June 6, 2019: #TariffMan vs. Mexico
TRUMP TARIFF THREATS: THIS TIME IT’S MEXICO
Impetuously placing tariffs on China is may be election-neutral, but Trump’s unilateral (and irresponsible) decision to impose an escalating tariff on Mexico will deal a blow to his reelection chances. Beginning on June 10, these tariffs would start at 5 percent. However, they would escalate to 25 percent if Mexico fails to cooperate with the U.S. on immigration issues. The tariffs will seriously disrupt U.S.-Mexican supply chains, especially in the all-important U.S. automobile industry. The states with the most to lose? California and Texas - not a great strategic move for Trump, in other words. How do we know? Even Congressional Republicans are discussing ways to stop the unilateral action.
GET TO KNOW A CANDIDATE: JULIÁN CASTRO
Julián Castro is the identical twin of US Rep Joaquin Castro. He was born in San Antonio, the son Maria “Rosie” Castro, who established the La Raza Unida Party. Castro attributes his acceptance to Stanford to affirmative action, and is an outspoken supporter of the policy. . .He graduated in 1996, after spending a summer as a White House intern under Bill Clinton. He holds a JD from Harvard Law. In 2001 at age 26, Castro became the youngest councilman in San Antonio history. Castro was elected mayor of San Antonio in 2009. In 2012, he was the first Latino to deliver the keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Castro accepted Barack Obama’s offer as HUD Secretary in 2014. He has voiced support to make the first two years of higher education free. Castro has called for universal health care and Medicare for All, and is an abortion rights supporter. Castro is known as a strong LGBT advocate, and he supports tighter gun control.
2020 CANDIDATES: WEEK IN REVIEW
JOE BIDEN: His rift with progressives was on display as he skipped the California Democratic convention, where his leading challengers won audiences over by using him as a punching bag. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, & Pete Buttigieg took swipes at Biden, who sits comfortably atop the polls, but is being referred to as the Democratic Mitt Romney. Biden unveiled a newer, more aggressive, $1.7 trillion climate plan, which was hit immediately with charges of plagiarism. His campaign confirmed that he still supports a ban prohibiting the use of federal funds for certain abortion services.
BERNIE SANDERS: Sanders took a shot at Biden on Sunday, arguing in a speech to the CaDem convention that Biden’s middle ground approach would fail both to address the country’s problems and to unseat President Donald Trump. Sanders joined the chorus of candidates calling for impeachment hearings to begin. He also stopped in Arkansas to crusade against Walmart at the mammoth retailer’s annual meeting, backing a push to give workers a spot on the company board.
PETE BUTTIGIEG: Mayor Pete appeared to get choked up during a campaign stop Sunday when a second-grade student asked him what he would do to make schools safer. He also detailed his ambitious, long-shot plan to reform the Supreme Court, which is now an issue that is front-and-center of his campaign. Also, his struggle to win over Latinos could limit his rise.
ELIZABETH WARREN: Wants to allow DOJ to indict sitting Presidents, reversing a policy that Robert Mueller said would have prevented him from bringing charges as part of his investigation of President Trump. This is a continuation of bold, detailed approach, which now has her firmly considered a top-tier contender for the nomination. Additionally, she proposed an economic program of aggressive intervention on behalf of American workers, intended to support American manufacturing and promote job creation.
KAMALA HARRIS: After a dazzling debut, Harris falls from top of presidential pack, stemming in part from Harris’ failure to present a compelling case for her candidacy. “What’s the big idea she’s carrying? That’s what she’s trying to figure out. She’s having trouble figuring out what she represents.” Even the ballyhooed convention in her home state may have been a net-negative for her campaign. The L.A. Times considers her a centrist.
BETO O’ROURKE: As his campaign struggles to find its place in the Democratic field, O’Rourke spoke with Hillary Clinton about his 2020 campaign, a call made at his campaign’s request - this is the first time he and Clinton had spoken about the 2020 race. His detailed immigration plan would go even further on executive power than Trump. Beto is in full policy mode: he released a voting rights and democracy reform plan with a goal of registering more than 50 million voters and called for a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress and Supreme Court justices.
CORY BOOKER: Booker was flustered by Jake Tapper on gun control, evading questions and specifics when pressed on CNN’s State of the Union. Accordingly, some see him as sinking in the mosh pit of Democratic candidates. Attempting to gain momentum, he unveiled a plan to tackle affordable housing that would provide a tax credit for renters to ensure they would not spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent.
KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Things have gotten so grim for Gillibrand that recently, a high-ranking campaign aide to Cory Booker tweeted that she had donated to the New York senator's campaign and encouraged others to follow suit. That may be why she stuck it to Fox News in a scrappy town hall in Iowa on Fox’s own airwaves. Gillibrand also unveiled a plan to legalize marijuana.
AMY KLOBUCHAR: Klobuchar still needs more support in the polls to make the late summer debate stage, though her warm welcome at the California Democratic convention was a much-needed respite for her candidacy. She pins her hopes on her midwestern values and is banking on the midwest vote to buoy her chances. Klobuchar is also hoping Russia resonates with voters, as she says that Mueller should testify before the House and could be subpoenaed.
ANDREW YANG: Yang recalls getting beat up as the ‘skinny Asian kid’ while growing up, feeling marginalized, which has him now naturally gravitating towards people that are out of place. And he still wants to give people $1,000 per month, a plan which he ays will resonate specifically with LGBT voters.
JULIAN CASTRO: Castro unveils plan to overhaul U.S. policing policies, saying officers should be held accountable for the use of excessive force. He also stumped for Los Angeles ballot measure EE, which would raise an estimated $500 million to make permanent its promises to lower class sizes & hire more support staff. Castro also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting DACA.
TIM RYAN: On a CNN town hall, Ryan touted himself as a presidential candidate for the working class, saying “in many ways, I believe I’m the only one in the campaign who understands what those workers are going through.” He says he is going to fight for the Americans Trump abandoned.
JAY INSLEE: Environmentalists are celebrating a climate-focused candidate in the presidential field—but climate activists back home aren't as enthused. A report recently published by Gov. Inslee’s home state of Washington’s ecology department reported that carbon dioxide emissions in the state increased by 7.5 percent under his early tenure. That said, he proposed applying U.S. anti-corruption laws to climate change deniers overseas, upping the ante on climate proposals.
SETH MOULTON: Moulton says Democrat Stacey Abrams should be governor of Georgia, and said she would be if the US wasn't racist. In response to a question about dismantling systemic racism in America, he called for a new Voting Rights Act and said "people of color are being systemically denied the most basic right in a democracy, which is the right to vote."
STEVE BULLOCK: Speaking in a USA Today editorial, Bullock says he can win back the states that Donald Trump took. He says that he beat dark money in Montana and can do the same across America.
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON: Williamson gets adoring crowds and sells millions of books - but can she make a mark on the presidential field? She wants you to know the difference between moral outrage and anger, getting money out of politics, and why she wants to establish a Department of Peace.
TULSI GABBARD: some of Gabbard’s supporters are becoming a problem for her campaign. Her most successful internet fundraiser is defending accusations that he “believes the Las Vegas mass shooting was a set-up, that Bill Cosby was “framed,” and that “Pizzagate” was a thing.
JOHN HICKENLOOPER: Hickenlooper was booed at the California Democratic Convention for saying socialism is not the answer. Before he could get finish his next sentence, a chorus of boos along with a sea of waving "Bernie" signs overtook his speech, lasting for more than 30 seconds.
ERIC SWALWELL: Swalwell appeared on 'The View' to discuss guns: “Ban and buy back every single assault weapon in America.” The son of a police officer and a criminal prosecutor himself, Swalwell, said he doesn't want to get rid of guns altogether, but he does want to get rid of semiautomatic assault weapons.
MICHAEL BENNET: Bennet meets the polling criteria for the Democratic debates. He has not yet, however, met the donor threshold for the same debates.
JOHN DELANEY: Delaney defended his comments at the California Democratic Convention that Medicare for All is actually not good policy nor is it good politics. “We’re going to put up a candidate whose going to run on Medicare for All and then suddenly the Republicans are not going to be afraid to say what I just said.”
WAYNE MESSAM: Messam says the Palestinian People do have the right to self-govern. He continued to attack this administration, saying Trump has lost all credibility by failing to bring the both sides to the table.
MIKE GRAVEL: Gravel made clear his priorities in running for President. He also made fun of his fellow, younger Democrats who polled below him in a new 2020 poll.
BILL DE BLASIO: De Blasio said he “absolutely” believes Trump reserves special glee for attacking Muslims. He also expressed solidarity with London’s mayor after Trump’s attacks.
CANDIDATE REPORT CARD: CLIMATE CHANGE
Which candidates support the Green New Deal - and to what extent. Greenpeace assigned grades to 19 Dem Primary candidates, and scored their level of adherence to both Green New Deal and No Fossil Fuel commitment. Check out the top ten below.
ANOTHER SHOOTING - ONE PARTY ACTUALLY CARES
Though the Virginia Beach shooting was workplace-oriented, the numbers on school shootings are absolutely stunning. Per CNN analysis, the US has had 57 times as many school shootings as the other major industrialized nations combined. The countries are Canada, the US, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, the UK. The time period is January 1, 2009 to May 21, 2018. Shooting must involve at least one person being shot (not including the shooter), and must occur on school grounds. As a result, Gun Issues - once at the fringe, now loom large for Democratic Primary Candidates.
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