D.C. Correspondent @TheNVIndy || mracker@thenvindy.com || Before: @TIME, @NationalJournal, @LATimes, @Stanford. Philly-raised. Nocturnal creature.
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Reports of Vegas' death are greatly exaggerated.
While the middle class cuts back on extras, wealthy tourists keep showing up. The share of visitors from families making over $150k recently doubled.
The pattern echoes what's happening across the US:
thenevadaindependent.com/art…
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One of the sadder parts of being laid off from TIME is that my fam & I were so excited about my working here that, for Christmas, my dad got the 100th magazine’s anniversary issue, with the first tiny story I wrote in print, beautifully framed. It’s hanging above my dining table.
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Rep. Lauren Boebert leads her Democratic opponent Adam Frisch by just 794 votes.
In Pueblo County, where Frisch leads, there were 6,800 ballots left to tally as of 12:30 pm MT. Clerk & recorder told me he hopes to have that done by end of today. Details:
time.com/6232570/lauren-boeb…
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You can read about a recent increase to Capitol Police funding in this story from Roll Call: rollcall.com/2020/12/21/legi…
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The Daily Beast has obtained documents tying a shady dark money group to experienced political operatives, including, apparently, the one who ran Dr. Oz’s 2022 campaign.
@SollenbergerRC and I:
thedailybeast.com/mysterious…
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Some personal news: Next Friday, I’ll join @TIME as their campaigns staff writer, covering the midterms, the 2024 presidential race, and national politics. I’ll focus many of my stories on communities of color.
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NEW: I've got exclusive details on the new assistive tech that @JohnFetterman is using to do his job, as well as insights from his colleagues about how he's navigated his auditory processing challenges during his first few weeks in the Senate.
time.com/6251752/john-fetter…
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Some personal news: I'm joining the Daily Beast on Monday as a politics reporter! I'll be covering campaign finance with @SollenbergerRC and continuing to write long-form when I can.
Got exclusives? Wild anecdotes? Human, creative angles? Tips to: mini.racker@thedailybeast.com
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Yesterday I learned I'm being laid off from TIME.
I'm sad to leave and eager to find a new role, ideally continuing to write features and cover politics. I love finding unique, creative angles and crafting absorbing copy.
Find my work/reach me:
miniracker.com/journalism
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Some personal news—I’m now D.C. Correspondent for The Nevada Independent!
As always, I aim to tell unique stories about how policy and politics affect regular people, to write human profiles about those in power, and to break news.
Press lists/tips/coffee: mracker@thenvindy.com
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I played Magic: The Gathering with Missouri Senate candidate @LucasKunceMO.
time.com/6272770/lucas-kunce…
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"The Capitol police are woefully understaffed," @RepMikeGarcia says to me on the phone a few minutes ago, speaking about yesterday's events. "This is a direct result of the call to defund the police."
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I should also highlight that Colorado law allows voters 8 days after the election to cure ballots or send them in from overseas ... so there's some chance the race remains too close to call, even once counties have tallied all the ballots on hand.
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Asked about DCCC's recent ad on abortion, Steel said:
“My record is very, very clear. I am pro-life, exception of three things: the mother's health, and what is that? The other one? The—”
She paused. “Rape and incest,” her spokesman chimed in.
“Yeah, yeah. Yeah, those three.”
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Former CO Gov. Bill Owens, the last Republican to lead the state, is endorsing Lauren Boebert's primary challenger, per a statement shared exclusively w/ TIME.
The challenger, Jeff Hurd, has built momentum since the September Beetlejuice incident.
time.com/6328485/lauren-boeb…
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EXCLUSIVE: A new NextGen America poll show Kamala Harris crushing Trump among young voters, 53%-36%.
7 of 10 young Dems say they're more motivated to vote now that she's at the top of the ticket.
Lots of improvements on Biden's showing, detailed here:
thedailybeast.com/harris-cru…
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NEWS as @hillharper launches his #MISEN bid:
-He's gotten calls from members of Congress discouraging him from running
-He met last weekend with Sen. Warnock, who he says made him feel optimistic about it
Plus, an inside look at Harper's political style: time.com/6293116/hill-harper…
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A Daily Beast analysis finds that, where former Speaker Kevin McCarthy once directed $$$ to vulnerable GOP members of Congress, Speaker Johnson is funneling over much less.
That could cost the party come November. My latest:
thedailybeast.com/gop-pays-t…
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Exclusive: The DLCC had its best online fundraising days ever as Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the ticket.
But the committee says Dems can't coast on presidential politics; it's focused on a new $2.2M investment several battleground states.
thedailybeast.com/kamalamani…
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If you (like me) watched the RNC and couldn't help but wonder about the label behind Nikki Haley's dress, whether Harmeet Dhillon's head covering had a history, or where to buy a tie splashed with little elephants, have I got the story for you:
thedailybeast.com/these-are-…
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Many of the voters Democrats hope will participate in the midterm elections aren't following campaign ads or the evening news.
So the left is investing in a new strategy: partnering with the influencers these voters are already watching.
My latest: time.com/6227149/democrats-t…
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Congressional staffers are still processing the trauma caused by this month's attack. For aides of color, it hit particularly hard, summoning the sense of vulnerability some have long felt at work.
From me and @dylanewells (free): nationaljournal.com/s/712218…
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Today I asked @Kathy4Truth if she'd thought about plans for her political future. Her response:
"No. ... ... ... That's not quite true. But I can say, I'm kind of like the woman who just gave birth to a nine-pound baby and everyone is asking, 'Are you gonna have more kids?'"
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The Primary Sinema Project says it isn't hoarding its money for a future primary challenger. Instead, it's investing in grassroots groups like LUCHA and Progress Arizona, and defending Mark Kelly.
My latest, unlocked:
nationaljournal.com/s/716314…
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New polling suggests Democrats lost support among AAPI voters since 2020.
The finding highlights the need to pay attention to AAPIs and the nuances of their communities, and this cycle there may be no race where that matters more than CA-45.
My latest: time.com/6222493/asian-ameri…
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And a bit of news from the story—the @AAPIVictoryFund is set to endorse Asif Mahmood in the next few days and is making plans for independent expenditure in #CA40 and #CA45 for September.
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Long before he became Democratic Leader, an 18-year-old Hakeem Jeffries cut his teeth as president of his Kappa Alpha Psi pledge class.
I talked to the folks who knew the future congressman way back then:
time.com/6248644/hakeem-jeff…
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Exclusive: @DrAlGrossAK has surpassed $4M in fundraising in #AKSEN.
That means he's already raised ~$1M in Q2, keeping pace w/ pre-pandemic numbers. More on that—plus the story behind the time he killed a grizzly bear in self-defense—in my latest (free):
nationaljournal.com/s/707560…
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Also: "These are not patriots. ... And in some cases, you can make the argument that it was an insurrection."
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Thrilled to be selected for this fellowship! Have truly never been more excited to network 😂
1/3: Congratulations to the 20 journalists selected for NPF’s 2023 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship! Over the year, fellows will network and discuss politics/policy with regulators, lawmakers, experts and the best reporters in the business.
nationalpress.org/newsfeed/n…
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Scoop: The RNC is still finalizing the criteria presidential candidates will have to meet to make the first debate stage in August.
But the buzz is around two numbers: a 1% polling threshold and a 40,000 donor requirement.
time.com/6278284/republican-…
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Exclusive: Last month, Dave McCormick, the GOP Senate nominee in Pennsylvania under fire for living in Connecticut, quietly updated his financial disclosure to detail $1.7M in government bonds.
Guess where the bonds were issued?
thedailybeast.com/gop-stars-…
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New and exclusive: The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC is endorsing @GregCasar in #TX35. This is the @USProgressives PAC’s first endorsement of a new challenger in the 2022 cycle.
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I interviewed @marwilliamson and the Bernie fans who are now lining up behind her.
What's she doing differently from last time?
“Some of the things I’m doing differently have to do with making the sausage. Nothing you talk to TIME Magazine about.”
time.com/6282695/marianne-wi…
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Voters I spoke to on the ground in Orange County, who can read about politics in Vietnamese-language pamphlets and attend the candidates' numerous AAPI outreach events, named mental health, medical costs, and crime as top issues.
My latest (unlocked):
nationaljournal.com/s/718447…
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Today is my first day covering campaigns at TIME! I’m at mini.racker@time.com. Please add me to your press lists, send exclusives, and ping me if you’d like to get coffee sometime soon.
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Some personal news: I’m moving into a new staff correspondent role here at National Journal. I’ll be doing a whole lot more writing, focusing on my favorite part of politics—people—and continuing to cover culture, identity, and the ideological divisions that transcend party.
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In an SUV careening through NH, @VivekGRamaswamy tells me about a planned strategic shift:
"Following the launch of the first debate, I think we will be much more directed on the path to the early states & weave in more traditional campaign approaches.”
time.com/6305440/vivek-ramas…
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Democrats, meanwhile, got on the ground early this cycle and are talking to AAPI voters about a longer list of issues than they have in the past. They're especially hoping to capitalize on support for abortion rights among many Asian Americans.
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In 1972, news that VP nominee Eagleton checked into the hospital to be treated for depression in the 60s led him to withdraw his candidacy
The stigma still exists—politicians are rarely open about getting mental health care, as Senator Fetterman is today
time.com/6256348/john-fetter…
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I spoke with @Arati4Congress yesterday about the #NJ05 primary today, in which she faces @JoshGottheimer. She cited endorsements from @commondefense and NJ Citizen Action, which backed incumbents in other NJ races, as reasons for optimism. She also said she has 1000+ volunteers.
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NEW from me: Kamala Harris' sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, just launched a political action committee.
In 2020, the now-VP got $219k in donations of $19.08, a nod to the year AKA was founded. The new PAC could funnel even more money to her campaign.
thedailybeast.com/kamala-har…
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Asked about his platform, Harper told me: "I want to even go farther than just paying off $10k in student loans. … We need quality free pre-K through college.”"
Does he back M4A? "I don’t want to inherit other people’s terms," he says.
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"This is how Nikki Haley gets elected."
My deep dive from Iowa on how Haley became Trump's chief rival and how her supporters see her path forward:
time.com/6552240/nikki-haley…
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Ahead of tomorrow's primary in #MO01, I wrote about @CoriBush's traumatic experience surviving COVID-19, whether she would join the Congressional Black Caucus, and how she feels about @AOC staying out of her race this year (free):
njour.nl/s/708872?unlock=QT0…
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All three Nevada House Democrats have announced they will vote “no” on the funding deal to reopen the government that both their senators support.
@RepSusieLee: “A promised vote in the Senate on health care will likely fail – that’s why congressional Republicans agreed to it.”
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“What I can add to our party is basically the eyes of a Black Republican,” said @WesleyHuntTX. “Because that's just inherently different from a white person's perspective; it just is.”
My last story for National Journal, in front of the paywall: nationaljournal.com/s/718981…
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My first big feature in print is in the latest issue of TIME Magazine!
As Haley prepares to challenge Trump in New Hampshire, buy the issue, or read the digital version here: time.com/6552240/nikki-haley…
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You’re going to do such an amazing job, as you always do! I’m looking forward to once again devouring your work. ❤️
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Who knew that 2020 would be just like 2010, living in my parent's house, crying to Taylor Swift
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"We won states we weren't expected to win," says Trump, pointing to FL, OH, TX.
He incorrectly says he has won GA and NC, which have NOT been called and which could still go for Biden.
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Three of today's top political stars are Indian American: Kamala Harris, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Have their ethnic backgrounds helped them succeed? And how will their candidacies affect how Indian Americans vote?
I dove in:
time.com/6330833/nikki-haley…
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Super interesting session at #AAJA20 today from @slooterman, @infamouslyshort, and @wendyluwrites on covering disability. One thing that stood out—how expectations about tone of voice, eye contact, and lifting 20 lbs for a desk job keep people with disabilities out of newsrooms.
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Us non-Hall-of-Famers don’t ALL get the PRIVILEGE of opening BROKEN MYTHICS and PLAYING THEM EVERY GAME 😜❤️
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Harper faces a tough race against fellow Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who has been building support for months.
MORE NEWS: President Obama, who was friends with Harper at Harvard Law School, will not be endorsing in the primary.
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For a story: I'm looking to talk to congressional staffers who have recently left their jobs or are considering leaving. DM if that's you! I don't need to use your identifying details if that's a concern.
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New & exclusive, from me: The @GOP's next community centers, set to open this month, will target AAPI voters in Coppell, TX & Hispanic ones in Vegas.
I dove deep into what's going on at these centers & whether they can really sway voters of color (free): njour.nl/s/715638?unlock=JXE…
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A year into COVID-19, some members of Congress are still struggling with the physical impact of the virus months after being diagnosed.
But as the pandemic appears to approach an end, survivors have very different takeaways. My latest (no paywall):
nationaljournal.com/wp/nothi…
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When Sen. Fetterman was hospitalized for depression last month, @RitchieTorres was among the first to express his support.
Torres spoke to me about how the depressive episodes he still sometimes experiences help him be a better congressman:
time.com/6260808/ritchie-tor…
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Few vulnerable House Dems have endorsed in the presidential primary, so I talked to ten undecided swing-district members and top aides to get their thoughts. If you want to know who they like behind the scenes, read my latest (free!):
nationaljournal.com/s/702947…
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Super interesting story on the secrecy surrounding the RNC's community centers. The descriptions of closely managed media access match my experience reporting on the ones in GA and FL last fall. nationaljournal.com/s/715638…
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Republicans in the area have built a reputation as savvy with Asian American voters, in part through the work of incumbents Michelle Steel and Young Kim, and the RNC's community center in #CA45.
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SCOOP: Last time he ran for office, the MN GOP's pick for Senate, Royce White, dropped $$$$ of donor money on a strip club, limos, & Lululemon—potentially illegally.
"I like the food there," White said of the strip club spending.
@SollenbergerRC & I:
thedailybeast.com/gop-sen-ca…
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News: Despite last month's historic settlement with Fox, Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos tells me defamation will ultimately cost the company all its business.
“Eventually, I suspect all of our customers will go a different direction,” he says.
time.com/6280840/dominion-fo…
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“Look at everything that's gone on in the last three years with that dude,” one independent voter told me when explaining why he won't vote for Biden. "The word salad, the stumbling ... "
My latest, and last, for TIME:
time.com/6693305/biden-age-m…
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“We need to get this done this Congress, between now and December 31st, because I’m not going to sit here and pretend that a Republican-controlled Congress is going to put this at the top of the docket,” says @AOC.
time.com/6240914/unions-aoc-…
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Asked the coworkers how to be better at Twitter. The response: "Have the confidence of a mediocre white man."
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EXCLUSIVE: @SusieLeeNV raised more than $600k in the third quarter of 2025.
That brings her cash on hand to $1.7 million, more than she's ever had going into the last quarter of an off year.
Her campaign says the median contribution was just $11.
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Such a fun weekend at #magicconminneapolis
Made the top 32 draft of the PTQ with this Sealed deck, then had the pleasure of losing a great match to @BenS_MTG
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Some professional news—today's my first day as digital editor here at @njhotline!
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Dem strategists & activists say several Southern states, especially TX & NC, are on track to follow VA & GA in going blue. What'll it require? Patience, commitment, and ongoing investment in minority voters—starting as early as now. My latest (paywalled): nationaljournal.com/s/713185…
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Congratulations! I was just thinking the other day about how your kindness and advice at the LAT helped me feel more welcome in this industry, and it's great to see all your successes!
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Congratulations, Molly! It’s been such a pleasure and an inspiration to work with you, and I’ll miss you at TIME.
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Spotted: The @DNC mobile billboard hitting Trump, already cruising through the streets of Des Moines at 2pm on the dot.
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Lizzo. Offset. The casts of Indian Matchmaking and The Princess Bride. From the campaign trail to the virtual world, celebrities are helping Democrats turn out young people and voters of color. My latest (free): nationaljournal.com/s/710996…
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NEW: In the first 3 months of 2024, the DLCC saw record grassroots fundraising for a Q1, thanks to a new recurring donor program called Down Ballot Defenders. The committee raised $2.3M from small-dollar donors.
More details, first in The Daily Beast:
thedailybeast.com/dems-have-…
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Also at the summit, GOP NH Governor @ChrisSununu had a different take: "Don't worry, Trump is not going to be the nominee. ... I don't think Joe Biden is the nominee, either, I don't. I think somebody's going to challenge him, probably right through New Hampshire, too."
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At the #TIME100 Summit today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke to @mollyesque about President Biden's reelection campaign announcement.
"In terms of the Democrats ... yes, they’d rather he be younger," Pelosi said. "But they’re all for him.”
time.com/collection/time100-…
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Glad to make my debut today on the Bill Press Pod with some great journalists, including a few of my favorite former colleagues!
We talk about the Trump trial, RFK, and congressional chaos:
Smart takes and insight from @DCDufour, Editor-in-chief @NationalJournal, @MaeveSheehy, Congressional Reporter @BGov, @MiniRacker, Politics Reporter @TheDailyBeast and @ErCovey, U.S. House Analyst @CookPolitical.
billpresspods.click-link.top…
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As @JoeBiden wraps his train tour today, I'm thinking what a useful symbol the train is for his campaign messaging—both for its association with working people and as one of the few spaces in everyday life that's often inhabited by people of diverse races and classes.
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"That's why I want to make it clear and stay on message here: This is about health care," says Biden, speaking about SCOTUS.
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NEW: @CarrieBuckforNV brought in $146k in the third quarter, not far behind Titus. State Sen. Buck is one of several Republicans hoping to take her on in #NV01.
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After Trump's third indictment, most New Hampshire voters I spoke to are more concerned about unity & the economy than the bureaucrats targeting the former president—but some want to see heads roll.
My dispatch from the campaign trail w/ Vivek Ramaswamy:
time.com/6301846/vivek-ramas…
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Jill Biden will be travelling to Jenkintown, PA, tomorrow.
It's the neighborhood where I went to school, a suburban area full of large single-family homes, a lot of Democrats, and the occasional Trump sign.
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Strategists largely still think Gov. Newsom will prevail in the recall election, but there's some real concern among Dems after recent polls.
The party is doing everything it can to get its voters to come out of hibernation. My latest (paywalled):
nationaljournal.com/s/714783…
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.@SenCortezMasto is all business in this morning's hearing.
She cites Kennedy's promise to take on Big Pharma, saying, "Your record tells a different story," and pointing to provisions in BBB that will delay Medicare price negotiations for cancer drugs.
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I’m here in Chicago to cover the #DNC!
Am eager to say hi to folks I’ve only talked to on the phone and, as always, to write up fun quick hits, exclusives, and politicians’ untold personal stories.
Reach me at:
mini.racker@thedailybeast.com
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.@SenCortezMasto voted for the Republican CR. I asked her why. “I voted to avoid a costly shutdown that would harm Nevadans and hand power to a reckless administration,” she said.
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GOP freshmen from immigrant backgrounds ran on the American dream, and often on the ways their own lives exemplify it. As their party confronts questions about who it represents, they could help point a way forward. My latest (free): njour.nl/s/712005?unlock=WSW…
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It's Election Day 2019! Read my Spotlight to find out how the 2020 candidates handled that in VA. (Two tidbits that didn't make it in: @ewarren spoke with the state's coordinated campaign organizers Sunday & @PeteButtigieg has been encouraging volunteers to mobilize there.)
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Why are so many of America's wealthy, influential celebrities endorsing a democratic socialist? A combination of campaign strategy and youth culture. More in my latest (free!):
njour.nl/s/704282?unlock=4CH…
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“He will vehemently fight for the things that he believes should exist,” says his friend Jeff Johnson, who chaired the IE for Wes Moore. “But he’ll also go and have a drink with somebody on the other side of the aisle when it’s all over.”
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Left-wing Democrats, including familiar faces from 2020, are already lining up for 2022 primaries against incumbents.
But progressive strategists say red seats and swing districts are among their top targets.
My latest (paywalled, part 2 of 2):
nationaljournal.com/s/712498…
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First in TIME: A @DLCC memo to top donors credits its early focus on abortion rights for its big wins in VA this year.
It also notes state leg races will be key to preserving Americans' freedoms in 2024, regardless of results at the top of the ticket.
time.com/6334562/exclusive-2…
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Progressives are using some similar tactics across the map this cycle, to varying degrees of success.
With more big tests for the left ahead, like #NJ05 tomorrow, here's what could make a difference in competitive races.
My latest (free):
njour.nl/s/708074?unlock=YRS…
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It's weird being on the other side of an interview, but this, in my high school magazine, sums up much of my approach to reporting and life:
abingtonfriends.net/oak-leav…
If you're in politics and ever have an offbeat, creative story to share, I hope you'll think of me.
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Interesting to me that Buttigieg, who's stressed the importance of his faith and served as a model for the religious left, did much worse than Klobuchar in NH with voters who attend weekly services. (And only did a point better than Sanders.)
washingtonpost.com/graphics/…
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