buzzfeed--2020-02-19--Why Elizabeth Warren Got Dropped From A Poll Question About General Election Matchups

Elizabeth Warren was left out of a national poll question Tuesday that pitted Democratic candidates against Donald Trump , angering supporters who have protested that the media has erased her candidacy in the wake of her showings in Iowa and New Hampshire .
The poll , from NBC and the Wall Street Journal , found Warren was effectively tied for second place nationally , with 14 % of the vote .
But pollsters excluded her from a series of match-ups between Trump and top candidates .
The poll include Pete Buttigieg , Joe Biden , and Mike Bloomberg , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Amy Klobuchar , who trailed significantly behind them .
Peter Hart , whose firm conducted the poll , told BuzzFeed News that the poll had “ space and time ” for just five candidate match-ups .
“ Amy Klobuchar was selected as the fifth candidate , ” Hart said in an email .
“ We have tested Warren earlier , and I suspect she will be part of the next testing.
” To Warren backers , the poll was a flashpoint , the culmination of weeks of frustrations with media coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily on Klobuchar , who finished fifth in Iowa but surged to a surprising third place in New Hampshire .

Elizabeth Warren was left out of a national poll question Tuesday that pitted Democratic candidates against Donald Trump, angering supporters who have protested that the media has erased her candidacy in the wake of her showings in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The poll, from NBC and the Wall Street Journal, found Warren was effectively tied for second place nationally, with 14% of the vote.
But pollsters excluded her from a series of matchups between Trump and top candidates. They included Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, and Mike Bloomberg, who all polled within a point of Warren, and Amy Klobuchar, who trailed significantly behind them.
Peter Hart, whose firm conducted the poll, told BuzzFeed News that the poll had “space and time” for just five candidate matchups.
“Amy Klobuchar was selected as the fifth candidate,” Hart said in an email. “We have tested Warren earlier, and I suspect she will be part of the next testing.”
To Warren backers, the poll was a flashpoint, the culmination of weeks of frustrations with media coverage of her candidacy that has focused more heavily on Klobuchar, who finished fifth in Iowa but surged to a surprising third place in New Hampshire.


buzzfeed--2020-02-19--Mike Bloomberg Once Again Called Transgender People “It” And “Some Guy Wearing A Dress”

“ And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from , ” Bloomberg said at the forum last year .
“ You can understand when you look at the Democratic Party , they are so far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions , and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive .
I don ’ t know what progressive means.
” The video was posted to YouTube shortly after the March event , but has received few views .
Bloomberg was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , but announced his campaign just eight months after he made the remarks .
Bloomberg made a similar remark about a “ man wearing a dress ” in 2016 , but his comments uncovered Tuesday — remarks he made less than a year ago — came amid the early stages of the 2020 Democratic primary .
“ If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she , or it can go to the locker room with their daughter , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Bloomberg ’ s sensitivity was far less apparent at a forum hosted by the Bermuda Business Development Agency on March 21 , 2019 , in Manhattan , where Bloomberg derided Democratic candidates for talking about transgender protections .
And yet , Bloomberg ’ s campaign published a new video on Tuesday that pledged the former New York City mayor believed in “ inclusivity ” for “ LGBTQ+ youth , ” featuring fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi declaring , “ Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Bloomberg in 2019 describing transgender people as “ he , she , or it ” and “ some guy in a dress ” who enters girls locker rooms — invoking a conservative cliché as he argued that transgender rights are toxic for presidential candidates trying to reach Middle America .
A Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday , `` Mike understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights has not been equal .
In April 2002 , during his first year as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights bill into law .
His company provides comprehensive health care coverage for his transgender employees .
As president , he has a comprehensive plan to secure rights for transgender Americans , including passing the Equality Act , ensuring transgender people have access to affirming health care and working to end the crisis of violence against transgender women .
Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community . ''
His company Bloomberg LP joined a court filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a North Carolina law that banned transgender people from using restrooms that matched their gender identity in government buildings .
The spokesperson did not directly respond to BuzzFeed News ’ questions about whether Bloomberg thinks a transgender woman is “ a guy wearing a dress ” or an “ it , ” if transgender rights are a liability for Democratic presidential candidates , or how his campaign video on LGBTQ+ rights squares with his comments less than a year ago .
When Bloomberg raised a similar talking point in 2016 , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti–transgender rights law .
According to reports that emerged earlier this month , Bloomberg said , `` If you want to know if somebody is a good salesman , give him the job of going to the Midwest and picking a town and selling to that town the concept that some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter . ''
After those first comments were reported , a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told NBC News that the billionaire signed a gender identity nondiscrimination bill in 2002 when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community , '' the spokesperson told the network .
But the latest video shows that he was still deploying this idea three years later , in 2019 , as the primary started to unfold .
A former Republican , Bloomberg has emerged as contender in the Democratic primary after he doused the nation with a $ 400 million ad buy — enough to boost his poll numbers to 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released Tuesday and to qualify for Wednesday ’ s debate in Nevada .
At the same time , he ’ s faced a lash of criticism for his past positions on race and gender .
The Washington Post reported on several lawsuits that allege discrimination against women , including in one case in which he allegedly told a pregnant employee to “ kill ” her fetus .
Bloomberg also defended the New York City Police Department 's stop-and-frisk policy — which targeted people of color for searches — in a 2015 speech at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods .
Yes , that 's true .
Why 'd we do it ?
Because that 's where all the crime is .
And the way you should get the guns out of the kids ' hands is throw them against the wall and frisk them.
” Bloomberg tried to distance himself from those comments this month , telling NPR , “ I regret that and I have apologized.
” Bloomberg has also tried to reach LGBTQ progressives .
In the campaign video released Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ” emblem in the corner and was retweeted by his campaign , Mizrahi , a designer and entertainer , begins , “ My thing is LGBTQ+ youth.
” “ As a kid you feel completely ostracized , completely on the outside of everything , but then as an adult you see there is a whole bunch of inclusivity , ” Mizrahi continues .
“ Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue .
Having lived in New York for a number of years that Mike was mayor and seeing him enact these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ populations but also the kids , the thing I like about Mike is that he ’ s really proactive.
” “ There is no one more perfect than Mike , ” he concludes .
Back at the March 2019 forum , Bloomberg said he ’ d largely ruled out running for president this year due to his political views , saying in a video , “ It ’ s just not going to happen on a national level for somebody like me starting where I am , unless I was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what CNN calls an apology tour.
” This is Bloomberg ’ s full quote from the forum : “ 'Throw the bums out , they have n't delivered , they did n't listen to us . '
If you go to the middle of the country , people would say .
If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she , or it can go to the locker room with their daughter , that ’ s not a winning formula for most people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they care about education , they care about safety , and all of those kinds of things .
And some of these social issues — and not just the American government , the EU government does as well — we are focusing on a lot of things that have little relevance to people who are trying to live in a world that is changing because of technology and communications and things like that .
And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from ; you can understand when you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions , and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive .
I don ’ t know what progressive means .
They are in a place where some of the American public is , and it remains to be seen if the remainder of the electorate is .
”

A Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday, "Mike understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights has not been equal. In April 2002, during his first year as mayor, Mike signed a sweeping transgender civil rights bill into law. His company provides comprehensive health care coverage for his transgender employees. As president, he has a comprehensive plan to secure rights for transgender Americans, including passing the Equality Act, ensuring transgender people have access to affirming health care and working to end the crisis of violence against transgender women. Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community."
His company Bloomberg LP joined a court filing with several dozen other corporations to oppose a North Carolina law that banned transgender people from using restrooms that matched their gender identity in government buildings.
The spokesperson did not directly respond to BuzzFeed News’ questions about whether Bloomberg thinks a transgender woman is “a guy wearing a dress” or an “it,” if transgender rights are a liability for Democratic presidential candidates, or how his campaign video on LGBTQ+ rights squares with his comments less than a year ago.
When Bloomberg raised a similar talking point in 2016, he was discussing the fallout of the North Carolina anti–transgender rights law. According to reports that emerged earlier this month, Bloomberg said, "If you want to know if somebody is a good salesman, give him the job of going to the Midwest and picking a town and selling to that town the concept that some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter."
After those first comments were reported, a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told NBC News that the billionaire signed a gender identity nondiscrimination bill in 2002 when he was the mayor of New York City.
"Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community," the spokesperson told the network.
But the latest video shows that he was still deploying this idea three years later, in 2019, as the primary started to unfold.
A former Republican, Bloomberg has emerged as contender in the Democratic primary after he doused the nation with a $400 million ad buy — enough to boost his poll numbers to 19% among Democrats in a national poll released Tuesday and to qualify for Wednesday’s debate in Nevada.
At the same time, he’s faced a lash of criticism for his past positions on race and gender. The Washington Post reported on several lawsuits that allege discrimination against women, including in one case in which he allegedly told a pregnant employee to “kill” her fetus.
Bloomberg also defended the New York City Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy — which targeted people of color for searches — in a 2015 speech at the Aspen Institute, saying, “We put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods. Yes, that's true. Why'd we do it? Because that's where all the crime is. And the way you should get the guns out of the kids' hands is throw them against the wall and frisk them.”
Bloomberg tried to distance himself from those comments this month, telling NPR, “I regret that and I have apologized.”
Bloomberg has also tried to reach LGBTQ progressives. In the campaign video released Tuesday, which features a “Mike Bloomberg 2020” emblem in the corner and was retweeted by his campaign, Mizrahi, a designer and entertainer, begins, “My thing is LGBTQ+ youth.”
“As a kid you feel completely ostracized, completely on the outside of everything, but then as an adult you see there is a whole bunch of inclusivity,” Mizrahi continues. “Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue. Having lived in New York for a number of years that Mike was mayor and seeing him enact these incredible programs that helped both the adult LGBTQ populations but also the kids, the thing I like about Mike is that he’s really proactive.”
“There is no one more perfect than Mike,” he concludes.
Back at the March 2019 forum, Bloomberg said he’d largely ruled out running for president this year due to his political views, saying in a video, “It’s just not going to happen on a national level for somebody like me starting where I am, unless I was going to change all my views and go on what CNN calls an apology tour.”
This is Bloomberg’s full quote from the forum:
“'Throw the bums out, they haven't delivered, they didn't listen to us.' If you go to the middle of the country, people would say. If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he, she, or it can go to the locker room with their daughter, that’s not a winning formula for most people. They care about health care, they care about education, they care about safety, and all of those kinds of things. And some of these social issues — and not just the American government, the EU government does as well — we are focusing on a lot of things that have little relevance to people who are trying to live in a world that is changing because of technology and communications and things like that. And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from; you can understand when you look at the Democratic Party, they are so far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions, and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive. I don’t know what progressive means. They are in a place where some of the American public is, and it remains to be seen if the remainder of the electorate is.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-19--Trump Has Commuted The Sentence Of Former Illinois Governor (And “Apprentice” Contestant) Rod Blagoj

Trump Has Commuted The Sentence Of Former Illinois Governor (And “Apprentice” Contestant) Rod Blagojevich

President Trump issued 11 pardons and grants of clemency Tuesday to people found guilty of corruption , tax fraud , lying to the White House , and financial crimes — including disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich , whose supporters made personal appeals to Trump in Fox News appearances .
Blagojevich was convicted in 2009 over his efforts to sell off the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama , and he was recorded in wiretapped phone calls looking for the highest bidder .
“ I ’ ve got this thing and it ’ s fucking golden , ” the then-governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he discussed what he might be able to trade in return for appointing someone to the seat .
“ I 'm just not giving it up for fuckin ' nothing .
I 'm not gon na do it .
And , and I can always use it .
I can parachute me there.
” On Tuesday , Trump also issued full pardons to former New York Police commissioner Bernard Kerik .
He also pardoned financier Michael Milken .
Kerik , who had been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name from consideration when questions arose about the immigration status of one of his household employees .
An ensuing investigation resulted in Kerik pleading guilty to felony charges of tax fraud and lying to White House officials during his vetting for the top job at DHS .
Milken , best known for his involvement in `` junk bonds , '' had pleaded guilty to six felony counts of illegal securities trading .
Trump also signed executive grants of clemency to Edward DeBartolo Jr. , Ariel Friedler , Paul Pogue , David Safavian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive grants of clemency and commuted the sentences for Tynice Nichole Hall , Crystal Munoz , and Judith Negron .
But the most high profile of Tuesday 's pardons and sentence commutations was that of Blagojevich , whose blatant tone in the recordings permanently linked his name to corruption .
Blagojevich has been serving his time since March 15 , 2012 , at the Englewood Federal Correctional Institution in Colorado , where he was released Tuesday evening .
Trump ’ s decision on Blagojevich came as little surprise ; The president had spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the case .
As recently as Aug. 7 , Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he was seriously considering commuting Blagojevich ’ s sentence , believing that he had been “ treated unbelievably unfairly.
” “ He ’ s been in jail for seven years over a phone call where nothing happens — over a phone call , which he shouldn ’ t have said what he said , but it was braggadocio , you would say , ” Trump said .
“ I would think that there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of them , by the way — that have said a lot worse over the telephone.
” ( Blagojevich was , in fact , convicted on the basis of multiple pieces of evidence , not a single phone call . )
On Tuesday , Trump called the former governor 's 14-year sentence `` ridiculous . ''

President Trump issued 11 pardons and grants of clemency Tuesday to people found guilty of corruption, tax fraud, lying to the White House, and financial crimes — including disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, whose supporters made personal appeals to Trump in Fox News appearances.
Blagojevich was convicted in 2009 over his efforts to sell off the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama, and he was recorded in wiretapped phone calls looking for the highest bidder.
“I’ve got this thing and it’s fucking golden,” the then-governor infamously said in a wiretapped phone call as he discussed what he might be able to trade in return for appointing someone to the seat. “I'm just not giving it up for fuckin' nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”
On Tuesday, Trump also issued full pardons to former New York Police commissioner Bernard Kerik. He also pardoned financier Michael Milken.
Kerik, who had been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, withdrew his name from consideration when questions arose about the immigration status of one of his household employees.
An ensuing investigation resulted in Kerik pleading guilty to felony charges of tax fraud and lying to White House officials during his vetting for the top job at DHS.
Milken, best known for his involvement in "junk bonds," had pleaded guilty to six felony counts of illegal securities trading.
Trump also signed executive grants of clemency to Edward DeBartolo Jr., Ariel Friedler, Paul Pogue, David Safavian, and Angela Stanton. He signed four executive grants of clemency and commuted the sentences for Tynice Nichole Hall, Crystal Munoz, and Judith Negron.
But the most high profile of Tuesday's pardons and sentence commutations was that of Blagojevich, whose blatant tone in the recordings permanently linked his name to corruption.
Blagojevich has been serving his time since March 15, 2012, at the Englewood Federal Correctional Institution in Colorado, where he was released Tuesday evening.
Trump’s decision on Blagojevich came as little surprise; The president had spent months signaling that he had his eye on the case. As recently as Aug. 7, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he was seriously considering commuting Blagojevich’s sentence, believing that he had been “treated unbelievably unfairly.”
“He’s been in jail for seven years over a phone call where nothing happens — over a phone call, which he shouldn’t have said what he said, but it was braggadocio, you would say,” Trump said. “I would think that there have been many politicians — I’m not one of them, by the way — that have said a lot worse over the telephone.” (Blagojevich was, in fact, convicted on the basis of multiple pieces of evidence, not a single phone call.)
On Tuesday, Trump called the former governor's 14-year sentence "ridiculous."


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Nevada Is The First Diverse State To Vote In 2020. Democrats Barely Discussed Immigration In The Deb

Nevada Is The First Diverse State To Vote In 2020. Democrats Barely Discussed Immigration In The Debate There.

LAS VEGAS — Days before the presidential caucus in Nevada , the first significantly diverse state to weigh in on the 2020 primary , candidates on the stage at Wednesday ’ s Democratic debate only briefly discussed immigration , amounting to one question followed by immigration protesters drowning out Joe Biden ’ s closing statement .
Moderators waited until the final twenty minutes of the two hour debate to ask a direct question about immigration — and when they did , it centered around DACA , the program for young immigrants brought to the US illegally as children which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats have a consensus that they will work to protect and further .
“ About 700,000 young people known as Dreamers , or Sonadores , who were brought to this country as children , are currently protected from deportation because of a program that is now under the review by the Supreme Court , ” Noticias Telemundo senior correspondent Vanessa Hauc asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
“ If the court sides with the Trump administration , which is eager to end this protection , what exactly is your plan to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to beat Donald Trump .
The best way to protect the Dreamers is to have a new president .
There are the votes there to protect the Dreamers .
And I have been working on this since I got to the United States Senate .
In my first campaign , I actually had a bunch of ads run against me because I was standing up for immigrants , ” Klobuchar replied .
She added that the next president should “ pass comprehensive immigration reform , which creates a path to citizenship to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the deficit by $ 158 billion , and will bring peace for these Dreamers.
” Pete Buttigieg then challenged Klobuchar over voting to confirm Kevin McAleenan , Trump ’ s nominee for head of Customs and Border Protection , and for having once voted to make English the national language .
“ When it comes to immigration reform , the things that you are referring to , that official that you are referring to was supported by about half the Democrats , including someone in this room .
And I will say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama officials , ” Klobuchar said , adding that she worked on a 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill — ” I 'm sorry that Senator Sanders actually opposed that bill , and I worked on it .
And if we had gotten that bill done , there would have been a path to citizenship for so many people.
” Sanders voted in favor of the 2013 bill after opposing the first reform bill in 2007 .
He has been criticized for pushing against measures in both bills , but has defended his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included measures that would have given employers additional leeway to abuse immigrant workers .
Sanders and Biden have been neck-and-neck with Latino voters in polls for months .
Sanders has received endorsements from two major immigrant rights groups so far , while Biden has drawn protests over his refusal to directly apologize for mass deportations under the Obama administration , and for his immigration plan not being as progressive as Sanders ’ .
On Wednesday , protesters with immigrant rights group RAICES shouted down Biden during his closing statement , chanting “ don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no kids in cages , ” and referencing the three million deportations that occurred under Obama .
“ For us it 's really , really frustrating to see that for the past three debates about imimmigration there has been zero conversation , ” said Erika Andiola , chief advocacy officer for RAICES and a former staffer on Sanders ’ 2016 campaign .
“ Now that it ’ s Nevada , it 's really for voters in the state that ’ s so diverse , it has so many young people who are children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last issue and they ran out of time … we wanted to remind people and especially the Democratic Party and Biden that immigration is something we want to hear about.
” Andiola added that the group has invited all of the candidates to discuss immigration in Texas , but since none have agreed , “ This was our way of saying , if they ’ re not going to comply , we ’ re going to come to you.
” The group specifically wanted to speak to Biden , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration record , his policies , and because his campaign has been saying that they ’ re relying on voters of color in states more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire to keep their campaign afloat .
Biden , after being interrupted by the RAICES protesters , said “ I think it 's important that on day one , day one , we deal with sending an immigration bill to the desk .
The only person in here that has a worse record on immigration is Bernie , because Bernie voted against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that immigration bill passed , there would be , 6 million members would be now American citizens.
” “ Unfortunately , LULAC , among other groups , Latino groups , saw that bill having provisions akin to slavery , Joe , ” Sanders responded .

LAS VEGAS — Days before the presidential caucus in Nevada, the first significantly diverse state to weigh in on the 2020 primary, candidates on the stage at Wednesday’s Democratic debate only briefly discussed immigration, amounting to one question followed by immigration protesters drowning out Joe Biden’s closing statement.
Moderators waited until the final 20 minutes of the two-hour debate to ask a direct question about immigration — and when they did, it centered around DACA, the program for young immigrants brought to the US illegally as children which the Trump administration has attempted to rescind, and Democrats have a consensus that they will work to protect and further.
“About 700,000 young people known as DREAMers, or Sonadores, who were brought to this country as children, are currently protected from deportation because of a program that is now under the review by the Supreme Court,” Noticias Telemundo senior correspondent Vanessa Hauc asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “If the court sides with the Trump administration, which is eager to end this protection, what exactly is your plan to protect the DREAMers permanently?”
“To win, to beat Donald Trump. The best way to protect the DREAMers is to have a new president. There are the votes there to protect the DREAMers. And I have been working on this since I got to the United States Senate. In my first campaign, I actually had a bunch of ads run against me because I was standing up for immigrants,” Klobuchar replied. She added that the next president should “pass comprehensive immigration reform, which creates a path to citizenship to so many hard-working people, will bring down the deficit by $158 billion, and will bring peace for these DREAMers.”
Pete Buttigieg then challenged Klobuchar over voting to confirm Kevin McAleenan, Trump’s nominee for head of Customs and Border Protection, and for having once voted to make English the national language.
“When it comes to immigration reform, the things that you are referring to, that official that you are referring to was supported by about half the Democrats, including someone in this room. And I will say this: He was highly recommended by the Obama officials,” Klobuchar said, adding that she worked on a 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill — "I'm sorry that Sen. Sanders actually opposed that bill, and I worked on it. And if we had gotten that bill done, there would have been a path to citizenship for so many people.”
Sanders voted in favor of the 2013 bill after opposing the first reform bill in 2007. He has been criticized for pushing against measures in both bills, but has defended his 2007 vote because he says that bill included measures that would have given employers additional leeway to abuse immigrant workers.
Sanders and Biden have been neck and neck with Latino voters in polls for months. Sanders has received endorsements from two major immigrant rights groups so far, while Biden has drawn protests over his refusal to directly apologize for mass deportations under the Obama administration and for his immigration plan not being as progressive as Sanders’.
On Wednesday, protesters with immigrant rights group RAICES shouted down Biden during his closing statement, chanting “don’t look away,” “no kids in cages,” and referencing the 3 million deportations that occurred under Obama.
“For us it's really, really frustrating to see that for the past three debates about immigration there has been zero conversation,” said Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES and a former staffer on Sanders’ 2016 campaign. “Now that it’s Nevada, it's really for voters in the state that’s so diverse — it has so many young people who are children of immigrants. Literally immigration came as the last issue and they ran out of time … we wanted to remind people and especially the Democratic Party and Biden that immigration is something we want to hear about.”
Andiola added that the group has invited all of the candidates to discuss immigration in Texas, but since none have agreed, “This was our way of saying, if they’re not going to comply, we’re going to come to you.”
The group specifically wanted to speak to Biden, she said, because of his defense of the Obama administration record, his policies, and because his campaign has been saying that they’re relying on voters of color in states more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire to keep their campaign afloat.
Biden, after being interrupted by the RAICES protesters, said, “I think it's important that on day one, day one, we deal with sending an immigration bill to the desk. The only person in here that has a worse record on immigration is Bernie, because Bernie voted against the 2007 bill … had, in fact, that immigration bill passed, there would be, 6 million members would be now American citizens.”
“Unfortunately, LULAC, among other groups, Latino groups, saw that bill having provisions akin to slavery, Joe,” Sanders responded.


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Elizabeth Warren Put Herself At The Center Of The Primary Again In Wednesday’s Debate

LAS VEGAS — The first question was for Michael Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders , but seconds into the Democratic debate Wednesday night , Elizabeth Warren ’ s hand was already raised .
Warren had come into the debate with a plan that , for once , had nothing to do with policy : a blistering attack on Bloomberg , accusing the billionaire of “ hiding his tax returns , of harassing women , and of supporting racist policies.
” “ Look , I 'll support whoever the Democratic nominee is , ” she said , the first time she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this : Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.
” She was just getting started .
By the end , Warren had raked in a staggering amount of money in online fundraising — $ 2.8 million , her campaign said , the best total of her entire campaign .
In debate after debate throughout the primary , Warren has mostly stayed above the fray , sticking to a message laser-focused on corruption , inequality , and her childhood in Oklahoma .
Facing sliding polls , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unity candidate , ” chastising other Democrats for running divisive campaigns .
That all looked starkly different Wednesday .
Warren deliberately went after Bloomberg , and then she went after him again .
She inserted herself repeatedly into the debate , ending the night with the most speaking time of any candidate .
And she went after other moderate Democrats , too , mostly on health care — a subject where she has previously often found herself on the defensive .
There was a cutting line to Amy Klobuchar , with whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Amy , I looked online at your plan — it is two paragraphs.
” It ’ s impossible to say what kind of effect — if any — Warren ’ s blistering debate will have on the election .
She needs , badly , to inject momentum into her campaign — but more than 70,000 Democrats in Nevada , which holds caucuses on Saturday , are expected to have already voted , rivaling the total number of Democratic caucusgoers in 2016 .
And there ’ s yet another debate before the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
But the change was notable , in part , simply because it was a change at all .
Warren ’ s rise in the polls last year was fueled by a single , steady strategy : a campaign focused on her plans to end corruption and tax the wealthy to pay for a vast array of social services .
Even as she began to see her support slide last fall , dogged by persistent questions about her health care policy and voters ’ anxieties about her electability , Warren ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same .
In the New Hampshire debate last week , after a third-place finish in Iowa , she stuck even more closely to her core anti-corruption message .
Her most news-grabbing moment was a single word , after was asked directly whether she thought Pete Buttigieg ’ s defense of his record on race was sufficient : “ No.
” Warren launched into an impassioned speech about Democrats , race , and criminal justice policy .
But stories the next day focused on Amy Klobuchar , who had sparred repeatedly with other Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire , doubling Warren ’ s vote total .
In the wake of Iowa and New Hampshire , Warren ’ s supporters grew frustrated with the focus on Klobuchar , especially , that favored momentum over results that put Warren third among delegates nationwide .
Yesterday , NBC , which hosted the debates , released a poll that excluded Warren from a key question — a flashpoint for claims the media had “ erased ” Warren .
Her campaign immediately claimed victory in the debate in Nevada Wednesday and blasted out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , for an operation that has historically avoided the normal drumbeat of political campaigns — refusing to trumpet short-term fundraising goals , declare debate victories , or talk about Warren ’ s standing in polls .
It ’ s money she will badly need to stay in the race through Super Tuesday , March 3 , when 16 states and territories vote and about a third of all delegates are up for grabs .
The one place where Warren ’ s debate strategy worked unquestionably : online , where memes compared her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clips of her attack on Bloomberg — including one set to the soundtrack of Titanic — exploded along with her fundraising numbers .

LAS VEGAS — The first question was for Michael Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders, but seconds into the Democratic debate Wednesday night, Elizabeth Warren’s hand was already raised.
Warren had come into the debate with a plan that, for once, had nothing to do with policy: a blistering attack on Bloomberg, accusing the billionaire of “hiding his tax returns, of harassing women, and of supporting racist policies.”
“Look, I'll support whoever the Democratic nominee is,” she said, the first time she was able to speak. “But understand this: Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.”
She was just getting started. By the end, Warren had raked in a staggering amount of money in online fundraising — $2.8 million, her campaign said, the best total of her entire campaign.
In debate after debate throughout the primary, Warren has mostly stayed above the fray, sticking to a message laser-focused on corruption, inequality, and her childhood in Oklahoma. Facing sliding polls, she had begun to pitch herself as the “unity candidate,” chastising other Democrats for running divisive campaigns.
That all looked starkly different Wednesday. Warren deliberately went after Bloomberg, and then she went after him again. She inserted herself repeatedly into the debate, ending the night with the most speaking time of any candidate. And she went after other moderate Democrats, too, mostly on health care — a subject where she has previously often found herself on the defensive.
There was a cutting line to Amy Klobuchar, with whom she has previously drawn friendly alliances: “Amy, I looked online at your plan — it is two paragraphs.”
It’s impossible to say what kind of effect — if any — Warren’s blistering debate will have on the election. She needs, badly, to inject momentum into her campaign — but more than 70,000 Democrats in Nevada, which holds caucuses on Saturday, are expected to have already voted, rivaling the total number of Democratic caucusgoers in 2016. And there’s yet another debate before the next state, South Carolina, votes next week.
But the change was notable, in part, simply because it was a change at all.
Warren’s rise in the polls last year was fueled by a single, steady strategy: a campaign focused on her plans to end corruption and tax the wealthy to pay for a vast array of social services.
Even as she began to see her support slide last fall, dogged by persistent questions about her health care policy and voters’ anxieties about her electability, Warren’s town halls and debates mostly stayed the same.
In the New Hampshire debate last week, after a third-place finish in Iowa, she stuck even more closely to her core anti-corruption message.
Her most news-grabbing moment was a single word, after she was asked directly whether she thought Pete Buttigieg’s defense of his record on race was sufficient: “No.”
Warren launched into an impassioned speech about Democrats, race, and criminal justice policy. But stories the next day focused on Amy Klobuchar, who had sparred repeatedly with other Democrats. Klobuchar finished a shocking third in New Hampshire, doubling Warren’s vote total.
In the wake of Iowa and New Hampshire, Warren’s supporters grew frustrated with the focus on Klobuchar, especially, that favored momentum over results that put Warren third among delegates nationwide. Yesterday, NBC, which hosted the debates, released a poll that excluded Warren from a key question — a flashpoint for claims the media had “erased” Warren.
Her campaign immediately claimed victory in the debate in Nevada Wednesday and blasted out the fundraising numbers.
That was notable, too, for an operation that has historically avoided the normal drumbeat of political campaigns — refusing to trumpet short-term fundraising goals, declare debate victories, or talk about Warren’s standing in polls.
It’s money she will badly need to stay in the race through Super Tuesday, March 3, when 16 states and territories vote and about a third of all delegates are up for grabs.
The one place where Warren’s debate strategy worked unquestionably: online, where memes compared her to Britney Spears and Leslie Knope and clips of her attack on Bloomberg — including one set to the soundtrack of Titanic — exploded along with her fundraising numbers.


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Amy Klobuchar And Pete Buttigieg Are On Each Other’s Nerves. It Showed At Wednesday’s Debate.

For months frustration and resentment have swelled between Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar .
The bad vibes burst open big time during Wednesday ’ s Democratic presidential debate , a night when each candidate was eager to be rid of the other as quickly as possible .
“ Are you — are you trying to say that I 'm dumb ?
” Klobuchar wondered aloud as she interrupted a slashing attack from Buttigieg , who was refusing to let slide the Minnesota senator ’ s recent inability to identify the president of Mexico .
“ Or are you mocking me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized her electoral success , presenting herself as a “ proven winner ” who could take on President Donald Trump and contrasting herself with Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , who lost badly in his only bid for statewide office .
“ If winning a race for Senate in Minnesota translated directly to becoming president , ” Buttigieg shot back , “ I would have grown up under the presidency of Walter Mondale.
” It was a combative night between the race ’ s two Midwest moderates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Las Vegas debate stage and spent much of their time in their own one-on-one rancor .
Buttigieg entered with a clear goal , campaign aides told BuzzFeed News .
He intended to keep up his criticisms of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont ( an independent democratic socialist ) and land some hits on former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg ( a former Republican ) while running up the middle as the only true consensus-building Democrat in the race .
He did both .
His secondary goal : Neutralizing Klobuchar , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Hampshire primary has emerged as a threat to him .
Both appeal to centrists and block the other ’ s path to advancing in the primary field .
But they face a tough stretch of caucuses and primaries , starting this week in Nevada , where voters of color — a demographic neither polls well with — will be a much larger factor than they have been to this point .
“ The exchanges with Klobuchar were an opportunity for him to successfully make the case that judgment matters more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and he effectively countered the criticisms that have been levied in the past month : that candidates with DC experience are more qualified to be president , ” said one Buttigieg campaign official .
It ’ s a feud long in the making .
Klobuchar said last fall that a woman with Buttigieg ’ s résumé — being mayor of Indiana ’ s fourth most-populous city is the extent of his political experience , though he ’ s also an Afghanistan War veteran — would not have qualified for the early debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Buttigieg ’ s most persistent critic , again framing her Washington experience as a positive and Buttigieg ’ s dismissiveness toward her as naive .
“ But what you said , Pete , as you were campaigning through Iowa , as three of us [ senators running for president ] were jurors in that impeachment hearing , you said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons , ” Klobuchar said at the New Hampshire debate .
“ It is easy to go after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to do .
It is much harder ... to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions , because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it 's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer , I just — I do n't think that 's what people want right now .
We have a newcomer in the White House , and look where it got us .
I think having some experience is a good thing.
” After landing the Mondale line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , won the Democratic nomination in 1984 though was soundly defeated that November — Buttigieg returned to his critique of Klobuchar ’ s Washington experience .
“ If you 're going to run based on your record of voting in Washington , then you have to own those votes , especially when it comes to immigration , ” Buttigieg said during an extended exchange on the issue .
“ You voted to confirm the head of Customs and Border Protection under Trump , who is one of the architects of the family separation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national language .
Do you know the message that sends in as multilingual a state as Nevada to immigrants ?
” Klobuchar replied wryly : “ I wish everyone was as perfect as you , Pete.
” After several interruptions from Buttigieg , she defended her work on immigration issues .
“ You know what , Pete ?
If you could let me finish , since I 've been in the arena .
Ted Kennedy asked me to work on the first immigration bill .
We were able with President Bush to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote.
” Klobuchar found a momentary ally in her clashes with Buttigieg .
“ Can I just defend Senator Klobuchar for a minute ?
” Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts interjected after the exchange on Mexico ’ s president .
“ This is not right .
I understand that she forgot a name.
” “ Missing a name all by itself does not indicate that you do not understand what 's going on , ” Warren added .
“ And I just think this is unfair.
” On a night when most anticipation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance on the debate stage , the Buttigieg-Klobuchar confrontations did not escape notice .
MSNBC ’ s Chris Matthews pressed both candidates about them in post-debate interviews .
“ He decided he ’ s going to try to go after me , ” replied Klobuchar , who joined Matthews first .
“ That ’ s fine .
But I wish he would have been accurate when he did it.
” Buttigieg , who appeared later , countered that he was “ focused on getting our message out.
” “ I just thought it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ for us to debate the Washington record .
”

For months, frustration and resentment have swelled between Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. The bad vibes burst open big time during Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate, a night when each candidate was eager to be rid of the other as quickly as possible.
“Are you — are you trying to say that I'm dumb?” Klobuchar wondered aloud as she interrupted a slashing attack from Buttigieg, who was refusing to let slide the Minnesota senator’s recent inability to identify the president of Mexico. “Or are you mocking me here, Pete?”
Klobuchar then emphasized her electoral success, presenting herself as a “proven winner” who could take on President Donald Trump and contrasting herself with Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who lost badly in his only bid for statewide office.
“If winning a race for Senate in Minnesota translated directly to becoming president,” Buttigieg shot back, “I would have grown up under the presidency of Walter Mondale.”
It was a combative night between the race’s two Midwest moderates, who stood next to each other on the Las Vegas debate stage and spent much of their time in their own one-on-one rancor.
Buttigieg entered with a clear goal, campaign aides told BuzzFeed News. He intended to keep up his criticisms of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (an independent democratic socialist) and land some hits on former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg (a former Republican) while running up the middle as the only true consensus-building Democrat in the race. He did both.
His secondary goal: Neutralizing Klobuchar, who after a surprisingly strong third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary has emerged as a threat to him.
Both appeal to centrists and block the other’s path to advancing in the primary field. But they face a tough stretch of caucuses and primaries, starting this week in Nevada, where voters of color — a demographic neither polls well with — will be a much larger factor than they have been to this point.
“The exchanges with Klobuchar were an opportunity for him to successfully make the case that judgment matters more than DC experience on the big debate stage — and he effectively countered the criticisms that have been levied in the past month: that candidates with DC experience are more qualified to be president,” said one Buttigieg campaign official.
It’s a feud long in the making. Klobuchar said last fall that a woman with Buttigieg’s résumé — being mayor of Indiana’s fourth most-populous city is the extent of his political experience, though he’s also an Afghanistan War veteran — would not have qualified for the early debates. At the last debate, Klobuchar was Buttigieg’s most persistent critic, again framing her Washington experience as a positive and Buttigieg’s dismissiveness toward her as naive.
“But what you said, Pete, as you were campaigning through Iowa, as three of us [senators running for president] were jurors in that impeachment hearing, you said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons,” Klobuchar said at the New Hampshire debate. “It is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do. It is much harder ... to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions, because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer, I just — I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing.”
After landing the Mondale line Wednesday — Mondale, for the record, won the Democratic nomination in 1984 though was soundly defeated that November — Buttigieg returned to his critique of Klobuchar’s Washington experience.
“If you're going to run based on your record of voting in Washington, then you have to own those votes, especially when it comes to immigration,” Buttigieg said during an extended exchange on the issue. “You voted to confirm the head of Customs and Border Protection under Trump, who is one of the architects of the family separation policy. You voted to make English the national language. Do you know the message that sends in as multilingual a state as Nevada to immigrants?”
Klobuchar replied wryly: “I wish everyone was as perfect as you, Pete.”
After several interruptions from Buttigieg, she defended her work on immigration issues. “You know what, Pete? If you could let me finish, since I've been in the arena. Ted Kennedy asked me to work on the first immigration bill. We were able with President Bush to at least get that bill to a vote.”
Klobuchar found a momentary ally in her clashes with Buttigieg.
“Can I just defend Senator Klobuchar for a minute?” Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts interjected after the exchange on Mexico’s president. “This is not right. I understand that she forgot a name.”
“Missing a name all by itself does not indicate that you do not understand what's going on,” Warren added. “And I just think this is unfair.”
On a night when most anticipation was focused on Bloomberg’s first appearance on the debate stage, the Buttigieg–Klobuchar confrontations did not escape notice. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews pressed both candidates about them in post-debate interviews.
“He decided he’s going to try to go after me,” replied Klobuchar, who joined Matthews first. “That’s fine. But I wish he would have been accurate when he did it.”
Buttigieg, who appeared later, countered that he was “focused on getting our message out.”
“I just thought it was important,” he said, “for us to debate the Washington record.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Michael Bloomberg Had To Face The Other Candidates For The First Time. It Didn’t Go Very Well.

In the first ten weeks of his presidential candidacy , Michael Bloomberg was able to control his image to an almost unprecedented degree , relying on massive amounts of paid advertising to raise his profile in voters ’ minds and not participating in debates .
For the first time , Bloomberg qualified for a debate and had to face his opponents in the Democratic primary face-to-face .
And his opponents zoned in on him , attacking him on stop-and-frisk , allegations of sexism , criticisms that he ’ s trying to buy the election , and his history of not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most aggressive debate yet this primary season , Bloomberg took a large portion of the attacks .
And he seemed less than fully prepared to answer questions about his record that were a near-certainty to come up .
This is the problem with running a 30,000 feet campaign that is built on advertising and lavish rallies , keeping the candidate himself at a remove from the fray .
It turns out the fray is pretty tough .
This is what happened Wednesday night to Bloomberg , who joined the ninth Democratic debate as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to debating and b ) were ready to stop any pretense of being collegial .
Bloomberg had not participated in a debate since 2009 , and though his team had conducted debate preparations ahead of Wednesday , Bloomberg didn ’ t seem especially prepared to answer hard questions about issues that were bound to come up — and did — in the debate .
Bloomberg appeared tense and uncertain during portions of the debate , particularly in the first half , which included a rough sequence of questioning around stop-and-frisk .
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that “ the one thing that I 'm really worried about , embarrassed about , was how it turned out with stop and frisk ” and that the policy “ got out of control.
” ( Bloomberg defended the policing strategy as recently as last year . )
Bloomberg tried to pivot to the other candidates ’ records on criminal justice , saying “ if we took off everybody that was wrong off this panel , everybody that was wrong on criminal justice at some time in their careers , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” but the attempt was stopped short by Elizabeth Warren — who repeatedly went after Bloomberg on Wednesday — accusing Bloomberg of not apologizing for the policy itself .
He faced just as intense a barrage on issues of sexism in the workplace .
On the topic of his refusal to release former employees from non-disclosure agreements , Bloomberg again appeared to flail , saying “ None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn ’ t like a joke I told ” and trying to change the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The response earned more scorn from Warren and Joe Biden .
Bloomberg ’ s campaign acknowledged the problems with his performance in their post-debate spin , though they emphasized that the focus on Bloomberg underscores his increasing importance in the race .
“ You know you are a winner when you are drawing attacks from all the candidates , ” Bloomberg ’ s campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement after the debate .
“ Everyone came to destroy Mike tonight .
It didn ’ t happen .
Everyone wanted him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't do it .
He was the grownup in the room.
” “ It took Mike just 3 months to build a stronger campaign than the rest of the field had built in more than a year , ” Sheekey said .
“ It took him just 45 minutes in his first debate in 10 years to get his legs on the stage .
He was just warming up tonight.
” The campaign has been pushing the notion this week that the primary is functionally a two person race between Bloomberg and Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once the debate was over .
“ I think by the end of the night the mayor had established a clear contrast with Bernie Sanders on all of the key issues that voters in this party are facing , ” Bloomberg senior advisor Howard Wolfson told reporters in the spin room after the debate .
“ Mike has not been debating for the last year .
I think it 's fair to say he got better as he went on.
” “ These other folks , many of them have been in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , ” Wolfson said .
“ Many of them had been debating throughout the year .
He was definitely better in the second half than the first.
” It ’ s true that Bloomberg did seem to perk up in the second half , particularly during a feisty exchange with Bernie Sanders in which Bloomberg implied Sanders was a hypocrite for himself being a millionaire who owns three homes .
The debate was a tough dose of reality for a candidate who has been able to set the terms of his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out whatever message he chose , Bloomberg had to respond to uncomfortable questions and raise his hand just like everyone else .
But he still has an unlimited source of funds to buy some more favorable eyeballs before he has to get on stage again next week .

In the first 10 weeks of his presidential candidacy, Michael Bloomberg was able to control his image to an almost unprecedented degree, relying on massive amounts of paid advertising to raise his profile in voters’ minds and not participating in debates.
That changed on Wednesday night.
For the first time, Bloomberg qualified for a debate and had to face his opponents in the Democratic primary face-to-face. And his opponents zoned in on him, attacking him on stop-and-frisk, allegations of sexism, criticisms that he’s trying to buy the election, and his history of not previously being a Democrat. In the most aggressive debate yet this primary season, Bloomberg took a large portion of the attacks. And he seemed less than fully prepared to answer questions about his record that were a near-certainty to come up.
This is the problem with running a 30,000-feet campaign that is built on advertising and lavish rallies, keeping the candidate himself at a remove from the fray. It turns out the fray is pretty tough. This is what happened Wednesday night to Bloomberg, who joined the ninth Democratic debate as the other participants had a) gotten used to debating and b) were ready to stop any pretense of being collegial. Bloomberg had not participated in a debate since 2009, and though his team had conducted debate preparations ahead of Wednesday, Bloomberg didn’t seem especially prepared to answer hard questions about issues that were bound to come up — and did — in the debate.
Bloomberg appeared tense and uncertain during portions of the debate, particularly in the first half, which included a rough sequence of questioning around stop-and-frisk.
Bloomberg gave a tangled answer on the issue, saying that “the one thing that I'm really worried about, embarrassed about, was how it turned out with stop-and-frisk” and that the policy “got out of control.” (Bloomberg defended the policing strategy as recently as last year.)
Bloomberg tried to pivot to the other candidates’ records on criminal justice, saying, “If we took off everybody that was wrong off this panel, everybody that was wrong on criminal justice at some time in their careers, there'd be nobody else up here,” but the attempt was stopped short by Elizabeth Warren — who repeatedly went after Bloomberg on Wednesday — accusing Bloomberg of not apologizing for the policy itself.
He faced just as intense a barrage on issues of sexism in the workplace. On the topic of his refusal to release former employees from nondisclosure agreements, Bloomberg again appeared to flail, saying, “None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn’t like a joke I told” and trying to change the subject to his hiring and promotion of women. The response earned more scorn from Warren and Joe Biden.
Bloomberg’s campaign acknowledged the problems with his performance in their postdebate spin, though they emphasized that the focus on Bloomberg underscores his increasing importance in the race.
“You know you are a winner when you are drawing attacks from all the candidates,” Bloomberg’s campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement after the debate. “Everyone came to destroy Mike tonight. It didn’t happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn't do it. He was the grownup in the room.”
“It took Mike just 3 months to build a stronger campaign than the rest of the field had built in more than a year,” Sheekey said. “It took him just 45 minutes in his first debate in 10 years to get his legs on the stage. He was just warming up tonight.”
The campaign has been pushing the notion this week that the primary is functionally a two-person race between Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders, and continued to do so once the debate was over.
“I think by the end of the night the mayor had established a clear contrast with Bernie Sanders on all of the key issues that voters in this party are facing,” Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson told reporters in the spin room after the debate. “Mike has not been debating for the last year. I think it's fair to say he got better as he went on.”
“These other folks, many of them have been in public life for a very long [time],” Wolfson said. “Many of them had been debating throughout the year. He was definitely better in the second half than the first.”
It’s true that Bloomberg did seem to perk up in the second half, particularly during a feisty exchange with Bernie Sanders in which Bloomberg implied Sanders was a hypocrite for himself being a millionaire who owns three homes.
The debate was a tough dose of reality for a candidate who has been able to set the terms of his own candidacy till now. Instead of putting out whatever message he chose, Bloomberg had to respond to uncomfortable questions and raise his hand just like everyone else. But he still has an unlimited source of funds to buy some more favorable eyeballs before he has to get onstage again next week.
Ruby Cramer contributed reporting.


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Bloomberg Fans Were Disappointed By The Debate But Still Think He Could Beat Trump

“ If we have to have a battle of the billionaires , I ’ m picking Mike Bloomberg 100 % .
” About 200 Michael Bloomberg supporters who attended a debate watch party hosted by his New York campaign began the night optimistically , chatting , snacking on chips and hummus , and sipping La Croix .
But by the first commercial break , after Bloomberg failed to deflect attacks on stop-and-frisk , sexism and harassment at his company , and his personal wealth , one attendee summed up how the former New York mayor ’ s first debate was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been a long week for Bloomberg ’ s presidential campaign .
A viral audio clip captured the candidate defending police ’ s targeting of people of color with the stop-and-frisk policy that largely defined his administration , BuzzFeed News published a report showing Bloomberg has referred to transgender indivudals as “ it , ” and the Washington Post detailed a history of misogynistic comments alleged by women who have worked for his financial company , Bloomberg L.P .
But Wednesday also marked the first time that Bloomberg qualified to appear on stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark the occasion , his campaign hosted a debate watch party out of one of its official field offices in Midtown Manhattan .
The Bloomberg supporters who attended the watch party — who were overwhelmingly white , and over half of whom were over the age of fifty — told BuzzFeed News they believe that Bloomberg is the only candidate who can defeat Donald Trump .
They believe that his success as a businessman qualifies him as a serious candidate , but that unlike Trump , Bloomberg is honest and respectable .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that Bloomberg is honest and Trump is a crook , ” Ingrid Devita , who attended the event , told BuzzFeed News .
“ If we have to have a battle of the billionaires , I ’ m picking Mike Bloomberg 100 % .
” However , his supporters were definitely hoping for a better night .
One person expressed frustration that Bloomberg did not have better-prepared responses for points that he should have expected to come up .
People cautiously said that Bloomberg began to recover after the second commercial break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed to be that the former mayor was having a terrible night .
When BuzzFeed News asked the Bloomberg ’ s presidential campaign staff who were present at the event how they thought the candidate was performing in Wednesday ’ s debate , they all said that he was doing well .
However , their faces told a different story .
In an official statement , Bloomberg ’ s campaign said that he was “ just warming up tonight.
” `` It took Mike just 3 months to build a stronger campaign than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more than a year , ” the statement says .
“ It took him just 45 minutes in his first debate in 10 years to get his legs on the stage.
” Bloomberg ’ s campaign has tried to paint Bloomberg as an ethical businessman .
Multiple staffers , who spoke to watch party attendees informally before the debate , described Bloomberg as a successful CEO , mayor , and philanthropist .
They also encouraged supporters to engage in “ grassroots ” efforts by phone banking , and to host “ breakfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yoga for Mike , mahjong for Mike.
” The campaign ’ s messages were attractive to people who attended the party .
Gregory Kunstashian — who said he hasn ’ t yet decided which candidate to support — told BuzzFeed News that Bloomberg appears to be strong enough to take on Donald Trump .
“ He ’ s got that financial strength as a businessman to stand up to [ Trump ] and tell it like it is , ” he said .
“ Maybe Bloomberg runs on a position of morality.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , told BuzzFeed News that she is a registered Republican , but she ’ s open to a Bloomberg presidency , because she said he could govern with “ ethics and morality.
” “ I ’ m beyond horrified at what ’ s happening in this country , ” Garrett said .
“ I look at my bank account and it ’ s great , but I ’ m worried about my children.
” Watch party attendee Pamela Teagarden told BuzzFeed News , “ the progressives scare me a bit , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice .
“ I think Biden or Bloomberg would be a great choice , ” Teagarden said .
“ Middle of the road people .
My dream ticket would be Bloomberg and Stacey Abrams.
” As the debate started to wind down , a large glass jar that had been filled with “ Mike Bloomberg 2020 ” pins was empty .
But only about half of the people who ’ d started the night in high spirits were still in the room .

About 200 Michael Bloomberg supporters who attended a debate watch party hosted by his New York campaign began the night optimistically, chatting, snacking on chips and hummus, and sipping La Croix.
But by the first commercial break, after Bloomberg failed to deflect attacks on stop-and-frisk, sexism and harassment at his company, and his personal wealth, one attendee summed up how the former New York mayor’s first debate was going: “Terribly.”
It’s been a long week for Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. A viral audio clip captured the candidate defending police’s targeting of people of color with the stop-and-frisk policy that largely defined his administration, BuzzFeed News published a report showing Bloomberg has referred to transgender individuals as “it,” and the Washington Post detailed a history of misogynistic comments alleged by women who have worked for his financial company, Bloomberg L.P.
But Wednesday also marked the first time that Bloomberg qualified to appear on stage at a Democratic presidential debate. To mark the occasion, his campaign hosted a debate watch party out of one of its official field offices in Midtown Manhattan.


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Warren And Biden Challenged Bloomberg To Release Women From Sexual Harassment NDAs During The Debate

Warren And Biden Challenged Bloomberg To Release Women From Sexual Harassment NDAs During The Debate. He Refused.

Democrats grilled Michael Bloomberg on the debate stage Wednesday over his refusal to release employees of his company , including @ @ @ @ @ sexual harassment , from nondisclosure agreements .
“ None of them accuse me of doing @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t like a joke I told , ” Bloomberg said .
When Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ he would allow women to break the agreements , he refused .
“ If they @ @ @ @ @ and tell their side of the story about what it is they alleged , that @ @ @ @ @ you ?
” Warren asked .
“ You ’ re releasing them on television tonight @ @ @ @ @ added , “ They signed those agreements and we ’ ll live with it .
@

Democrats grilled Michael Bloomberg on the debate stage Wednesday over his refusal to release employees of his company, including women who accused him of sexual harassment, from nondisclosure agreements.
“None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn’t like a joke I told,” Bloomberg said.
When Elizabeth Warren asked Bloomberg point-blank if he would allow women to break the agreements, he refused.
“If they wish now to speak out and tell their side of the story about what it is they alleged, that’s now okay with you?” Warren asked. “You’re releasing them on television tonight?”
“Senator — no,” Bloomberg said.
Later, he added, “They signed those agreements and we’ll live with it.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-19--A Former Cambridge Analytica Employee Was Thrown Out Of Facebook’s New York Office

Facebook security prevented a former employee of Cambridge Analytica from entering its New York headquarters for a happy hour last week , raising questions about the scope of the social media giant ’ s security blacklist and its policy toward people associated with the infamous data firm .
According to Robert Murtfeld , formerly the director of commercial sales for Cambridge Analytica , Facebook security guards took him aside last Thursday evening after he filled out his name in a digital check-in kiosk in the lobby of the company ’ s offices at 770 Broadway .
The guards informed Murtfeld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Facebook , that Murtfeld wouldn ’ t be allowed inside .
Murtfeld , who did not know the host and told BuzzFeed News that he had never previously been inside any Facebook office , had been invited to the happy hour by a mutual friend who does not work at the company .
“ My host said to me , ‘ I don ’ t know what you ’ ve done in your private life , but you ’ re not allowed into this building , ’ ” Murtfeld told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public life that raised Facebook ’ s alarm .
Murtfeld believes he was banned due to his association with Cambridge Analytica .
It is unclear if that is correct , and if so whether the ban would extend to all of the political consulting firm ’ s employees — or its clients .
Facebook did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story .
In 2018 , the Observer and the New York Times reported that Cambridge Analytica inappropriately harvested personal information about tens of millions of US citizens through access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelation prompted intense scrutiny of Facebook ’ s data practices , as well as the role Cambridge Analytica — founded by billionaire Robert Mercer and former Breitbart executive and White House adviser Steve Bannon ( who schemed to plant a mole at Facebook ) — played in the 2016 US presidential election .
The firm shut down in 2018 , but Facebook has been repeatedly forced over the past two years to answer questions about the way third parties can use the platform ’ s scale and targeted advertising apparatus to influence voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wylie and Brittany Kaiser , and the company ’ s former CEO , Alexander Nix , Murtfeld has not sought the spotlight .
According to Murtfeld , his work at the data firm predominantly consisted of pitching corporations and political parties on the company ’ s services .
A story last month in South Africa ’ s Sunday Times described an email sent from Murtfeld to Kaiser on Oct. 11 , 2015 , that “ compiled a list of upcoming elections that could be targeted.
” Murtfeld , who is now director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey , told BuzzFeed News that his work never involved direct contact with Facebook .
Last year , CNBC reported on Facebook ’ s secretive 12-year-old “ BOLO ” — or “ be on lookout ” — list , a directory of hundreds of people whom Facebook ’ s security team considers a threat to the company and its employees .
The story describes a similar incident to the one last week , in which an invited visitor was screened in the lobby of Facebook ’ s Menlo Park campus and temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually intervened with Facebook security and had the visitor removed from the “ BOLO ” list . )
The CNBC report focused primarily on individuals who had made menacing comments on Facebook .
But Murtfeld ’ s rejection suggests that former Cambridge Analytica employees are also banned from the company ’ s offices .
( Facebook has suspended the personal accounts of several people associated with Cambridge Analytica , including Wylie . )
It also raises the broader possibility that Facebook ’ s list of personae non gratae is larger than previously thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not a security threat , ” Murtfeld said .
“ I thought the whole thing was outrageous .
”

Facebook security prevented a former employee of Cambridge Analytica from entering its New York headquarters for a happy hour last week, raising questions about the scope of the social media giant’s security blacklist and its policy toward people associated with the infamous data firm.
According to Robert Murtfeld, formerly the director of commercial sales for Cambridge Analytica, Facebook security guards took him aside last Thursday evening after he filled out his name in a digital check-in kiosk in the lobby of the company’s offices at 770 Broadway. The guards informed Murtfeld’s host, a communications executive at Facebook, that Murtfeld wouldn’t be allowed inside. Murtfeld, who did not know the host and told BuzzFeed News that he had never previously been inside any Facebook office, had been invited to the happy hour by a mutual friend who does not work at the company.
“My host said to me, ‘I don’t know what you’ve done in your private life, but you’re not allowed into this building,’” Murtfeld told BuzzFeed News.
It was likely Murtfeld’s public life that raised Facebook’s alarm. Murtfeld believes he was banned due to his association with Cambridge Analytica. It is unclear if that is correct, and if so whether the ban would extend to all of the political consulting firm’s employees — or its clients.
Facebook did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.
In 2018, the Observer and the New York Times reported that Cambridge Analytica inappropriately harvested personal information about tens of millions of US citizens through access to Facebook’s API. The revelation prompted intense scrutiny of Facebook’s data practices, as well as the role Cambridge Analytica — founded by billionaire Robert Mercer and former Breitbart executive and White House adviser Steve Bannon (who schemed to plant a mole at Facebook) — played in the 2016 US presidential election. The firm shut down in 2018, but Facebook has been repeatedly forced over the past two years to answer questions about the way third parties can use the platform’s scale and targeted advertising apparatus to influence voters.
Unlike the Cambridge Analytica whistleblowers Christopher Wylie and Brittany Kaiser, and the company’s former CEO, Alexander Nix, Murtfeld has not sought the spotlight. According to Murtfeld, his work at the data firm predominantly consisted of pitching corporations and political parties on the company’s services. A story last month in South Africa’s Sunday Times described an email sent from Murtfeld to Kaiser on Oct. 11, 2015, that “compiled a list of upcoming elections that could be targeted.” Murtfeld, who is now director of business development for a golf resort in New Jersey, told BuzzFeed News that his work never involved direct contact with Facebook.
Last year, CNBC reported on Facebook’s secretive 12-year-old “BOLO” — or “be on lookout” — list, a directory of hundreds of people whom Facebook’s security team considers a threat to the company and its employees. The story describes a similar incident to the one last week, in which an invited visitor was screened in the lobby of Facebook’s Menlo Park campus and temporarily prevented from entering. (The host eventually intervened with Facebook security and had the visitor removed from the “BOLO” list.)
The CNBC report focused primarily on individuals who had made menacing comments on Facebook. But Murtfeld’s rejection suggests that former Cambridge Analytica employees are also banned from the company’s offices. (Facebook has suspended the personal accounts of several people associated with Cambridge Analytica, including Wylie.) It also raises the broader possibility that Facebook’s list of personae non gratae is larger than previously thought, extending to entire corporations.
“I’m not a security threat,” Murtfeld said. “I thought the whole thing was outrageous.”


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--Here's How Many Delegates Each Democratic Candidate Has

Democrats are voting and caucusing for their candidate of choice to take on Donald Trump this fall .
Each of those contests allocates delegates for this summer ’ s Democratic National Convention .
Ultimately , the Democratic Party divides 3,979 delegates ; the states , according to different rules set by state parties , then award these to candidates .
A key number to understand is 15 % , which is usually the percentage of the vote a candidate must receive in a given area to gain delegates .
( That ’ s why , for instance , a candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t get delegates . )
Traditionally , when a candidate wins the majority of delegates — 1,991 — they secure the party ’ s nomination .
Sometimes , however , no candidate wins an outright delegate majority .
Over the last several decades , as parties have moved away from machine politics and more toward democratically elected primaries , the candidate with the most delegates has ended up as the nominee — even if they only have a plurality .
Still , there is a remote chance that , without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up choosing the nominee at the summer ’ s convention .
Either way , the delegate count is important , and we 're tracking them for you here :

Democrats are voting and caucusing for their candidate of choice to take on Donald Trump this fall.
Each of those contests allocates delegates for this summer’s Democratic National Convention. Ultimately, the Democratic Party divides 3,979 delegates; the states, according to different rules set by state parties, then award these to candidates. A key number to understand is 15%, which is usually the percentage of the vote a candidate must receive in a given area to gain delegates. (That’s why, for instance, a candidate who comes in fourth with 7% doesn’t get delegates.)
Traditionally, when a candidate wins the majority of delegates — 1,991 — they secure the party’s nomination.
Sometimes, however, no candidate wins an outright delegate majority. Over the last several decades, as parties have moved away from machine politics and more toward democratically elected primaries, the candidate with the most delegates has ended up as the nominee — even if they only have a plurality. Still, there is a remote chance that, without a majority candidate, Democratic delegates could end up choosing the nominee at the summer’s convention.
Either way, the delegate count is important, and we're tracking them for you here:


buzzfeed--2020-02-20--The Unchanged Elizabeth Warren

The Unchanged Elizabeth Warren

LAS VEGAS — “ So I was thinking today about being in Nevada back during the financial crash , ” Elizabeth Warren opened on Saturday .
She looked as she ever does , in black with a red cardigan , but her voice was starting to go , which it would by the end of the day .
This was in a high school auditorium , with more than 400 people in seats the same mint green color as her campaign logo , and a hand-painted sign out front directing people to the event .
“ You know , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in politics for a long time.
” An hour or so earlier , Bernie Sanders had rallied 1,200 in the cafeteria of a different Las Vegas high school , one with floor-to-ceiling windows that dropped light on the speakers — who told painful stories about how housing and immigration policy can turn a life into a nightmare — and dropped light on the people in American flag tank tops and “ FEEL THE BERN ” ballcaps , the teens with long hair dyed Bernie blue , the local immigration activists in baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played .
The campaign projected the outline of Sanders ' face and glasses in white up on the wall .
By the end , after Sanders rattled off the problems with the health care industry , the immigration laws , and Donald Trump , and ticked off the states to be won , starting with this one , people were standing and chanting “ BERN-EE , BERN-EE ” and one that ended “ BERNIE ES PRESIDENTE ” in this cafeteria filled with the bright morning .
And then , here 's Warren in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell a story about the hearings she chaired on the housing market collapse .
At one , a man named Alfred Estrada testified , which can be read online , about losing his home in the 2000s .
One of his daughters had wanted to make a list of her school friends so she would n't forget them when they moved .
“ Here 's this man , he 's worked all his life , worked for his family , stood there and cried , as he said he swore to his daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a van , ” she said , “ that they would live in a van across the street from the school so that he could keep his daughters in school.
” The throatiness of her developing cold made it seem , fleetingly , alarmingly , like she herself might cry , which would mean everyone else might start crying too .
This , she said , was a reminder about how policy is n't an abstraction .
“ We talk a lot about what banks do , about what Wall Street does , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every one of those decisions that somebody makes to rake a little more profit off , to squeeze just a little harder on families , is a live human being.
” She continued on toward the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — you don ’ t get what you don ’ t fight for , she said — but that was more or less it .
No story about her parents and Sears , or the wealth tax , or anything else that you ’ ve often heard .
Warren as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the candidate doing something different .
She even wound a little circularly into the story — rather than the very tight setups she favors — moving forward and back a bit , touching on her academic inquiry into the mid-2000s mortgage industry , and touching on this now/then dichotomy twice .
“ And so I was here .
I was in Clark County , Vegas , to hold hearings , ” she said .
“ People flocked to this hearing to hear about what had gone wrong , how it was that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rip people 's homes away from them.
” Warren fits pretty well within the framework of American reformers of the 20th century — Methodist , a little academic , a little populist , a little moralistic ; pragmatic on some things , a zealot on others ; a person brought late in life into politics , rather than the other way around , and therefore distinct from the average politician .
She has , at times , grounded her speeches and interviews in stories about Frances Perkins and Teddy Roosevelt , about suffragists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you how she views the cause of consumer protection and corporate influence .
She 's ended up a lot of Democrats ’ second choice , but for the smaller group for whom she is the first choice , she might be a singular American political figure , someone whose premise will endure : that the way you implement a big idea matters .
The last month hasn ’ t gone to plan , however .
This same day , Warren got aboard her press bus to find just the five reporters the TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fundraising emails suddenly have deadlines .
Warren , who never competed on television in the same way as Sanders and Pete Buttigieg , has had to cut ads in some states .
It wasn ’ t all darkened auditoriums ; she spoke to 1,000-plus in Reno , and chatted with volunteers in Las Vegas 's Chinatown who were practically bouncing with delight to be in her presence .
Polling is difficult in Nevada for a variety of boring reasons but it ’ s very possible that she ’ ll come roaring back this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , and this will just be the precarious inflection point .
Or , maybe , she won ’ t .
What is knowable , however , is that something did change in the last few months , from the cresting momentum in the fall to the more difficult winter , even if Warren has not .
There ’ s been a current of critique along these lines — that she is slow to make changes , and that she is boxed in and contained , by her own volition , into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren remains unchanged , committed to the stories she 's put together .
In debates , at events , she tells a core set of set pieces and gives set-piece answers to many questions .
They 're usually narratives , mostly rooted in her personal life as a prism to understanding something larger about the economy or regulation , and they often have a paradigmatic bent — implicitly asking you to reconsider the question in a slightly broader context about a reality wrought by Ronald Reagan .
That approach almost certainly helped her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as someone with populist plans and a different background than you maybe had understood .
It can also produce some slightly jarring moments , even at this same event where she told the long aside about Estrada and the CFPB .
The last question of the event came from a woman who ’ d just been laid off .
The letter , she said quietly and not without emotion , was postdated so she couldn ’ t file unemployment and was living on savings .
Her question , then , was what Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen to others .
People in the audience were murmuring .
“ So I wan na start by saying how sorry I am this happened , ” Warren said .
“ But this goes back to the central question about who government works for — we have laws about this .
We have a Department of Labor .
We have an NLRB and labor regulations against wage theft .
So here is my novel idea and that is we have a secretary of labor and a Labor Department that works on the side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man yelled “ yeah , ” and people started applauding .
Over eight minutes , Warren then moved onto what the twinned personnel and empowered enforcement could do at the Department of Education , the EPA , the Pentagon , and touched on the Great Depression , World War II , the historical moment before us , and if people should cower or fight in times of duress .
All politicians revert back to practiced and familiar material .
Over the last few days , Pete Buttigieg has answered the same question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the substance of Sanders ’ remarks is eternal .
But , particularly in the debates , this strategy of Warren 's is clearly on purpose .
She is an able speaker in deeper technical aspects of economic issues ; she could approach this differently .
Consider the New York Times ed board interview where , after a long back-and-forth with Binyamin Appelbaum about trade enforcement , someone jumps in to be like , we 're pressed for time , as Warren starts talking about `` investor state dispute resolution mechanisms . ''

LAS VEGAS — “So I was thinking today about being in Nevada back during the financial crash,” Elizabeth Warren opened on Saturday. She looked as she ever does, in black with a red cardigan, but her voice was starting to go, which it would by the end of the day.
This was in a high school auditorium, with more than 400 people in seats the same mint green color as her campaign logo, and a hand-painted sign out front directing people to the event.
“You know,” she said, “I have not been in politics for a long time.”
An hour or so earlier, Bernie Sanders had rallied 1,200 in the cafeteria of a different Las Vegas high school, one with floor-to-ceiling windows that dropped light on the speakers — who told painful stories about how housing and immigration policy can turn a life into a nightmare — and dropped light on the people in American flag tank tops and “FEEL THE BERN” ballcaps, the teens with long hair dyed Bernie blue, the local immigration activists in baby blue T-shirts. An electric mariachi band played. The campaign projected the outline of Sanders' face and glasses in white up on the wall. By the end, after Sanders rattled off the problems with the health care industry, the immigration laws, and Donald Trump, and ticked off the states to be won, starting with this one, people were standing and chanting “BERN-EE, BERN-EE” and one that ended “BERNIE ES PRESIDENTE” in this cafeteria filled with the bright morning.
And then, here's Warren in the darkened auditorium.
She began to tell a story about the hearings she chaired on the housing market collapse. At one, a man named Alfred Estrada testified, which can be read online, about losing his home in the 2000s. One of his daughters had wanted to make a list of her school friends so she wouldn't forget them when they moved. “Here's this man, he's worked all his life, worked for his family, stood there and cried, as he said he swore to his daughter that if they had to live in a van,” she said, “that they would live in a van across the street from the school so that he could keep his daughters in school.”
The throatiness of her developing cold made it seem, fleetingly, alarmingly, like she herself might cry, which would mean everyone else might start crying too.
This, she said, was a reminder about how policy isn't an abstraction. “We talk a lot about what banks do, about what Wall Street does, but the end of the trail on every one of those decisions that somebody makes to rake a little more profit off, to squeeze just a little harder on families, is a live human being.”
She continued on toward the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — you don’t get what you don’t fight for, she said — but that was more or less it. No story about her parents and Sears, or the wealth tax, or anything else that you’ve often heard. Warren as a candidate is wildly consistent; this was the candidate doing something different. She even wound a little circularly into the story — rather than the very tight setups she favors — moving forward and back a bit, touching on her academic inquiry into the mid-2000s mortgage industry, and touching on this now/then dichotomy twice.
“And so I was here. I was in Clark County, Vegas, to hold hearings,” she said.
“People flocked to this hearing to hear about what had gone wrong, how it was that these banks had been allowed to just rip people's homes away from them.”
Warren fits pretty well within the framework of American reformers of the 20th century — Methodist, a little academic, a little populist, a little moralistic; pragmatic on some things, a zealot on others; a person brought late in life into politics, rather than the other way around, and therefore distinct from the average politician. She has, at times, grounded her speeches and interviews in stories about Frances Perkins and Teddy Roosevelt, about suffragists and abolitionists — a line that tells you how she views the cause of consumer protection and corporate influence. She's ended up a lot of Democrats’ second choice, but for the smaller group for whom she is the first choice, she might be a singular American political figure, someone whose premise will endure: that the way you implement a big idea matters.
The last month hasn’t gone to plan, however. This same day, Warren got aboard her press bus to find just the five reporters the TV networks had embedded with her campaign. Fundraising emails suddenly have deadlines. Warren, who never competed on television in the same way as Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, has had to cut ads in some states. It wasn’t all darkened auditoriums; she spoke to 1,000-plus in Reno, and chatted with volunteers in Las Vegas's Chinatown who were practically bouncing with delight to be in her presence. Polling is difficult in Nevada for a variety of boring reasons but it’s very possible that she’ll come roaring back this weekend, just in time for Super Tuesday, and this will just be the precarious inflection point. Or, maybe, she won’t.
What is knowable, however, is that something did change in the last few months, from the cresting momentum in the fall to the more difficult winter, even if Warren has not. There’s been a current of critique along these lines — that she is slow to make changes, and that she is boxed in and contained, by her own volition, into the same material.
Up or down, Warren remains unchanged, committed to the stories she's put together. In debates, at events, she tells a core set of set pieces and gives set-piece answers to many questions. They're usually narratives, mostly rooted in her personal life as a prism to understanding something larger about the economy or regulation, and they often have a paradigmatic bent — implicitly asking you to reconsider the question in a slightly broader context about a reality wrought by Ronald Reagan.
That approach almost certainly helped her rise last year, defining her clearly as someone with populist plans and a different background than you maybe had understood.
It can also produce some slightly jarring moments, even at this same event where she told the long aside about Estrada and the CFPB. The last question of the event came from a woman who’d just been laid off. The letter, she said quietly and not without emotion, was postdated so she couldn’t file unemployment and was living on savings. Her question, then, was what Warren would do so this didn’t happen to others. People in the audience were murmuring.
“So I wanna start by saying how sorry I am this happened,” Warren said.
“But this goes back to the central question about who government works for — we have laws about this. We have a Department of Labor. We have an NLRB and labor regulations against wage theft. So here is my novel idea and that is we have a secretary of labor and a Labor Department that works on the side of labor.”
At this point, a man yelled “yeah,” and people started applauding. Over eight minutes, Warren then moved onto what the twinned personnel and empowered enforcement could do at the Department of Education, the EPA, the Pentagon, and touched on the Great Depression, World War II, the historical moment before us, and if people should cower or fight in times of duress.
All politicians revert back to practiced and familiar material. Over the last few days, Pete Buttigieg has answered the same question on multiple occasions with the same joke; the substance of Sanders’ remarks is eternal. But, particularly in the debates, this strategy of Warren's is clearly on purpose. She is an able speaker in deeper technical aspects of economic issues; she could approach this differently. Consider the New York Times ed board interview where, after a long back-and-forth with Binyamin Appelbaum about trade enforcement, someone jumps in to be like, we're pressed for time, as Warren starts talking about "investor state dispute resolution mechanisms."