Stunt
Finally, she called out Stone’s true motivation for his request: To push a certain narrative.
“At bottom, given the absence of any factual or legal support for the motion for
disqualification, the pleading appears to be nothing more than an attempt to use the Court’s docket to disseminate a statement for public consumption that has the words ‘judge’ and ‘biased’ in it,” she wrote.
President Donald Trump began attacking Stone’s case less than two weeks ago by baselessly claiming the juror and Berman Jackson were deliberately working against his friend.
Stone has since followed suit by filing motions for a new trial on the basis that he was treated unfairly, even though Trump’s attacks against the juror has no basis in reality and, as Berman Jackson proved, neither does his claim about the judge.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--DC’s Resigned Federal Prosecutor Faced Political Heat From Case Of Trump Foe McCabe

In the run-up to former U.S. Attorney for the District Columbia Jessie Liu ’ s resignation from the Trump administration earlier this month , she was under intense political pressure , according to new reports .
Now , Liu is beginning to look like another casualty in President Donald Trump ’ s war on supposedly “ disloyal ” officials .
Multiple reports paint a picture of a prosecutor stuck between politics and the law .
Liu was even reportedly been targeted by an effort spearheaded by Ginni Thomas , the conservative activist and wife of the Supreme Court Justice Clarence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ deep state.
” Central to the pressures facing Liu ’ s office was the President ’ s years-long grudge against the fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe .
The McCabe case was only recently closed without an indictment , to Trump ’ s great rage .
Liu left her U.S. attorney post earlier than planned this month , reportedly at Attorney General Bill Barr ’ s urging .
And though she was at first offered a new job — a Senate-confirmed , high-profile post at the Treasury Department — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case to argue against Liu ’ s nomination .
After reportedly reading a memo by the staffer , Trump withdrew Liu ’ s nomination to the post .
According to a New York Times report Sunday , Liu ’ s relationship with Barr grew strained in September , after two teams of prosecutors failed to deliver an indictment against McCabe , who was found in an internal DOJ leak investigation to have lacked “ candor.
” After an initial team from Liu ’ s office found it couldn ’ t win a conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liu put another team on the case .
In September , those line prosecutors impaneled a grand jury , but no indictment was ever approved .
The pressure on Liu from Barr , and the public pressure to go after McCabe from a President who tweeted frequently about the defendant , were extremely unusual .
Liu ultimately left the U.S. Attorney ’ s office at Barr ’ s urging .
She ’ d planned to wait until she was confirmed by the Senate for her new post as Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the top federal prosecutor in D.C .
But Barr asked her to leave early , expressing concern about a drawn-out nomination , the Times reported .
And when she acquiesced , he replaced her with his adviser Timothy Shea on an interim basis .
The fallout from the non-indictment against McCabe would follow Liu through the Treasury Department nomination process .
According to an Axios report Sunday , an influential Republican Senate staffer used the McCabe case as an argument against placing Liu in the Treasury post .
The staffer , Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the emails Hillary Clinton stored on her private email server , an effort that put her in touch with former Trump adviser Michael Flynn .
Earlier this month , Ledeen successfully lobbied the President to ditch Liu via a memo that cited the McCabe case and that Liu ’ s office initially recommended jail time for former national security Adviser Michael Flynn .
Also , according to Axios , Ledeen ’ s memo objected to the lack of criminal charges from Liu ’ s office against some of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post initially reported Ledeen ’ s lobbying , which she denied .
According to Axios , Ledeen is among those in a Thomas-led network of conservatives , known as “ Groundswell , ” advocating against administration officials seen as disloyal to Trump .
CNN reported that Thomas and Ledeen have worked to make lists of such administration officials .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s office in D.C. declined TPM ’ s request for comment .
Neither McCabe ’ s legal team nor the Justice Department responded to a request for comment , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ledeen works as a majority staffer .
Even without an indictment against McCabe — and even with Liu gone — the Trump administration ’ s efforts continued .
Several reports indicated earlier this month that Barr had assigned another U.S. Attorney , Jeff Jensen of St. Louis , to look into the beginning of the FBI ’ s probe into Flynn ; McCabe arranged the meeting in which Flynn allegedly lied to the Bureau .

In the run-up to former U.S. Attorney for the District Columbia Jessie Liu’s resignation from the Trump administration earlier this month, she was under intense political pressure, according to new reports.
Now, Liu is beginning to look like another casualty in President Donald Trump’s war on supposedly “disloyal” officials. Multiple reports paint a picture of a prosecutor stuck between politics and the law. Liu was even reportedly been targeted by an effort spearheaded by Ginni Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to root out members of the “deep state.”
Central to the pressures facing Liu’s office was the President’s years-long grudge against the fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. The McCabe case was only recently closed without an indictment, to Trump’s great rage.
Liu left her U.S. attorney post earlier than planned this month, reportedly at Attorney General Bill Barr’s urging. And though she was at first offered a new job — a Senate-confirmed, high-profile post at the Treasury Department — a conservative Senate staffer reportedly used the McCabe case to argue against Liu’s nomination.
After reportedly reading a memo by the staffer, Trump withdrew Liu’s nomination to the post.
According to a New York Times report Sunday, Liu’s relationship with Barr grew strained in September, after two teams of prosecutors failed to deliver an indictment against McCabe, who was found in an internal DOJ leak investigation to have lacked “candor.”
After an initial team from Liu’s office found it couldn’t win a conviction against McCabe, the Times said, Liu put another team on the case. In September, those line prosecutors impaneled a grand jury, but no indictment was ever approved.
The pressure on Liu from Barr, and the public pressure to go after McCabe from a President who tweeted frequently about the defendant, were extremely unusual.
Liu ultimately left the U.S. Attorney’s office at Barr’s urging. She’d planned to wait until she was confirmed by the Senate for her new post as Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial crimes before leaving her job as the top federal prosecutor in D.C.
But Barr asked her to leave early, expressing concern about a drawn-out nomination, the Times reported. And when she acquiesced, he replaced her with his adviser Timothy Shea on an interim basis.
The fallout from the non-indictment against McCabe would follow Liu through the Treasury Department nomination process.
According to an Axios report Sunday, an influential Republican Senate staffer used the McCabe case as an argument against placing Liu in the Treasury post.
The staffer, Barbara Ledeen, was involved in the search for the emails Hillary Clinton stored on her private email server, an effort that put her in touch with former Trump adviser Michael Flynn. Earlier this month, Ledeen successfully lobbied the President to ditch Liu via a memo that cited the McCabe case and that Liu’s office initially recommended jail time for former national security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Also, according to Axios, Ledeen’s memo objected to the lack of criminal charges from Liu’s office against some of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accusers.
The Washington Post initially reported Ledeen’s lobbying, which she denied.
According to Axios, Ledeen is among those in a Thomas-led network of conservatives, known as “Groundswell,” advocating against administration officials seen as disloyal to Trump. CNN reported that Thomas and Ledeen have worked to make lists of such administration officials.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C. declined TPM’s request for comment. Neither McCabe’s legal team nor the Justice Department responded to a request for comment, nor did the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Ledeen works as a majority staffer.
Even without an indictment against McCabe — and even with Liu gone — the Trump administration’s efforts continued. Several reports indicated earlier this month that Barr had assigned another U.S. Attorney, Jeff Jensen of St. Louis, to look into the beginning of the FBI’s probe into Flynn; McCabe arranged the meeting in which Flynn allegedly lied to the Bureau.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-24--Bloomberg Goes AWOL To Prep For Second Debate

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is largely staying out of the public eye in the wake of his poor performance during his first Democratic presidential debate last week .
According to the Wall Street Journal Monday , while other Democratic presidential candidates held rallies in Super Tuesday states throughout the weekend , Bloomberg was busy preparing for his second debate appearance set for Tuesday in South Carolina .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign event in Utah last week has been his only public appearance thus far since last week ’ s debate .
Given his stumbles during last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skip the first four primaries , Bloomberg is heading into the debate in South Carolina knowing that he needs to show an improved performance days before the state ’ s primary .
Bloomberg is also hanging his hopes on gaining a substantial amount of delegates from next week from Super Tuesday , according to the Wall Street Journal , which will be his first appearance on the ballot in 14 states .
In a statement shared with TPM Monday , the Bloomberg campaign declined to share details about the the candidate ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate needs to be about one candidate : Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) .
“ It ’ s everyone ’ s last chance before Super Tuesday to really challenge his record and his ideas , ” Bloomberg ’ s campaign told TPM .
“ If you ’ re not willing to take on the frontrunner at this stage in the race , when will you be ?
” Bloomberg ’ s campaign also told TPM that Bloomberg “ drew a clear contrast ” with Sanders in the last debate by “ delivering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to Bloomberg ’ s line that Sanders is “ the best known socialist ” who “ happens to be a millionaire with three houses ” — and looks to do the same during Tuesday night ’ s debate in South Carolina .
“ If everyone else can ’ t find the courage to take [ Sanders ] on , they don ’ t deserve to win the nomination , ” Bloomberg ’ s campaign told TPM .
A Twitter video released by Bloomberg Monday morning seemed to illuminate his intention to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ad , which hits Sanders for his gun voting record , appears to piggyback off of his tweet thread last Thursday that criticized Sanders ’ complicated history with the NRA .
On Sunday night , Bloomberg ’ s campaign announced that it has delayed a CNN town hall scheduled for Monday so that he could take more time to prepare ahead of Tuesday night ’ s debate .
Instead , Bloomberg will attend CNN ’ s live question-and-answer program Wednesday .
Reflecting on his debate performance two days later , Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t my best night ” and that he “ didn ’ t have a chance to really say what I wanted to say .
”

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is largely staying out of the public eye in the wake of his poor performance during his first Democratic presidential debate last week.
According to the Wall Street Journal Monday, while other Democratic presidential candidates held rallies in Super Tuesday states throughout the weekend, Bloomberg was busy preparing for his second debate appearance set for Tuesday in South Carolina. Bloomberg’s campaign event in Utah last week has been his only public appearance thus far since last week’s debate.
Given his stumbles during last week’s performance and his decision to skip the first four primaries, Bloomberg is heading into the debate in South Carolina knowing that he needs to show an improved performance days before the state’s primary. Bloomberg is also hanging his hopes on gaining a substantial amount of delegates from next week from Super Tuesday, according to the Wall Street Journal, which will be his first appearance on the ballot in 14 states.
In a statement shared with TPM Monday, the Bloomberg campaign declined to share details about the the candidate’s debate preparation, but said that the debate needs to be about one candidate: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
“It’s everyone’s last chance before Super Tuesday to really challenge his record and his ideas,” Bloomberg’s campaign told TPM. “If you’re not willing to take on the frontrunner at this stage in the race, when will you be?”
Bloomberg’s campaign also told TPM that Bloomberg “drew a clear contrast” with Sanders in the last debate by “delivering the line of the night” — referring to Bloomberg’s line that Sanders is “the best known socialist” who “happens to be a millionaire with three houses” — and looks to do the same during Tuesday night’s debate in South Carolina.
“If everyone else can’t find the courage to take [Sanders] on, they don’t deserve to win the nomination,” Bloomberg’s campaign told TPM.
A Twitter video released by Bloomberg Monday morning seemed to illuminate his intention to take on Sanders during Tuesday’s debate. The ad, which hits Sanders for his gun voting record, appears to piggyback off of his tweet thread last Thursday that criticized Sanders’ complicated history with the NRA.
The NRA paved the road to Washington for Bernie Sanders. He spent the next three decades making sure they got a return on their investment. We deserve a president who is not beholden to the gun lobby.#NotMeNRA pic.twitter.com/HLYZe4J5PM — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020
On Sunday night, Bloomberg’s campaign announced that it has delayed a CNN town hall scheduled for Monday so that he could take more time to prepare ahead of Tuesday night’s debate. Instead, Bloomberg will attend CNN’s live question-and-answer program Wednesday.
Reflecting on his debate performance two days later, Bloomberg told MSNBC Friday that it “wasn’t my best night” and that he “didn’t have a chance to really say what I wanted to say.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Report: GOP Senate Intel Chair Worried Biden Investigations Could Backfire

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr ( R-NC ) was reportedly nervous that his fellow Republicans ’ investigations into Joe Biden could end up giving Russia exactly what it wants .
According to a Politico report , Burr privately warned Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) in early December that their corruption probes into Biden risks undermining the public ’ s confidence in the U.S. ’ political structure and fomenting the kind of mistrust the Kremlin seeks to foment .
There ’ s no evidence Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ best efforts to raise questions about the former vice president and his son , who sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company .
Burr ’ s warning came two weeks after Johnson and Grassley had requested records on the Obama administration ’ s contacts with Ukraine from the National Archives , a request the two Republicans just happened to issue one day after the House finished holding its public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump ’ s Ukraine scheme .
Grassley denied meeting with Burr on the issue in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We talk about things , ” Johnson told Politico without providing further details .
All three of the senators ’ offices did not immediately respond when TPM asked for confirmation on the meeting .

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr (R-NC) was reportedly nervous that his fellow Republicans’ investigations into Joe Biden could end up giving Russia exactly what it wants.
According to a Politico report, Burr privately warned Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in early December that their corruption probes into Biden risks undermining the public’s confidence in the U.S.’ political structure and fomenting the kind of mistrust the Kremlin seeks to foment.
There’s no evidence Biden has done anything wrong, despite Republicans’ best efforts to raise questions about the former vice president and his son, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
Burr’s warning came two weeks after Johnson and Grassley had requested records on the Obama administration’s contacts with Ukraine from the National Archives, a request the two Republicans just happened to issue one day after the House finished holding its public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump’s Ukraine scheme.
Grassley denied meeting with Burr on the issue in an interview with Politico on Thursday.
“We talk about things,” Johnson told Politico without providing further details.
All three of the senators’ offices did not immediately respond when TPM asked for confirmation on the meeting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-02-28--Fool In A Crisis: Trump Feverishly Attacks Dems As Coronavirus Fears Spread

Mere hours after claiming efforts to combat the pernicious coronavirus “ isn ’ t about political advantage , ” President Donald Trump took to Twitter early Friday morning to trash Democrats while patting himself on the back for his response to the disease .
“ So , the Coronavirus , which started in China and spread to various countries throughout the world , but very slowly in the U.S. because President Trump closed our border , and ended flights , VERY EARLY , is now being blamed , by the Do Nothing Democrats , to be the fault of ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was back at it less than an hour later .
“ The Do Nothing Democrats were busy wasting time on the Immigration Hoax , & anything else they could do to make the Republican Party look bad , while I was busy calling early BORDER & FLIGHT closings , putting us way ahead in our battle with Coronavirus , ” Trump wrote .
“ Dems called it VERY wrong !
” The President also whined about the press coverage his administration ’ s blundering response to the disease , saying that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job our professionals are doing !
” Trump has been using the coronavirus , which the CDC confirmed has now infected a total of 53 people in the U.S. , as a means to attack his political enemies over the past week as the stock market plunges due to growing fear of the deadly illness .
Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus has largely involved trying to tamp down on bad PR over said response to the point where , per White House orders , health officials must now have their public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence before they can provide new scientific information to the public .
Additionally , a whistleblower in the Department of Health and Human Services alleges that the administration retaliated against her when she filed a complaint about its inadequate preparation for the disease .
But despite attempts to control the messaging , Trump still admitted that the disease “ could get worse before it gets better .
”

Mere hours after claiming efforts to combat the pernicious coronavirus “isn’t about political advantage,” President Donald Trump took to Twitter early Friday morning to trash Democrats while patting himself on the back for his response to the disease.
“So, the Coronavirus, which started in China and spread to various countries throughout the world, but very slowly in the U.S. because President Trump closed our border, and ended flights, VERY EARLY, is now being blamed, by the Do Nothing Democrats, to be the fault of ‘Trump,'” Trump tweeted.
He was back at it less than an hour later.
“The Do Nothing Democrats were busy wasting time on the Immigration Hoax, & anything else they could do to make the Republican Party look bad, while I was busy calling early BORDER & FLIGHT closings, putting us way ahead in our battle with Coronavirus,” Trump wrote. “Dems called it VERY wrong!”
The President also whined about the press coverage his administration’s blundering response to the disease, saying that the media “refuses to discuss the great job our professionals are doing!”
Trump has been using the coronavirus, which the CDC confirmed has now infected a total of 53 people in the U.S., as a means to attack his political enemies over the past week as the stock market plunges due to growing fear of the deadly illness.
Trump’s response to the coronavirus has largely involved trying to tamp down on bad PR over said response to the point where, per White House orders, health officials must now have their public statements on the disease cleared by Vice President Mike Pence before they can provide new scientific information to the public.
Additionally, a whistleblower in the Department of Health and Human Services alleges that the administration retaliated against her when she filed a complaint about its inadequate preparation for the disease.
But despite attempts to control the messaging, Trump still admitted that the disease “could get worse before it gets better.”