DMH

Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Love SCOTUS) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.] Due by March 16th, at 11:59 PM EST.

2016 EARLY PRIMARY STATE RESULTS IOWA REPUBLICAN CAUCUS | 30 DELEGATES David Rollins . . . 31.7% [10 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 27.6% [8 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 20.8% [6 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 19.9% [6 delegates] NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 23 DELEGATES David Rollins . . . 34.4% [8 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 29.8% [7 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 19.3% [4 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 16.5% [4 delegates] SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 50 DELEGATES Charles Walker . . . 32.9% [19 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 32.5% [18 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 20.2% [13 delegates] David Rollins . . . 14.4% NEVADA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 30 DELEGATES Katherine McCord . . . 46.7% [16 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 24.5% [8 delegates] David Rollins . . . 15.7% [6 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 13.1% DELEGATE COUNT Elizabeth McCord - 44 Charles Walker - 34 George Kuykendall - 31 David Rollins - 24 IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS | 51 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 49.5% [28 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 37.6% [23 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 12.9% NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY | 42 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 42.3% [18 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 39.2% [16 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 18.5% [8 delegates] SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY | 59 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 47.5% [32 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 38.7% [27 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 13.8% NEVADA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS | 43 DELEGATES Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 45.4% [20 delegates] Doug Murphy . . . 39.3% [17 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 15.3% [6 delegates] DELEGATE COUNT Doug Murphy - 95 Xiomara de la Cruz - 59 Camilo deSonido - 41

PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS Who's Supporting Who? Senator Elizabeth McCord picked up the endorsement of Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NV), Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC-04), and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) Former General Charles Walker picked up the endorsement of Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), and former 2008 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee and Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) Senator David Rollins picked up the endorsement of the Iowa Farm Bureau, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Senator George Kuykendall picked up the endorsement of Gun Owners of America, Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA-01), and former Governor and Congressman Mark Sanford (R-SC) Senator Diane Delorean picked up the endorsement of Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH-01), and Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD-AL) Senator Doug Murphy picked up the endorsement of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), and former Governor and DNC Chairman Howard Dean (D-VT) Senator Diego Everhart picked up the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH-02) Mayor Xiomara de la Cruz picked up the endorsement of the Culinary Workers Union, Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), and Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. (D-SC) Senator John Carlsen picked up the endorsement of former Governor Evan Bayh (D-IN), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles (D-NC) Senator Camilo deSonido picked up the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), activist Dolores Huerta, and former NAACP President Ben Jealous (D-MD) Former Ambassador Julius Tuck picked up the endorsement of political strategist Paul Begala, former White House official and comedian Kal Penn, and Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN-05)

President Obama Visits Mosque in Show of Solidarity with Muslim Americans - Q1, 2016 Baltimore, MD - President Barack Obama traveled to Baltimore this week to speak to a delegation of Muslim American and community leaders at the Islamic Society of Baltimore that was noted for its emphasis on solidarity with the community and criticism of recent rhetoric towards Muslim Americans in the media and on the political stage. "So the first thing I want to say is two words that Muslim Americans don't hear often enough and that is thank you," said President Obama at the start of his remarks to the crowd gathered at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. This marks the President’s first official visit to a mosque since the start of his presidency. President Obama is only the third U.S. President to make an official visit to a mosque during their term, with Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush having made previous trips during their respective presidencies. President Obama was particularly forceful with regard to increasingly popular rhetoric from conservative circles around “radical Islamic terrorism” and the danger of casting a wide net when making claims of that nature. “We've heard inexcusable political rhetoric," said President Obama following a meeting with Muslim American leaders. "We've seen Muslim children bullied. We've seen mosques vandalized. We have to be consistent in condemning hateful rhetoric and violence against everyone." The President also addressed the rise of Islamic terrorist organizations like ISIS and called for a clear separation between the ideology of the terrorist groups and the Islamic faith. "Right now, there is an organized extremist element. Groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIL, they're not the first extremists in history to misuse God's name. We've seen it before, across faiths. Mere tolerance of different religions is not enough. Our faiths summon us to embrace our common humanity.” Michigan Senator Alex Fakhouri was reportedly invited by the White House directly to also attend the gathering. Senator Fakhouri is the first and only Muslim American serving in the United States Senate. Representatives from various Muslim American interest groups, such as the Council on American Islamic Relations or CAIR, were also in attendance. “For a decade and longer, Muslims across America have faced the all too familiar challenge posed by the vocal few who do not or refuse to understand a viewpoint that is not their own,” said Senator Fakhouri when asked about why he accepted the offer to attend the event. “To see the President in solidarity with my community is heartwarming, and a reminder that we are still one nation, indivisible, regardless of which God we pray under.” Joined by Maryland Senators Nolan Stokes and Ben Cardin, the President also met with various community leaders across Maryland at the event as well. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other Baltimore city officials attended the event and participated in a separate roundtable held later in the day with the President. Republican Governor Larry Hogan cited scheduling conflicts for not being in attendance despite a reported offer by the White House. When asked about the President’s visit, Senator Stokes stated, “The recent attacks on the Muslim community are alarming. I join in the call for love and peace. Muslim Americans are welcomed here and violence against our Muslim brothers and sisters will not be tolerated.” Reports of increased Islamaphobia have been cited by experts in recent weeks and months following the rise of ISIS and rhetoric utilized that has placed the Muslim American community in what they describe as a difficult position. "The President's first trip to a U.S. mosque and his message promoting religious pluralism reaffirms the place of Muslims in American society," said CAIR in a statement following the meeting with President Obama.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/05/2024) Beau Goodwin (R-NC) Endorses Charles Walker (R-CA) for President @The News & Observer - At a BBQ event in Wake County, North Carolina Republican Senator Beau Goodwin announces endorsement of former General Charles Walker of California for President of the United States. @Congressman Patrick McHenry - Charles Walker understands that we need strength and leadership on the world stage. I’m proud to offer my support! President Obama Will Not Endorse in Democratic Primary @CNN Politics - BREAKING: Sources close to President Obama have indicated that he does not intend to weigh in on the upcoming Democratic primaries and will support the eventual nominee. @Jake Tapper - The sources near the President have emphasized that the President is optimistic that the next nominee for the party will win in November. @Sean Hannity - Obama is too scared to endorse the wrong clown in the circus! Not a good sign for Democrats in November! @Donald Trump - Barack HUSSEIN Obama doesn’t want to endorse any of the suckers running with the Democrats! I did big things for Romney in 2012. GOP would be foolish to not give me a call! Douglas Butcher (R-LA) Endorses Charles Walker (R-CA) for President @The Advocate - Senator Douglas Butcher (R-LA) announces endorsement of former General Charles Walker (R-CA) for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. @Congressman John Fleming - Charles Walker has the guts to tell it like it is and fight for conservative values. You won't find a truer patriot than Charles Walker! @Bret Baier - It is worth noting that Senator Butcher did cite various Republican candidate positions on Right-to-Work as a particular area of disagreement despite the endorsement of the Walker Campaign. Andrew Clarke (D-MO) Endorses John Carlsen (D-IN) for President @St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Democratic Missouri Senator Andrew Clarke (D-MO) endorses Indiana Senator John Carlsen (D-IN) for President of the United States. @Congressman Emanuel Cleaver - John Carlsen is the exact kind of steady hand we need navigating our nation through these partisan times. A true bridge-builder.

@Matthew Richard Tennessee does not have a Class 3 seat. You can do Class 1 or Class 2 as I am updating the roster.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/04/2024) Camilo deSonido (I-CA) Addresses Possible DNC Loyalty Pledge for 2016 Candidates @CNN Politics - Camilo deSonido (I-CA) tackles floated DNC loyalty pledge head-on with statement stating they would sign a pledge while emphasizing their political independence: @Al Sharpton - That young man deSonido has the right to run however he pleases. Shame on the DNC for trying to arbitrarily punish him. @Robby Mook - The party of Obama, Clinton, and Carter is going to nominate another proud Democrat in 2016. Democrats deserve a Democrat to vote for in November. @Larry Sabato - Senator deSonido was wise to get out ahead of this DNC loyalty pledge issue. Opposition from other candidates has left the issue in limbo as the DNC is set to make a final assessment in the coming days. @Sean Hannity - Real American patriots see right through the fascade of the "independent" Senator from California. This guy is calling for a $20 minimum wage and socialized medicine! An unserious tax-and-spend liberal! @New York Times Pitchbot - If Camilo deSonido were as successful as Aaron Burr, he would already have shot a Treasury Secretary and be featured in a Broadway musical. Charles Walker (R-CA) Attacks David Rollins (D-NE) Entitlement Spending Position @Fox News - Former General Charles Walker (R-CA) launches broadside against primary opponent David Rollins (R-NE) on entitlements, claiming Rollins would gut Social Security and Medicare. @Bret Baier - An interesting insight into the possible campaign Charles Walker is running in this primary. He's wise to calculate that senior voters will not be supportive of cuts to Social Security. @Glenn Beck - The next President will have to undue the bureaucratic nightmare Barack Obama has created. Any Republican not serious about looking at our entitlement spending is just part of the problem. @Jim Acosta - Polling does indicate that a majority of senior voters oppose cuts to entitlement spending. How Republicans running against cuts will navigate a party history of advocacy for reductions in spending could shift the conversation. British Singer David Bowie Passes Away at 69 From Liver Cancer @Rolling Stone - British singer and music icon David Bowie has died at the age of 69. The cause of death has been identified as liver cancer. @Norah O'Donnell - Liver cancer is projected to claim the lives of 30,000 Americans in 2016 and has been on the rise among both men and women. @Donald Trump - They asked me about David Bowie and I said I only knew him a little bit but he was a great talent! Rocket Man was a big hit. I LOVE THE BRITS! Preview of Increased Role of Puerto Rico and American Samoa Primaries @RealClearPolitics - Upcoming Primaries Put Puerto Rico and American Samoa into Historic Political Focus: ARTICLE @Ana Navarro - The Puerto Rican vote is going to be critical in key battleground states like Florida this November. Building a strong relationship with the community is key for any candidate. @Jake Tapper - Puerto Rico and American Samoa both having more prominent places on the primary calendar will no doubt bring campaigning from both major parties unseen in previous cycles. Texas Grand Jury Clears Planned Parenthood in Video Controversy; Charges Made Against Video Creators @MSNBC - A Texas grand jury has cleared Planned Parenthood of wrongdoing following explosive leaked video circulated widely of accusations of selling fetal body parts for profit. @NBC News - The filmmakers from the Center of Medical Progress that secretly filmed the videos have now been charged with tampering with government records. @CNN - The founder of CMP, David Daleiden, has also been charged with buying human organs. @Bret Baier - The videos at the heart of the Planned Parenthood conroversy had sparked calls from conservative groups to defund Planned Parenthoo at the time of their initial release. @Rosie O'Donnell - Turns out those lying sacks of crap that created those misleading Planned Parenthood videos are actually lying sacks of crap! @Franklin Graham - The death of unborn children is a travesty regardless of the case in Texas. Planned Parenthood should be defunded ASAP. @Cecile Richards - Planned Parenthood will continue to provide reliable health services and reprodutive access to women across this counry. The jury in Texas has reaffirmed that mission.

Pro-statehood demonstrators rally in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upcoming Primaries Put Puerto Rico and American Samoa into Historic Political Focus - Q1, 2016 San Juan, PR - Officials in Puerto Rico and American Samoa are preparing for the expected increased exposure to issues both island territories are facing as they are slated to be consequential primaries in 2016. Past Republican and Democrat primaries in both territories have been a mostly muted affair. Local leaders and citizens alike believe 2016 could be a major change from past nominating cycles. "I think you are going to see Puerto Rico matter in this upcoming primary calendar," said Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro García Padilla (PD-PR). "Puerto Rico has pressing issues, ranging from the repeal of the Jones Act to our future as a territory, that oftentimes find themselves on the back burner. 2016 is looking to be something different." Voters in Puerto Rico have already been receiving more attention than normal at this time in previous cycles. The island continues to struggle with financial woes, infrastructure problems, an outdated energy grid, and other issues that have led to a record number of Puerto Ricans moving to the mainland United States, with a large population emerging in the Central Florida region. Independence and statehood both are on the minds of Puerto Rican voters as primary day nears. While independence has largely fizzled out as a major driving force within Puerto Rican politics, statehood has become a more prevalent issue in recent years as Puerto Ricans have signaled interest in exploring possible statehood. "I believe the time could be coming when Puerto Rico will finally get an up or down on statehood and Congress actually approves it," remarked college student Josefina Montez outside the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. American Samoa has also benefitted from increased exposure as the primary season begins. With a population of roughly 55,000 and dependent on federal appropriations, the territory is notable for its strong military presence. In fact, American Samoa consistently enlists more soldiers per capita than any other United States territory or state. When asked about the impact of the upcoming primaries, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga (D-AS) stated, "American Samoa will benefit from the next potential future leader taking a serious look at our territory. The development, growth, and strategic military success in American Samoa will be dependent on federal support in the coming years." Polling has been scarce regarding which candidates may be more viable than others in either territory as much focus remains on the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. Puerto Rico and American Samoa both having a potentially decisive role in deciding the outcome of the current primary cycle will no doubt make the territories destinations for candidates hoping to march on to November.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/03/2024) Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @Texas Tribune - BREAKING: Houston Mayor Xiomara de la Cruz announces 2016 presidential campaign for the Democratic nomination. @Mayor Ivy Taylor - As a fellow Texas mayor, I am proud to support my friend, Xiomara de la Cruz, because she has led the city of Houston with candor and dedication. Local politicians get it done! Armed Militia Protestors Occupy Wildlife Sanctuary in Oregon @Fox News - BREAKING: Armed Militia Protestors Occupy Wildlife Sanctuary in Oregon: ARTICLE @CNN - Occupiers have claimed that the spark of this occupation was the treatment of two area ranchers convicted of federal land arson, who they believed were wrongly convicted. @MSNBC - The men at the center of this occupation, Dwight and Steven Dwight Hammond, father and son, have stated that they do not want the assistance of protestors. @NBC News - Occupiers have also stated that this occupation is meant to advance their view that the federal government is constitutionally required to turn over most of the federal public land they manage to individual states and that the federal government encroaches on the rights of ranchers. @Governor Kate Brown - What started as a peaceful and legal protest has become unlawful. It was instigated by outsiders whose tactics we Oregonians don't agree with. State and local authorities will work to mediate this issue peacefully. @Jim Acosta - The White House has stated that the FBI is currently monitoring the ongoing occupation of the wildlife refuge in Harney County, Oregon and is coordinating with state and local authorities. @Bret Baier - Ammon Bundy, the leader of this occupation, is the son of rancher Cliven Bundy who was the central figure a standoff two years ago in Nevada involving unpaid grazing fees on federally-owned public land. @Jake Tapper - Worth noting that various far-right militias, such as the 3 Percenters and Oath Keepers, are part of this occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Katrina Valdez (D-VA) Endorses Doug Murphy (D-WI) for President @Richmond Times-Dispatch - Virginia Senator Katrina Valdez endorses Senator Doug Murphy of Wisconsin for the 2016 Democratic nomination. @Congressman Gerry Connolly - I think Doug Murphy's unique appeal to working class voters will be instrumental to holding the White House in 2016. Proud to support him. Some Democratic Candidates Express Openness to Local Control of Federal Land @Larry Sabato - Curious to see some Democratic candidates give credence to the argument of local control of federal land. Could become a wedge issue in early states with rural voters. @Kyle Kulinski - I think Democrats would be idiots to ignore a dissatisfied voter group that would benefit from a progressive approach to policy. It's worth hearing their concerns. @Sean Hannity - Some Democrats pretending to care about rural communities after eight years of neglect under Barack Obama is a new low. They'd create a federal agency to regulate the air you breathe if they could! Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) Undecided; Will Endorse Before Michigan Primary @Detroit Free Press - Sources close to Michigan Senator Alex Fakhouri indicate that he is undecided on who he will support but is expected to make a decision before the Michigan primary. @Jake Tapper - Senator Fakhouri could in particular be a key figure in moving the small but increasingly influential Muslim American community in Michigan towards a specific candidate come primary day. @Steve Bannon - Patriots in Michigan should watch closely to see how Fakhouri endorses. Dangerous times we are living in for the West. Nathan Cohen (D-MA) Endorses Doug Murphy (D-WI) for President @Boston Globe - Massachusetts Democratic Senator Nathan Cohen endorses Wisconsin Senator Doug Murphy for President. @Stephen Lynch - As a former union man myself, I believe Doug Murphy is the candidate who will best serve the interests of working Americans. He’s got my vote. Nolan Stokes (D-MD) Makes Case to MSNBC Against Loyalty Pledge @MSNBC - Senator Nolan Stokes of Maryland makes his case against the floated DNC loyalty pledge: SPIN ZONE @Kyle Kulinski - I think Senator Stokes hit the nail on the head by openly calling out that this loyalty pledge singularly impacts the deSonido campaign. Don't let up! @Donna Brazile - I've still yet to hear a compelling argument for why Democrats shouldn't nominate a Democrat for the fall. Douglas Butcher (R-LA) Criticizes Camilo deSonido (I-CA) For Having A "Psychotic Level of Ambition" Due to Age @The Advocate - Senator Douglas Butcher (R-LA) attacks Democratic presidential primary candidate Camilo deSonido (I-CA) as having a “almost psychotic level of ambition” due to his young age in running for President at the Rotary Club of New Orleans: PR @Jesse Watters - It does take a certain level of psychotic ambition for someone just elected in 2012 to think they can just waltz into the WH. Remember the last guy to do that: Barack Obama! @Cenk Uygur - Supporting a Democrat over the Klan in 1991 isn’t exactly the flex Senator Butcher seems to think it is. Not exactly brave by any standard! @Rolling Stone - Google searches for Hamilton, the hit musical on Broadway, receive a bounce following Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr being mentioned by prominent elected officials. @Lin Manuel Miranda - Aaron Burr, sir Andrew Clarke (D-MO) Announces Support For Nebraska Reinstitution of Death Penalty On The Kelly File @Fox News - Senator Andrew Clarke (D-MO) comes out in favor of Nebraska reinstating the death penalty on the Kelly File: SPIN ZONE @Governor Pete Ricketts - I may not agree with Andrew Clarke on everything but I welcome his support to let the people of Nebraska decide on the death penalty and not a small number of people in Lincoln. @Nebraska Democratic Party - We are disappointed to see fellow Democrat Andrew Clarke of Missouri support the pet project of Pete Ricketts that defies the will of voters over a humane criminal justice system.

THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE PERMISSIBLE TO SPEAK ABOUT: State of 2016 Election (Dem vs Rep Primaries) LGBT Rights + North Carolina HB2 Possible DNC 2016 Loyalty Pledge Oregon Wildlife Refuge Occupation Federal Emergency Declaration for Flint, MI Any material covered in the Stateside 2015 Year in Review Amy material in the SCOTUSBlog Top Cases of 2015 Any material covered in the Rolling Stone 2015 Year in Review Any material covered in the BBC World News Ten Most Significant World Events in 2015 Please DM Admins for other topic approval Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Stand with the Armed Militas) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.] Due by March 7th, at 11:59 PM EST.

Armed Militia Protestors Occupy Wildlife Refuge in Oregon - Q1, 2016 Burns, Oregon - Anti-government armed militia protestors have occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon near the small town of Burns. Led by Ammon Bundy, son of rancher Cliven Bundy famous for a standoff with the federal government over unpaid grazing fees on federal land in 2014, the militias occupying the wildlife refuge are armed and considered dangerous. Militias present have cited as a catalyst of the event the treatment of two area ranchers convicted of federal land arson, who they believed were wrongly convicted, despite the men in question, Dwight and Steven Dwight Hammond, a father and son duo, has publicly stated that they do not want their assistance. The occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge began when Bundy led an armed group of militia members and protestors to the refuge following a peaceful public rally in the nearby city of Burns. The militia has also emphasized an overall view that the federal government has encroached on the rights of farmers and ranchers by controlling federal land that should be left to the states. Anti-government militias and far-right organizations are among those represented by the occupiers at the refuge. Prominent members of militant right-wing organizations like the 3 Percenters and Oath Keepers have formed a significant portion of the wider group. Online chatter in anti-government circles has seen an uptick following the start of the occupation. "It's very concerning," said Southern Poverty Law Center head Morris Dees. "We have seen a rise in far-right militancy since the 2008 election and the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is yet another escalation of an emerging problem." State and local law enforcement have been in communication with occupiers for days following the initial occupation. Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D-OR) and other state officials have called on the occupiers to cooperate with law enforcement and bring the confrontation to a close. The White House has announced that the President has been briefed on the ongoing situation and the FBI is currently coordinating with local and state authorities. Some experts have indicated that the administration's more cautious approach may be a intentional effort to avoid a volatile situation with anti-government protestors and federal agents, with allusions to the infamous Ruby Ridge incident and Waco siege being made on mainstream news networks. The citizens and local government of Burns and Harney County have expressed opposition to the actions of the occupiers. Many local leaders have cited the tactics of the occupiers as counter-productive and dangerous. Despite opposition to the methods of the occupiers, many have also acknowledged that they share similar grievances with the federal government over land rights. "I've lived in Barns all my life and I've seen the feds encroach on our ability to use the land time and time again," said Burns resident Mark Jamison. "What I don't like is these out-of-state bums coming to our community and stoking an armed confrontation. It's damn foolish and puts our community in a bad light. Many in our community have our issues with the government's policies towards federal land but we don't gotta resort to this kind of nonsense to make that point known."

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/02/2024) DNC Floated 2016 Primary Loyalty Pledge @CNN Politics - LOYALTY PLEDGE?: DNC members are actively considering a loyalty pledge for all 2016 Democratic presidential primary candidates. (1/2) @CNN Politics - This comes after Senator Heather James (D-WA) made a public appeal to DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) that would ask candidates to pledge to support the nominee and run as a Democrat. (2/2) @Donna Brazile - If you’re going to run for the Democratic nomination for President, you best run as a Democrat. @Robert Reich - Democrats have been a big-tent party for decades. A loyalty pledge is arbitrary at best and anti-democratic at the worst! @RealClearPolitics - Talk of Loyalty Pledge Within Democratic Primary Field Divides Opinion: ARTICLE @James Carville - If any of these Democratic candidates decide to be a bonehead and not support the eventual nominee, they can kiss their career goodbye! @Donna Brazile - Democratic voters have the right to vote for a Democrat in November. That shouldn't be crazy to say in 2016 but apparently it is. @Kyle Kulinski - We can all see what the DNC is trying to do. Camilo deSonido is the only candidate impacted by the loyalty pledge and its because he has a progressive vision out of step with the DNC! @Larry Sabato - A loyalty pledge's impact on the Democratic primary could be interesting. It's clear voters want to make sure the eventual nominee isn't hampered by a nasty primary. @Charles Krauthammer - I think the RNC would be making a miscalculation not considering a loyalty pledge of their own. McCain and Romney were both hampered by nasty primaries and its a proposal that should be taken seriously. @Jon Meacham - The last time Democrats ran a non-Democrat for President was 1872 when Liberal Republican newspaper editor Horace Greeley was nominated to face President Ulysses S. Grant. Greeley died roughly two weeks following the election. @Jake Tapper - Little doubt the loyalty pledge floated by Senator Heather James could have an impact on the state of the race if the DNC decides to propose it. David Rollins (R-NE) 2016 Republican Primary Campaign Launch @Omaha World-Herald - BREAKING: Senator David Rollins of Nebraska announces 2016 Republican Presidential Campaign. @Congressman Adrian Smith - David Rollins understands rural America better than anyone. After eight years of destruction under Barack Obama, it’s time for real change. Proud to support my good friend! President Obama Authorizes Federal Emergency For Flint, MI @MSNBC - BREAKING: President Obama declares a federal emergency in Flint, freeing up to $5 million in federal aid to immediately assist with the public health crisis following lead contamination of the city water supply. @NBC News - Governor Rick Snyder's request for a disaster declaration has been rejected as the White House argues that federal law mandates only natural disasters as eligible for disaster declarations. The crisis in Flint is viewed as a manmade catastrophe. @Governor Rick Snyder - I appreciate the President taking action to help the people of Flint. I have pledged to use all state resources possible to help heal Flint, and these additional resources will greatly assist in efforts under way. @Congressman Dan Kildee - I welcome the president’s quick action in support of the people of Flint after months of inaction by the governor. We must help Flint recover from this terrible manmade disaster created by the state. @Al Sharpton - Rick Snyder and the other white men running the state of Michigan sat on their butts as Flint suffered for months before finally requesting federal aid. Shameful! Shameful! Shameful! @Jesse Watters - Liberals can't help themselves making everything about race! Flint is getting the help it needs and they still make it about politics. @Cenk Uygur - President Obama should have sent aid months ago. We all knew Snyder would drop the ball, so why did it take Obama so long to pick it up! @CNN Politics - The crisis in Flint, Michigan could become a talking point for 2016 campaigns up and down the ballot as the nation grapples more stories of a a broken infrastructure system, placing communities all across the nation at risk. @Detroit Free Press - Michigan Senator Alex Fakhouri calls for a national response to the Flint water crisis following declaration of federal emergency.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/01/2024) Julius Tuck (D-IN) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @Indianapolis Star - BREAKING: Former Democratic Governor and Ambassador to Kenya Julius Tuck announces 2016 presidential campaign. @Congressman Andre Carson - Julius Tuck is the real deal with the administrative and foreign policy experience we need. Proud to support my friend JT! John Carlsen (D-IN) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @Indianapolis Star - BREAKING: Indiana Democratic Senator John Carlsen has announced a bid for the presidency in 2016. @Congressman Pete Visclosky - John Carlsen understands that we need a leader who can deliver results on day one. John has my vote and I hope he has yours. Doug Murphy (D-WI) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - BREAKING: Wisconsin Senator Doug Murphy announces campaign for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. @Congressman Ron Kind - Doug gets what working people in America need. The choice to me isn’t even close. Glad to support my friend and fellow Wisconsinite! Diego Everhart (D-PA) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @Pittburgh Post Gazette - BREAKING: Diego Everhart, Senator from Pennsylvania, announces bid for the Democratic nomination in 2016. @Congressman Brendan Boyle - Diego Everhart has been a tireless champion for the commonwealth and will bring a bold and progressive vision to the White House! George Kuykendall (R-CO) 2016 Republican Primary Campaign Launch @Denver Post - BREAKING: Republican Senator George Kuykendall announces 2016 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Senator Kuykendall was recently elected in 2014. @Congressman Ken Buck - George Kuykendall tells it like it is and holds true to conservative values. Let’s get George to the White House. Elizabeth McCord (R-SC) 2016 Republican Primary Campaign Launch @The Post & Courier - BREAKING: South Carolina Senator Katherine McCord announces campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. @Congressman Tom Rice - If you want a dedicated conservative patriot who will defend our Constitution, look no further than Katherine McCord. Nolan Stokes (D-MD) Endorses Camilo deSonido (I-CA) for President @Baltimore Sun - Maryland Senator Nolan Stokes announces endorsement of Independent California Senator Camilo deSonido for the 2016 Democratic nomination. @Congresswoman Donna Edwards - Senator deSonido has doubters out there but he’s the real deal! Progressives have a champion in deSonido in 2016!

Q1, 2016 (RL - 02/29/2024) North Carolina HB2 @The News & Observer - North Carolina Republicans are expected to move forward later this month with the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. HB2 would, among other things, require that transgender individuals use the bathroom of their birth gender in public accommodations. @Governor PatMcCrory - I called on the North Carolina Legislature to enter a special session because the Charlotte City Council changed basic long-established values and norms and put women and children at risk. HB2 is necessary to keep North Carolinians safe. @Rosie O'Donnell - Fascist clowns like Pat McCrory are more interested in your genitalia than improving your life! Talk about a schmuck! HB2 is hateful and must be rejected in North Carolina and states around the country. @Franklin Graham - America turned away from Christ’s message in 2015 when it made same sex marriage the law of the land. We must protect our women and children. I applaud Governor McCrory and call on all believers to stand in support of HB2. @Human Rights Campaign - Pat McCrory and North Carolina Republicans have declared open war on transgender Americans over where they can go to the bathroom. It’s wrong and the country knows it. We encourage our partners to stand in solidarity with the LGBT community and demand North Carolina rejected HB2. @Family Research Council - The next Republican presidential nominee must oppose transgenderism and the harm it can cause to our children. Stand with our kids. Stand with HB2. @Caitlyn Jenner - I’ve been a card-carrying member of the Republican Party all my life. 2015 was a turning point for America on LGBT rights. HB2 is misguided and wrong. My party is better than this. @The News & Observer - North Carolina Republicans Set to Consider Transgender Bathroom Ban in Upcoming Special Session: ARTICLE Trans-Pacific Partnership @U.S. Chamber of Commerce - The TPP is critical to the United States as economic growth and job creation at home depends on our ability to sell American goods globally. We urge Congress to support the TPP. @AFL-CIO - American workers have been on the short end of the stick time and time again when it comes to free trade. TPP poses yet another risk to jobs right here in the USA. @Jeb Bush - Republicans have always stood as defenders of free trade. The benefits of free trade and global engagement cannot be understated. TPP will benefit America, our allies, and take the fight to China’s backyard. @Robert Reich - TPP is a betrayal of the American Worker. The Obama Administration should have never pursued policy that would disproportionately impact our struggling working class for the sake of transnational corporations. This deal must be rejected. @NLRB - The NLRB does not participate in trade negotiations. @Candace Owens - I love seeing libs own other libs for the disaster we call TPP. @Governor Mike Pence - Republicans have stood strongly for free trade since the days of Reagan/Bush. We cannot turn our back on our party values. Free trade means more jobs and more growth. Nebraska Death Penalty Amendment @Omaha World-Herald - Nebraskans will vote in the fall on a ballot measure that, if passed, would reinstate the death penalty in the Cornhusker State. Governor Pete Ricketts has reportedly donated significant funding to make the ballot measure possible. @Governor Pete Ricketts - I stand by my overridden veto of the death penalty abolition legislation passed by the Nebraska Legislature. This issue is best settled by Nebraskans themselves, not politicians in Lincoln. @Innocence Project - The death penalty is broken. Our work is a testament to the fact that innocent people are being condemned to death by the state. We oppose efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Nebraska. U.S. Border Security @Texas Tribune - Senator Benjamin Pinnacle sets his sights on border security as he meet with immigration officials to discuss numerous topics dealing with illegal immigration, pushing for "the President and Congress" to "get together to protect our souther border." Camilo deSonido (I-CA) 2016 Democratic Primary Campaign Launch @LA Times - BREAKING: Independent Senator Camilo Jabari deSonido announces campaign for 2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination. @Marianne Williamson - I've had the fortune of meeting Senator deSonido from time to time and have always been impressed by his candor and vision. We need an independent voice! I'm proud to support his campaign for President! @Donna Brazile - I prefer my party nominee actually be a Democrat. Charles Walker (R-CA) 2016 Republican Primary Campaign Launch @LA Times - BREAKING: Retired General Charles Walker announced 2016 Republican primary campaign. @General Jack Keane - Charles Walker is a true American patriot. I’m proud to support my friend and former fellow Fox contributor. Less hope, more results! Diane Delorean (R-NE) 2016 Republican Primary Campaign Launch @Omaha World-Herald - BREAKING: Nebraska Senator Diane Delorean announced Republican presidential campaign in Omaha. @Congressman Jeff Fortenberry - I’ve known Senator Delorean and I can say with certainty that she’s one tough cookie ready to take on Washington! Republican Party Twitter Feud @George Will - Republicans as of late would do well to remember Reagan’s 11th Commandment. @Steve Bannon - We’ve been following Reagan’s 11th Commandment and what did that get us? Barack Obama and socialized healthcare. It’s time to call the posers out for what they are!

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) speaks to the press regarding a possible loyalty pledge. Talk of Loyalty Pledge Within Democratic Primary Field Divides Opinion - Q1, 2016 Washington D.C. - Following a public statement following a meeting of the DNC Executive Committee, DNC Chairwoman and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has confirmed that the DNC is looking into the possibility of putting forward a loyalty pledge. This comes following a public call for a loyalty pledge from Washington Senator Heather James (D-WA) and concerns among voters that the crowded Democratic field could weaken the eventual nominee if supporters of former candidates stay home or vote third party. A potential loyalty pledge would require all Democratic presidential candidates to rally behind the eventual nominee. Supporters of such a pledge point to the divisive 1992 and 2008 Democratic presidential primaries as examples of concerns at the time that voters would not show up to the polls after their own candidate failed to win the nomination. This concern was prevalent in 2008 in particular with various polling showing a significant number of then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) supporters would not back then-Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) after it became clear he would be the nominee. This concern eventually did not materialize as the former rivals reconciled. "I think it's a no-brainer," said veteran Democratic strategist James Carville when asked about a pledge on MSNBC. "I think you gotta be a damn idiot to not support the eventual nominee." A potential loyalty pledge would also require all Democratic presidential candidates, should they win the nomination, run and serve as a registered Democrat. Not since the election of 1872 has the Democratic Party nominee not been a registered Democrat. "Democratic voters expect their nominee to be a Democrat," said former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile. "Why we are even talking about this is beyond me. The Democratic Party should be led by a Democrat." Current polling of likely Democratic primary voters does indicate that a majority of voters prefer their nominee be a registered Democrat, but support for a registered Independent has seen an uptick in favorable opinion when compared to previous cycles. Experts have identified the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party during the Obama Administration, particular a rise in growing progressive voices. Progressive Democratic party officials have been quick to express opposition to this aspect of the pledge, pointing to the campaign of Independent Senator Camilo deSonido (I-CA) as the candidate most impacted by such a move. Online leftist forums have seen an increase in discourse theorizing that a loyalty pledge is a ploy to derail the campaign of Senator deSonido by the DNC. On his popular podcast, leftist commentator Kyle Kulinski told his listeners, "We all can see what the DNC is trying to do. I don't believe for one second that the DNC out of the blue wants all candidates to sign a loyalty pledge! If I was the deSonido Campaign, I would call this out!" Other progressive voices have been more moderate in their approach, calling for more debate within the DNC to allow them to emphasize the negative perception such a pledge could have with left-wing voters to undecided DNC members. "I am certainly curious to see how a possible loyalty pledge by the DNC impacts the 2016 race," said Professor Larry Sabato when asked about how a loyalty pledge could shake up the Democratic primary. "It's clear that Democrats are at a turning point after eight years of Barack Obama. Holding the White House is naturally the top priority of the DNC. Could this primary get nasty, it's too early to tell but with such a crowded field, it becomes difficult to assume things won't get ugly in the coming weeks as candidates set themselves apart from one another." Some pundits of the media have turned to the RNC following loyalty pledge talk and have openly questioned whether or not they should also consider a loyalty pledge. "Look, the current 2016 field is impressive but so was the field in 2012 and 2008 when candidates left the general election nominee undoubtedly damaged," said conservative Fox News commentator and Pulitzer Price winning writer Charles Krauthammer. "John McCain and Mitt Romney may have benefitted from a loyalty pledge instead of the bloodbath that was their primaries. With such a crowded field, Republican voters are rightfully concerned that another brutal primary could leave their nominee in a weaker position than the Democrats for the third time in a row."

RealClearPolitics coverage of the 2016 election cycle.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 02/28/2024) Gun Violence in America @ABC News - Nation Under Fire: The Rise of Gun Violence in 2015 The most searched topic of the year: shootings in America. 2015 was marked by an alarming frequency of gun violence incidents, capturing the nation's attention and igniting debates across political and social spectrums. LINK @Joy Ann Reid - A white man with a gun is more dangerous to black Americans than anything else. Period. @Ben Shapiro - What’s worse is that we have left ideologues who will completely ignore illegal immigrants and terrorists killing Americans. @Rachel Maddow - The Planned Parenthood attack in Colorado Springs was an attack on women's rights. We must protect access to healthcare and stand against violence. @Chris Hayes - Each shooting in 2015, from Charleston to San Bernardino, was a tragedy that could have been prevented. It's time for action on gun control, hate crime legislation, and mental health support. @Charlie Kirk - San Bernardino and Chattanooga, underscore the need for strong national security and immigration controls. We must protect our citizens. @Rand Paul - San Bernardino was a wake-up call to the threat of homegrown terrorism. We need policies that prioritize the safety of Americans and vetting processes that work. @Sean Hannity - A lack of border security is UNAMERICAN! National Transgender Bathroom Debate @POLITICO - The Year People Fought Over Bathrooms: The landscape of transgender care and awareness in 2015 highlighted a shift towards greater understanding and support for transgender individuals, amidst a broader cultural recognition of the complexity of gender identity. ARTICLE

The Tweetdeck of 2016

North Carolina Republicans Set to Consider Transgender Bathroom Ban in Upcoming Special Session - Q1, 2016 Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Republicans have signaled their intention to move forward with the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, also known as HB2, that would require transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their birth gender in public accommodations. The bill would amend state law to preempt any anti-discrimination ordinances passed by local communities as well as giving the state government sole authority over the minimum wage in North Carolina. Sparked by localities passing anti-discrimination ordinances, such as Charlotte, HB2 has already caused national controversy as North Carolina becomes the epicenter of the newest battle in the fight for LGBT rights. Governor Pat McCrory (R-NC) called for a special election to consider HB2, citing protecting women and children as a primary reason for taking up the legislation. North Carolina Republicans have generally come out in favor of the legislation, with the notable exception of Senator Beau Goodwin (R-NC) who indicated on social media that the legislature should seek consensus before passing HB2. Some Democrats in the legislature have indicated that they are also supportive of HB2, predominantly representing more rural areas of the state. The wider political world has been quick to criticize HB2. LGBT organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, have already labeled HB2 as the most anti-LGBT legislation in a state legislature currently being considered by the United States. HRC has called on nationwide allies and partners to openly condemn HB2 and demand that the legislation be voted down in March. North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (D-NC) has already indicated he would not defend HB2 in court should it be passed by the North Carolina Legislature. Social conservative interest groups like the Family Research Council and prominent social conservative leaders like Pastor Franklin Graham have come out in favor of HB2 and have called on Republicans to unify behind Governor McCrory and North Carolina Republicans in the wake of growing national condemnation. It has been notable that some national Republican figures, such as former General Charles Walker (R-CA) and Senator David Williams (R-IL), have publicly expressed opposition to HB2 for reasons such as commitment to small government principles and lack of cohesion with business and community leaders. Experts have noted that the impact of HB2 passing could have implications for North Carolina's economy. Companies like PayPal and Deutsche Bank, despite being set to expand operation in the state, have expressed hesitation in the wake of HB2's possible passage. The NBA and NCAA have both publicly expressed opposition to HB2's potential passage after pressure from LGBT interest groups and allies. Various musicians have indicated they may consider cancelling tour dates in North Carolina and various localities across the United States have already signaled they may establish travel advisories for employees to avoid North Carolina. HB2 could become a major issue in the upcoming 2016 Presidential Election and the North Carolina Gubernatorial Election. Republicans in the state were quick to condemn Attorney General Cooper for announcing he would not defend the legislation, citing rumors of a potential gubernatorial campaign against Governor McCrory in the fall. Social conservative interest groups have called on potential Republican presidential candidates to speak out in favor of the legislation, despite growing backlash nationally. Early polling indicates that voters in North Carolina are conflicted regarding HB2. The legislation itself currently has 50% disapproval, 38% approval, and 12% unsure from North Carolinians with white men more likely to be supportive and women and minorities more likely to be opposed. Polling becomes murkier when voters are asked about the bathroom provisions at the center of the national controversy. 56% of voters in the state have expressed some level of support for transgender individuals only being allowed to use the bathroom of their birth gender and 34% have expressed that they should be allowed to use the bathroom of choice. 56% of voters also stated that allowing a transgender person to use a women's bathroom poses a security risk to women and children, while 35 percent disagreed with that stance.

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TIME, amongst other things, provide profiles of prominent American leaders.

Top Cases of 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges - In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. “No longer may this liberty be denied,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority in the historic decision. “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.” Marriage is a “keystone of our social order,” Justice Kennedy said, adding that the plaintiffs in the case were seeking “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.” The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and resistance — or at least stalling — in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions. The court’s four more liberal justices joined Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion. Each member of the court’s conservative wing filed a separate dissent, in tones ranging from resigned dismay to bitter scorn. In dissent, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said the Constitution had nothing to say on the subject of same-sex marriage. “If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. “Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.” In a second dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia mocked the soaring language of Justice Kennedy, who has become the nation’s most important judicial champion of gay rights. King v. Burwell - The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that President Obama’s health care law allows the federal government to provide nationwide tax subsidies to help poor and middle-class people buy health insurance, a sweeping vindication that endorsed the larger purpose of Mr. Obama’s signature legislative achievement. The 6-to-3 ruling means that it is all but certain that the Affordable Care Act will survive after Mr. Obama leaves office in 2017. For the second time in three years, the law survived an encounter with the Supreme Court. But the court’s tone was different this time. The first decision, in 2012, was fractured and grudging, while Thursday’s ruling was more assertive. “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for a united six-justice majority. In 2012’s closely divided decision, Chief Justice Roberts also wrote the controlling opinion, but that time no other justice joined it in full. In dissent on Thursday, Justice Antonin Scalia called the majority’s reasoning “quite absurd” and “interpretive jiggery-pokery.” He announced his dissent from the bench, a sign of bitter disagreement. His summary was laced with notes of incredulity and sarcasm, sometimes drawing amused murmurs in the courtroom as he described the “interpretive somersaults” he said the majority had performed to reach the decision. In a hastily arranged appearance in the Rose Garden on Thursday morning, a triumphant Mr. Obama praised the ruling. “After multiple challenges to this law before the Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act is here to stay,” he said, adding: “What we’re not going to do is unravel what has now been woven into the fabric of America.” The ruling was a blow to Republicans, who have been trying to gut the law since it was enacted. But House Republicans vowed that the political fight against it would continue. Elonis v. United States - The Supreme Court on Monday made it harderto prosecute people for threats made on Facebook and other social media, reversing the conviction of a Pennsylvania man who directed brutally violent language against his estranged wife. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority, said prosecutors must do more than prove that reasonable people would view statements as threats. The defendant’s state of mind matters, the chief justice wrote, though he declined to say just where the legal line is drawn. Chief Justice Roberts wrote for seven justices, grounding his opinion in criminal-law principles concerning intent rather than the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. The majority opinion was modest, even cryptic. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. voted with the majority, though he said a defendant’s recklessness in making threatening statements should suffice to require a conviction. The majority opinion took no position on that possibility. “Attorneys and judges are left to guess,” Justice Alito wrote. Justice Clarence Thomas issued a similar criticism in his dissent. “Our job is to decide questions, not create them,” he wrote. “Given the majority’s ostensible concern for protecting innocent actors, one would have expected it to announce a clear rule — any clear rule. Its failure to do so reveals the fractured foundation upon which today’s decision rests.” Justice Thomas, who would have upheld Mr. Elonis’s conviction, said the majority’s approach was unsatisfactory. “This failure to decide,” he wrote, “throws everyone from appellate judges to everyday Facebook users into a state of uncertainty.” Glossip v. Gross - The Supreme Court ruled against three death row inmates who had sought to bar the use of an execution drug they said risked causing excruciating pain. In the process, two dissenting members of the court — Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg — came very close to announcing that they were ready to rule the death penalty unconstitutional. This gave rise to slashing debate with Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas about the reliability and effectiveness of the punishment, a dispute that overshadowed the core issue in the case. The 5-to-4 decision on the execution drug broke along familiar lines, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy joining the court’s more conservative members to allow its use. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the majority, said the inmates had failed to identify an available and preferable method of execution and failed to make the case that the challenged drug entailed a substantial risk of severe pain. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who joined the other three members of the court’s liberal wing, said, “The court’s available-alternative requirement leads to patently absurd consequences.” “Petitioners contend that Oklahoma’s current protocol is a barbarous method of punishment — the chemical equivalent of being burned alive,” Justice Sotomayor wrote. “But under the court’s new rule, it would not matter whether the state intended to use midazolam, or instead to have petitioners drawn and quartered, slowly tortured to death or actually burned at the stake.” Justices Breyer, Ginsburg and Elena Kagan joined Justice Sotomayor’s dissent. Michigan v. EPA - The Supreme Court on Monday blocked one of the Obama administration’s most ambitious environmental initiatives, an Environmental Protection Agency regulation meant to limit emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power plants. Industry groups and about 20 states had challenged the E.P.A.’s decision to regulate the emissions, saying the agency had failed to take into account the punishing costs its rule would impose. The Clean Air Act required the regulation to be “appropriate and necessary.” The challengers said the agency had run afoul of that law by deciding to regulate the emissions without first undertaking a cost-benefit analysis. Writing for the majority, in the 5-to-4 decision, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “It is not rational, never mind ‘appropriate,’ to impose billions of dollars in economic costs in return for a few dollars in health or environmental benefits. Statutory context supports this reading.” The E.P.A. had argued that it was not required to take costs into account when it made the initial determination to regulate. But the agency added that it had done so later in setting emissions standards and that, in any event, the benefits far outweighed the costs. The two sides had very different understandings of the costs and benefits involved. Industry groups said the government had imposed annual costs of $9.6 billion to achieve about $6 million in benefits. The agency said the costs yielded tens of billions of dollars in benefits. In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote: “The agency acted well within its authority in declining to consider costs at the opening bell of the regulatory process given that it would do so in every round thereafter — and given that the emissions limits finally issued would depend crucially on those accountings.” The decision, Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 14-46, does not strike down the rule, but it means the E.P.A. will have to review and rewrite it, taking costs into consideration. (credit to various 2015 RL news articles)

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