Ollie

TOTAL COMBINED RAISED BY DEMOCRATS (2017): $101,400,000 Senator Manu Garcia (D-VA) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $5,500,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Education/Unions, Retired, LGBT Groups TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Emily's List Senator Heather James (D-WA) FIRST ELECTION: 2000 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $20,250,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Securities and Investments, Lawyers/Law Firms, Silicon Valley TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Blackstone Group Senator Taylor Kennedy (D-CA) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $1,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: LGBTQ Groups, Hollywood TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Google Inc. Senator Anney Iyal (D-WA) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $2,150,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Women's Groups, Liberal/Democrat, Retired TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Microsoft Corp. Senator John Carlsen (D-IN) FIRST ELECTION: 2012 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $10,250,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Securities and Investments, Defense Contractors, Lawyers/Law Firms TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Goldman Sachs Senator Diego Everhart (D-PA) FIRST ELECTION: 2012 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $16,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Unions, Women's Groups, Wall Street TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Fred Eychaner President Doug Murphy FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2020 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $25,500,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Securities and Investments, Retired, Health Insurance TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Blue Cross/Blue Shield Senator Camilo deSonido (D-CA) FIRST ELECTION: 2012 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $9,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Construction, Unions, Hollywood TOP CONTRIBUTOR: University of California/Los Angeles Senator Andrew Clarke (D-MO) FIRST ELECTION: 2012 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $11,750,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Health Insurance, Manufacturing, Securities and Investments TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Michael Bloomberg TOTAL COMBINED RAISED BY REPUBLICANS (2017): $53,000,000 Senator James Cambridge (R-IA) FIRST ELECTION: 2012 NEXT ELECTION: 2018 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $6,500,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Retired, Health Insurance TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Ethanol Industry Senator George Scott Freeman (R-SC) FIRST ELECTION: 2014 NEXT ELECTION: 2020 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $250,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Retired, Misc. TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Uline Inc. Senator Kimberly Atkins (R-AZ) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $2,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Defense Contractors, Oil & Gas, Wall Street TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Lockheed Martin Senator Kyle Van Horn (R-KY) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $12,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Health Insurance, Securities and Investments, Retired TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Robert Mercer Senator David Powers (R-PA) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $4,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Oil & Gas, Retired, Pharmaceuticals TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Chevron Corp. Senator Jason Roy (R-SC) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $1,300,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Misc. Business, Oil & Gas TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Tractor Supply Co. Senator April Kelly (R-AL) FIRST ELECTION: 2016 NEXT ELECTION: 2022 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $3,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Single Issue, Oil & Gas, Defense Contractors TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Farris Wilks Senator Cliff Fleming (R-AL) FIRST ELECTION: 2008 NEXT ELECTION: 2020 TOTAL RAISED (2017): $24,000,000 TOP INDUSTRIES: Securities and Investments, Misc. Business, Defense Contractors TOP CONTRIBUTOR: Lockheed Martin

POLITICO PLAYBOOK: Immigration Talks Begin as Democrats Struggle on Messaging By BARNABY ANTHONY and ELLA LANDRY | 08/14/2017 6:58AM GOP Senate Leader Cliff Fleming speaks to reporters about Republicans' proposed immigration bill. (CREDIT: VPM News) NEGOTIATIONS HAVE STARTED ON IMMIGRATION, a major first for the 114th Congress, as "official negotiations" on anything have not happened up to this point, in part due to the instability of Republican leadership, and the battle over the Supreme Court. Republicans also left Democrats little choice but to come to the table and negotiate. They have dominated the airwaves on the border to little response from either the White House or Democrats and the issue has received widespread coverage by the media in recent weeks. -- Negotiations are said to include Sen. Minority Leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL), Sen. Majority Leader DIEGO EVERHART (D-PA), Sen. HANNAH JAMES (D-WA), Sen. KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY), Sen. BARAK MOFAZ (R-GA) and Sen. JOHN CARLSEN (D-IN). No details have been provided on any framework but both sides have drawn lines in the sand previously: Fleming has said any form of amnesty wouldn't pass for Republicans as Everhart and President DOUG MURPHY have indicated a proposal not including DACA protections would be unacceptable. "I am determined to protect America and lock up terrorists and criminals," President Murphy told reporters, "give me the tools and resources to do it, I will sign the bill. But if you think border security means terrorizing kids and harassing hardworking parents by throwing them into vans and throwing them out of the country without any due process, you better find a house of worship or something and get back in touch with your soul." -- The travel ban proposal by Republicans has been panned by Democrats, immigration advocacy groups, and Muslim advocacy groups. Staffers and activists have been left frustrated by the lack of response from Senate Democrats in the press. "We've been left to fend for ourselves," Masha Bahrami, a Muslim student at the University of California, Berkley told POLITICO. "My family in Iran would be banned from visiting even though they are paying for my education, they would be banned because of the actions of the Iranian government, but they are good people," she said. Bahrami attended protests against the travel ban at UC Berkley. -- Republicans were surprisingly disciplined and united in their messaging with a barrage of rank-and-file members of the party appearing on the Sunday shows to talk about immigration. Despite widespread resolute opposition to the travel ban, Republicans were successful in driving the narrative in Washington and asserting themselves after an abysmal start to the year. And, perhaps more impressively, with Democrats holding the Senate majority and the White House, Republicans have seemingly dictated the agenda to start out the summer. -- Yes, but: cracks are already beginning to show with the firing of APRIL KELLY (R-AL) as Senate Minority Whip. On Thursday, Kelly tweeted that Minority Leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL) had fired her from her job because she had raised opposition against a "proposed immigration deal" that he is "negotiating with Diego Everhart." What makes this even more awkward is that both Kelly and Fleming represent the state of Alabama. Many on the Beltway saw Kelly's firing coming after the reversions to the GOP Senate Conference charter made it possible for the Senate Leader to dismiss and appoint the Whip. It was an odd pairing: Kelly is an ally of Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-TN) and was elected following the ousting of former Whip JAMES CAMBRIDGE (R-IA). -- At the end of the day, it's unclear what the "proposed immigration deal" is at this point. Both sides had previously drawn thick red lines in the sand: Sen. Majority Leader DIEGO EVERHART (D-PA) indicated no deal could be made without addressing codifying DACA, while Republicans insisted on the entirety of the border security proposal laid out by Fleming last week. This includes a travel ban, funding for a border wall, the national implementation of E-Verify, among a number of other border security related provisions. TRUMP FOR MAYOR? It's primary season for the 2017 elections with most eyes on Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City's Mayoral election. Rumors are circulating who might end up running in each primary and the New York City Mayor's race has perhaps captured the attention of most, with rumors of hypothetical candidates with national name recognition. DONALD TRUMP has sparked speculation that he might mount a challenge against NYC Mayor BILL DEBLASIO. While a Trump matchup seems a little far fetched, former NYPD Commissioner RAYMOND KELLY announced he was indeed stepping into the race. Most believe Kelly could actually pose a threat to DeBlasio, who has suffered from poor approval ratings. Kelly is widely respected by members of both parties and in 2013, Sen. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY) endorsed him to lead the FBI. DeBlasio, on the other hand, has made a number of enemies during his time as Mayor, and many Democrats can't stand him. It will make for an interesting race if that's how things turn out. Hurricane Harvey relief has run into a roadblock in the Senate just as it nearly passed by unanimous consent, with just hours left until Sen. GEORGE SCOTT (R-SC) objected. Several members of both parties have objected publicly to the $100 billion price tag put forward by President DOUG MURPHY, who defended the number, pointing to the standard set recently by Hurricane Sandy, where 80% of economic damages were covered. -- Sen. Minority Leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL), Sen. JOHN CARLSEN (D-IN), Sen. HANNAH JAMES (D-WA), among a number of others, raised concerns about the price tag for disaster relief following Harvey's $125 billion estimated damages. Fleming offered an amendment offering what he called an "appropriate scale for the damage done." Fleming's amendment would've dramatically lowered grant funding to just $6 billion while cancelling all debt for the National Flood Insurance Program. Another $4 billion would be offered with a loan program. Sen. DAVID STEWART (R-PA) offered a series of amendments including the GOP immigration plan, the RAISE Act, and a Cyber Security bill. Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-TN) said that since Congress was already allocating money for an emergency, "now is as good a time as ever to address our border security emergency as well." Both the Fleming amendment and the Stewart amendments seem likely to fail as of writing. -- The Texas Congressional delegation and Texas Gov. GREG ABBOTT were, privately, furious at the Republican attempts to pair down aid to the state. While it is evident that Texas would benefit greatly from $100 billion in disaster aid, behind the scenes, Abbott seemed more disturbed about the floating of large loans being apart of disaster relief. While not unprecedented, disaster loans are often provided directly to local communities, and historically have been forgiven by the federal government. Abbott voiced his displeasure on Twitter, saying that Texans "deserved better from Congress." -- A bill put forward by Sen. GARY SCOTT FREEMAN (R-SC) and Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-TN) drew bipartisan criticism thanks to a provision that would eliminate all FEMA grant funding, turning it entirely into a loan program. Fleming put out a tweet saying "the solution right now is to not defund FEMA." Sen. ANDREW CLARKE (D-MO) said he was "shocked" by the bill. In a twitter exchange with Freeman, Clarke said he could "do all the word-lawyering you want, but it doesn't change the fact that your response to a devastating disaster is to defund FEMA." In response to Freeman's bill, RNC Chairman TARIK LEE (R-GA) said every morning he walks into the Senate, '"I murmur Fucking idiots, the lot of ya,' and then go about my day." The comment raised a few eyebrows, with several sources within the RNC commenting that Lee "needs to take some media training." Freeman defended the bill, saying "there is no defunding of FEMA." "There's only a mere responsible reappropriating to focus on what really matters: providing relief to the people of Texas," Freeman added. Happy Sunday and thanks for reading another Playbook weekend edition. Drop us a line: Ella Landry, Barnaby Anthony. PRESENTED BY PHRMA Our government leaders should prioritize funding the fight against cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases, not fund programs designed to make research harder. Read more; phrma.com/macisbad DRIVING THE DAY SPEAKING OF FREEMAN, a bill titled the "Foreign Ownership Restriction & Forfeiture Act" was introduced by Freeman a few months ago, largely flying under the radar, until President Pro Tempore HANNAH JAMES tweeted about it. "I am not sure it has been covered just how completely insane the Foreign Ownership Act is," she said. Well, Senator James, you're in luck, because this is a doozy. The bill was recently cosponsored by Sen. APRIL KELLY (R-AL), Sen. SEAN STEVENS (D-WV), Sen. TONY JOHNSON (R-OK), and Sen. PAULINA RICHARDS (D-OH). The bill would prohibit home ownership and commercial business ownership by non-citizens and force current non-citizens to sell off their homes and businesses in public auctions. It's really f***ing insane: According to experts, an average of 15% of owner-occupied homes across the nation’s 50 largest metros belong to those born outside the U.S.. In addition to that, thousands of businesses in the U.S. are owned by non-citizens, including tens of thousands of restaurant franchises, sports arenas, farms, grocery stores, and that's just the tip of the ice berg. International policy experts and legal analysts have weighed in and all agreed that it would be a quagmire, and would likely tank the U.S. economy, violate a number of international treaties, all the while pursuing enforcement would cost tens of billions of dollars. "This bill is one hundred percent, undoubtedly, for certain, the stupidest thing I have ever seen proposed to Congress in my forty year career," former Harvard Law Professor John Taylor told Politico. It gets worse: Taylor said the legislation would "eliminate millions of jobs, hundreds of billions of dollars of our GDP, and would violate the fifth amendment rights of tens of millions of people." Amy Hopkins, an international policy expert, said the bill was "the most isolationist piece of legislation ever introduced to Congress." Hopkins said the bill was unprecedented and in nature and would harm U.S. relations with essentially every foreign country. "The bill is bigoted in many ways, or its intent is I imagine, but it would effect everyone: Canadian's, Chinese, it doesn't matter, with this bill, you're out, you're a target." Most experts agreed, Democrat and Republican, that the legislation was a liability for everyone who supported it. "If you signed onto this bill, you're a dumbass," MSNBC's James Carville said. DON'T MISS IT: Opioid Crisis Accountability Act: A Turning Point, van Horn declares War on Opioids The Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act was signed into law over the weekend with Sen. KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY) and Sen. SEAN STEVENS (D-WV), the sponsor of the bill, joining President Murphy at the signing ceremony. At the ceremony, Murphy emphasized the healthcare related provisions of the bill. Murphy said it was a "Herculean leap forward for the prosperity and dignity of all Americans when it comes to their healthcare." Van Horn called the Medical Affordability Commission "an innovative, market-friendly approach to ensure that all Americans can afford the medication they need." Stevens emphasized the aspects of the bill that were geared toward Appalachia and coal miners, saying the bill was " a declaration that we will not leave our coal miners behind." Pharmaceutical companies have vowed to continue to fight against the "restrictive and draconian measures" of the Medical Affordability Commission, creating website called 'macisbad.com', arguing that Congress should not put funding toward the commissions goals, and instead fund key cancer research. Competing fundraisers were held in Los Angeles and Miami by Democrats and Republicans respectively, with both parties making a big showing. Every member of Democratic leadership, along with President Doug Murphy, attended the Los Angeles gala, drawing famous figures such as actor GEORGE CLOONEY and singer song-writer JOHN LEGEND. For Republicans, a wide variety were in attendance, including GOP mega donors SHELDON ADELSON and PETER THIEL. At the event in Miami, Hank Williams Jr. performed several songs and several members of the Duck Dynasty cast were also in attendance. Early rumors indicate that HANNAH JAMES (D-WA) gave a speech that roused Democratic business donors and Wall Street with her defense of free trade, with a large uptick in donations to James' warchest. We'll find out later this week when financial disclosures are revealed. WATCH THIS SPOT: Yesterday, President Murphy and Democrats unleashed the "American Family Pact," a pact which Murphy described as "four bills that will restore and secure your share of this nation’s prosperity." The bills include paid family leave, a $15 minimum wage, investments into low income housing, and a bill to advance the rights of union organization. Dems have made a major push in the media for the new AFP, with the White House in "full spin mode," according to several sources familiar with the President's thinking. Watch this spot closely because we'll be doing full coverage of the progress of the President's new agenda and the fall out from Dem messaging on it heading into the fall. PHOTO OF THE DAY A family of evacuees of Hurricane Harvey wait for the rest of their family members onboard an Air Force helicopter. Aug. 30, 2017. (CREDIT: NELLIS AFB) PLAYBOOK READS Senator Camilo deSonido Champions Economic Justice at the "March for a Living Wage" on Capitol Steps by Sen. Camilo deSonido (D-CA) -- "On a bright Labor Day morning, Senator Camilo deSonido stood before a sea of determined faces on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, leading the resonant "March for a Living Wage." This significant event drew thousands from across the nation, unified in their demand for fair compensation and economic justice. Notably in attendance were Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Barbara Lee, and activist Nina Turner, alongside a diverse group of marchers from various walks of life, emphasizing the widespread support for this critical cause. In a passionate plea for fairness, Senator deSonido articulated the urgency of establishing a national minimum wage of $15 per hour. This rate is proposed as the minimum standard necessary to ensure that full-time workers can achieve a decent standard of living, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. The Senator emphasized that this is not just an economic reform, but a moral imperative that addresses the dignity of every American worker." The Black Community Is Being Decimated By Illegal Immigration by Sen. Tony Johnson (R-OK -- "As a Black Republican Senator, I feel compelled to address an issue that has been largely overlooked in discussions about immigration: the negative impacts of mass illegal immigration on the Black community. While the topic of immigration often evokes passionate debates about border security and humanitarian concerns, it is essential to recognize the significant economic and social consequences that illegal immigration has on Black Americans. First and foremost, mass illegal immigration undermines economic opportunities for Black Americans. The influx of undocumented immigrants into the labor market drives down wages and reduces job prospects for low-skilled workers, who are disproportionately Black. Studies have shown that illegal immigration leads to increased competition for jobs in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and service industries, where many Black workers are employed. This competition results in depressed wages and reduced bargaining power for Black workers, making it harder for them to support themselves and their families." BBC: Coalition Forces Rout ISIS in Mosul as Last Major Stronghold in Iraq Falls -- "The Battle of Mosul has ended in a decisive coalition victory as the last major stronghold held by the Islamic State has been recaptured by coalition forces. The U.S.-led coalition has emphasized a continued need to drive out remaining ISIS cells, predominantly still in operation in Mosul's Old City, but emphasized that the city at-large remains under firm Iraqi Government control. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi himself recently visited coalition forces in Mosul to celebrate what he described as a "resounding victory" for the country against the Islamic State. The Battle of Mosul has been noted for some of the most intense urban combat since the Second World War with thousands of civilian casualties and over 920,000 Iraqis displaced as a result of the fighting. The nine month battle was the culmination of a concentrated effort by the U.S.-led coalition to push ISIS out of Iraq and strike devastating blows to the terror organization's capabilities. The United Nations has estimated that more than 5,000 buildings have been damaged and 490 destroyed in the Old City alone as a result of the intense fighting. The city had previously been overrun by ISIS in the summer of 2014, catching the Iraqi Government off-guard at the time. The leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, famously made his first and only public appearance as leader of the Islamic State at the city's Great Mosque of al-Nuri, announcing the creation of a caliphate. ISIS destroyed the mosque as coalition forces neared the city." WSJ: The Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act: Funding Shortfalls Threaten Vital Initiatives -- "Legislative promises often stand as beacons of hope, yet their efficacy hinges on the strength of their financial backing. As "The Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act" emerges as a beacon of hope for the beleaguered communities of Appalachia and indeed the country, a cloud of uncertainty looms over its implementation due to possible funding inadequacies. Central to this narrative is the 'Opioid Crisis Accountability Act' the financial backbone of the Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act. This legislation, crafted to hold accountable those complicit in the opioid crisis, is expected to funnel resources into programs spanning healthcare, education, economic development, and more. However, the arithmetic behind this funding mechanism may not add up to the monumental challenges facing the region.

Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Love Our Presidents) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.]

Hurricane Harvey Devastates Texas With Floods and Destruction (Houston) -- On Saturday, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast, unleashing a deluge of rain and wind that wreaked havoc across the state. What started as a tropical storm quickly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Harvey slammed into the Texas coast near Rockport on the evening of August 25, with maximum sustained winds of 135mph. The ferocity of the storm was felt immediately, as buildings were ripped apart, trees uprooted, and power lines toppled. The National Hurricane Center described Harvey as "the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years." One of the most devastating aspects of Hurricane Harvey has been the unprecedented historic flooding unleashed across southeastern Texas. The storm has stalled over the region, dumping staggering amounts of rain. Some areas received over 50 inches of rain, making Harvey one of the wettest tropical cyclones in U.S. history. Cities like Houston, Corpus Christie, and Rockport were particularly hard hit, as the torrential downpours overwhelmed drainage systems and caused rivers to swell to record levels. Neighborhoods were submerged under several feet of water, turning streets into rivers and trapping residents in their homes. Dramatic images circulated on social media of people stranded on rooftops, awaiting rescue as floodwaters rose around them. The damage wrought by Hurricane Harvey has already been immense and far-reaching. Tens of thousands of homes are likely flooded, and more than 50,000 people have been displaced from their residences. Local officials predict that the economic toll will be staggering, with initial estimates putting the cost of the storm at over $125 billion, which would make it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. Infrastructure took a heavy blow as well, with roads washed out, road signs and infrastructure blown away, and public utilities damaged or destroyed. The energy industry, a vital component of the Texas economy, also suffered significant disruption, as refineries and chemical plants were forced to shut down due to flooding and power outages. In the face of the vast devastation, major rescue efforts have already been undertaken to rescue those stranded by the floodwaters and provide aid to affected communities. The U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, and local emergency responders conducted thousands of rescues, often braving treacherous conditions to reach those in need. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered over 3,000 to deploy to assist with rescue efforts. Volunteers from across the country also mobilized to assist with relief efforts, providing shelter, food, and medical care to displaced residents. The Red Cross has been working with local officials to coordinate relief efforts. FEMA Administrator Nicole Lurie has been working with local officials and Governor Abbott to coordinate the federal governments response to the disaster. On Sunday, Lurie lamented that preparations made prior to the storm were the right move. "We moved supplies in as soon as we got word on exactly how devastating this might be," Lurie said, "and that decision has saved lives." Lurie also said that FEMA is already developing a recovery plan and assistance to those who have been displaced by the storm. "We aren't going anywhere, we are in this with the people of Texas, and will continue to be for as long as it takes," Lurie said. Lurie acknowledged that FEMA's emergency fund will likely need replenished following the storm, as the hurricane season rages on, saying it is an issue for Congress to address. The human toll of the disaster was tragically evident, with a confirmed death toll of at least 68 individuals directly attributed to the storm. However, this number is likely an underestimate, as some victims may have perished in floodwaters or been unable to access medical care in the chaotic aftermath of the storm. Hospitals and healthcare facilities in the affected areas faced unprecedented challenges in providing care to those injured by the hurricane and its aftermath. Emergency rooms were inundated with patients suffering from injuries ranging from trauma caused by flying debris to waterborne illnesses contracted in contaminated floodwaters. Despite strained resources and logistical difficulties, medical personnel were able to continue taking patients continuously. Mobile medical units were deployed to affected areas to supplement hospital capacity, and makeshift clinics were set up to provide basic medical services to displaced residents.

POLITICO PLAYBOOK: Bipartisan Vote to Kill Senate Judicial Filibuster Succeeds By BARNABY ANTHONY and ELLA LANDRY | 06/14/2017 6:58AM President Doug Murphy speaks to reporters outside the White House after returning from Wisconsin. (CREDIT: Getty) IT'S FINALLY OVER, the Senate has moved to a final vote on the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, as the Senate filibuster for Supreme Court nominations is officially dead. With the help of a number of Republicans, Democrats overturned the ruling of the Chair, requiring only a simple majority for cloture on nominations to the Supreme Court. Sen. GARY SCOTT FREEMAN (R-SC), Sen. DAVID STEWART (R-PA), and Sen. JAMES CAMBRIDGE (R-IA) all broke with Republicans on the vote while Sen. BARAK MOFAZ (R-GA) voted present. Every Democrat, including Sen. PAULINE RICHARDS (D-OH), who blocked a previous attempt to overturn the filibuster, voted for the motion. It's a big deal: Ketanji Brown Jackson is now expected to sail to confirmation and become the first African American woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only that, Jackson will be confirmed in time to take part in the 2017 term of the court, taking the place of the late Antonin Scalia. To all appearances, this will tip court in the favor of liberals. Jackson joins Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan who are often identified as the liberals of the court, to create a 5-4 majority, or a 6-3 depending on the swing vote of Justice Anthony Kennedy. The fall out for Republicans continues as recent Senate approval ratings show many of those who came out in support of Jackson's nomination, or Watford's nomination, have been hurt by it with conservative voters. Most polls show a large majority of Republicans were opposed to the confirmation of Watford and Jackson. "There's a lot on the line here with the court and with gay marriage and other rulings, you can see the court has gone to the left," Jackson Hewitt, a Republican organizer in Pennsylvania, told POLITICO, "people really care about this, especially Christian voters, it's something they ask about all the time." READ: OUR LAST UPDATE ON THE SUPREME COURT A BUSY WEEK IN CONGRESS: Retired General DAVID PETRAEUS was nominated for Secretary of Defense while former FDIC Chair SHEILA BLAIR was picked to lead the Office of Management and Budget. KATRINA VALDEZ was confirmed as Secretary of State with a voice vote. Congressman JEREH FORD (D-TN) was announced as the next Vice President and confirmed quickly without much noise or controversy. Petraeus hasn't been so lucky with both Democrats and Republicans forcefully coming out against his nomination. -- Sen. KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY) came out against Petraeus with a message on Twitter. "I’m not voting for Petraeus," Van Horn wrote, "our military and our country deserve better leadership at the top of the Pentagon." Sen. JASON ROY (R-SC) accused "Obama federal prosecutors" of giving Petraeus a "sweet heart deal" during his legal troubles in 2015. -- There was also a heated moment between Petraeus and Sen. ERICA SMITH (D-FL), who grilled the former CIA Director for his past conduct and 2015 legal troubles. "Somewhere down the line you lost your way. You gained an immense amount of power and respect and you used that power and respect to betray your family and, unfortunately, betray your country," Smith told Petraeus before asking him how he could be trusted after mishandling classified information. Petraeus acknowledged his wrongdoing and emphasized they would not be repeated. "The mistakes I made were serious and were met with serious consequences. I have faced these actions head-on, not with excuses but with a resolve to learn and improve from them," he said. WATCH -- Most expect Petraeus will receive the necessary votes regardless, with a number of Democrats and Republicans seeming open to his nomination. RNC Chairman TARIK LEE (R-GA) tweeted out he could "get behind" Petraeus. Other sources believe Petraeus was nominated after the White House consulted Senate Republicans with a list of names, but that has not been confirmed. -- The nomination has puzzled progressives. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT) said Petraeus' "wouldn't be my first choice or my 100th choice" to serve as Secretary of State when asked by Capitol Hill reporter Manu Raju. Progressive commentators and pundits have panned President DOUG MURPHY's decision, with even high-level media allies like RACHEL MADDOW providing extensive coverage of Petraeus' past legal problems and leadership in the Afghanistan war. "I imagine Hillary Clinton is throwing her arms up in the air exasperated at the moment," Maddow quipped. Good Saturday morning and welcome back to weekend Playbook. Drop us a line; Barnaby Anthony, Ella Landry. PRESENTED BY JPMORGAN CHASE “The private sector has not only a moral obligation but a vested interest to deliver for the public good,” notes JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon. Business plays an important role in developing solutions that spur economic growth and benefit every American. Republicans have made a strong push on immigration, with a coordinated press effort that has driven the news cycle of Fox News and other outlets in the conservative media sphere while Republicans forced mainstream news to cover the issue, appearing across Sunday morning shows last week. Senate Minority Leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL) made an appearance on CNN, slamming President Doug Murphy and Democrats on the issue. "It's telling that when the President was asked about how he wanted to secure our borders the only thing he could do is fall back on campaign talking points," Fleming told CNN's Jake Tapper. It was one appearance in a barrage of attacks launched. Republicans have mostly focused on news out of Venezuela of a looming migrant crisis while pointing to the Barclaycard Arena bombing in the UK as reason to be concerned about unchecked immigration. -- Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-AZ) appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" and said her constituents were fearful. Atkins said Arizonan's were being "terrorized by the ramping up of migrant crime," arguing that " innocent American families live in fear of violence and insecurity while Democrats sit idle." Atkins and other Republicans have been critical of Senate Majority Leader DIEGO EVERHART (D-PA) for not bringing a border security package to the Senate floor. Senate Minority Whip APRIL KELLY (R-AL) spoke to Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos. "The president is sitting idly by watching this situation in Venezuela disintegrate before our eyes and pretty soon, we'll be inundated with an invasion of migrants and refugees flooding through our border," Kelly said. -- Sen. KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY) has been a leader in the GOP on the immigration issue and introduced the EL-CHAPO Act, which would seize assets of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, who is currently being prosecuted in the United States. Sources say there is likely a tight deadline on Congress passing such a bill, with his trial soon coming to a conclusion. "I introduced the EL CHAPO Act to use El Chapo’s $14 billion worth of ill-gotten gains to build a wall along our southern border," Van Horn told Fox News' Tucker Carlson, "I also introduced the SAFE Act to require extreme vetting of refugees entering our country." -- Democrats have not pushed back against Republicans on the immigration issue, leaving the airwaves for them to fill, which has frustrated staffers who believe they risk losing the messaging war. "Republicans are making it seem like migrants are piling into the country like a giant hoard," a Democratic pollster said, "and, unchecked, this messaging is effective in stoking fear, stoking panic, and shifting the narrative to their side." Several staffers anonymously said they thought Democrats were fumbling the momentum they have coming off of six long months of Republican infighting. DEMOCRATS PICK UP A SENATE SEAT . . . SORT-OF: In a press briefing without much fanfare, Sen. CAMILO deSONIDO (D-CA) announced he would be switching his party affiliation from Independent to Democrat. "My roots are deeply entrenched in the Democratic soil; from my early days in South Carolina, engaging with the Young Democrats, to my active participation at UCLA, and my presidency of the California Young Democrats," deSonido said, emphasizing that he believes "transformative strides" had been made by the Democratic Party during his time in the Senate. The news did surprise some progressives and stoke conversations about a possible 2020 Presidential run by the young Senator, with speculation that the move was to prevent any questions about his loyalty to the party. In the House, the Death Penalty for Cop Killers Act passed relatively easily, with nearly all Republicans in support, and a number of Blue Dog Democrats joining them. The bill, originally sponsored by Van Horn in the Senate, expands aggravating factors to seeking the death penalty on federal cases to include targeting of and killing police officers or other first responders. The bill has received support from Republicans and a number or pro-police organizations, such as the National Fraternal Order of Police. On the other hand, groups like the NAACP and ACLU have criticized the bill even being considered, especially in the face of ongoing racial tensions across the country. "As young Black men and women are systematically targeted by police, this is the topic of conversation," Virginia NAACP spokesperson James Wallace questioned. The NAACP has recently endorsed a policy that would federally mandate police officers to wear body worn cameras, to prevent abuse and to provide a full picture for any future investigations. PHOTO OF THE DAY UK Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at the European Council in Brussels following a joint operation targeting ISIS operations in Niger. (Source: NYT) We're looking at those with influence in Washington and together, we've formed a list of five of Washington's Most Influential Players, and who the movers and shakers are. 1. Sen. Diego Everhart: There's no denying that Senate Majority Leader Everhart holds all the cards and is able to dictate the tempo in Washington. There's been a lot of missteps: the minimum wage bill, an DOA abortion bill, among other things. He's been criticized by some in Washington for 'political stunts', such as a recent bill which would ban right-to-work nationally, with many agreeing it has little chance at passing. Regardless, Everhart and Speaker Paul Ryan are the gatekeepers of Washington, and the ultimate deciders of its agenda. 2. Sen. Cliff Fleming: The Senate Minority Leader may not have any official powers but he has proven to be surprisingly resilient and a consistent force for the GOP. Being ousted and then returning to the top job in the Senate Republican Conference is certainly a testament to Fleming's ability to traverse the complexities of the Beltway, and perhaps more importantly, his own Senate conference. It has been Fleming who has consistently been a thorn in the side of Democrats on the Supreme Court, the minimum wage bill, among other things. 3. Sen. Kyle Van Horn: Van Horn has been heavily influential in the Senate, especially when it comes to directing Republican legislative efforts, with his office driving out bills that are no doubt aimed at firing up the Republican base. These includes bills like the EL CHAPO Act, the Death Penalty for Cop Killers Act, and the SAFE Act -- all of which have received widespread support across the GOP. Van Horn and his Senate office have seemingly become the policy center for Republicans which is a clear mark of his growing stock in the conference after his ouster as Senate Whip. 4. Sen. Camilo deSonido: deSonido is known as the leading progressive voice in the Senate and has obtained some influence due to what many see as a close relationship to Senate Majority Leader Diego Everhart. Both Everhart and deSonido are in the Progressive Caucus and several of deSonido's bills have been placed on the Senate docket, likely much to the ire of Blue Dog Democrats, including the minimum wage bill and the right-to-work ban, both of which had deSonido's fingerprints on them. 5. Sen. John Carlsen: The reason the minimum wage bill was pulled from the Senate floor? The Blue Dog caucus. While Sen. Andrew Clarke is Chair of the caucus, Carlsen is often seen as the face of it, appearing on social media and in the press far more often. It was also Carlsen who has developed a seemingly close relationship with GOP Senate Leader Cliff Fleming; endorsing him on Twitter for his old job and endorsing Fleming's proposal of a $10 minimum wage tied to E-Verify. In a 51-49 Senate, just a few votes dooms Democrats efforts, meaning they need Carlsen and his cohort of Blue Dogs to sign on to anything for it to pass. PLAYBOOK TOP READS "Bipartisan Agreement Paves Way for California Bridge Reconstruction Bill", by CNN's Phil Stewart: "A bill appropriating $3 billion in grant funding for the reconstruction of the collapsed Interstate 5 bridge near Sacramento, California, is poised for swift passage through the Senate. Introduced by Senators Everhart (D-PA) and deSonido (D-CA), the legislation enjoys broad bipartisan support and is expected to reach President Murphy's desk." "Murphy Approval Ratings Sits at 54%," by FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver: "President Doug Murphy is currently sitting pretty with a 54% approval rating after having just taken office following the resignation of former President Xiomara de la Cruz. Murphy's position at the moment is relatively soft. While he has just taken the job as President, Americans are already familiar with Murphy as a member of the de la Cruz administration. He was, arguably, perhaps even more active in the press than his predecessor. Due to this, Murphy does not enjoy as much of a bump as new Presidents have received historically (ex., Obama with 69% in January, 2009 and Reagan with 68% in May, 1981)." "Domestic Protests Against Maduro Regime Continues In Spite of GM Plant Takeover," by BBC's Kasey Hendry: "In spite of Venezuela's controversial seizing of a GM Plant, sparking international outrage, protests against the Maduro Regime have grown in recent weeks. Citing significant economic downturn and repression political opposition, Venezuelans have taken to the streets in several major cities across the country. Protestors have been met with significant pushback from military forces, with the atmosphere in some areas considered tense between the two sides. The Maduro Regime has been noted as seeking diplomatic correspondences abroad as they seek to maintain their international legitimacy. Humanitarian experts warn that a mass exodus of Venezuelans could create a significant crisis in the region." "Trial of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Concludes: Verdict and Sentencing Awaited", by WaPo's Alex Hernandez: "After a lengthy and highly publicized trial, the legal proceedings against Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, one of the world's most notorious drug lords, have drawn to a close. The trial, which unfolded in a federal court in the United States, saw prosecutors present a wealth of evidence detailing Guzmán's alleged involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime.

Following Washington: Approval Ratings Presidential and Congressional Approval Polls, Q3 2017 How popular is Doug Murphy? Approve: 54% Disapprove: 43% A collection of polls from various pollsters from registered voters. 90% of polls projected to fall in this range. President Doug Murphy is currently sitting pretty with a 54% approval rating after having just taken office following the resignation of former President Xiomara de la Cruz. Murphy's position at the moment is relatively soft. While he has just taken the job as President, Americans are already familiar with Murphy as a member of the de la Cruz administration. He was, arguably, perhaps even more active in the press than his predecessor. Due to this, Murphy does not enjoy as much of a bump as new Presidents have received historically (ex., Obama with 69% in January, 2009 and Reagan with 68% in May, 1981). Murphy has started out with Republican voters already having a negative perception of him, in large part thanks to his role as a partisan bulldog in the de la Cruz administration, highlighted by his activity on Twitter and back-and-forth exchanges with Republican members of Congress. Nonetheless, a sizeable majority currently view Murphy favorably, which many pundits and analysts have attributed in part to Republicans being in disarray. As NBC political contributor Noah Barnes put it, "while the White House hasn't done a whole lot, doing nothing looks better than what we saw from Republicans the first half of the year." Murphy has also been diligent since taking office, nominating a new VP, Supreme Court Justice, OMB Director, and Secretary of Defense while navigating the seemingly complex web of Republican leadership to strike deals and avoid drawn out confirmation fights. LOOKING FORWARD: There is a growing crisis in Venezuela, Democrats remain embittered about the minimum wage debacle in the Senate, and a handful of renegade Blue Dog Senators have thrown a wrench in Democrats plans over and over again. These are all issues that the President will have to contend with moving forward and issues which will surely impact these numbers, one way or the other. General Congressional Ballot Democrat: 45% Republican: 40% A collection of polls from various pollsters from registered voters. 90% of polls projected to fall in this range. Republicans in Disarray. Republicans in Chaos. The Collapse of the Republican Party. Is this the end of the GOP? - These are all headlines circling around on the internet the past few months, as accusations of blackmail, bullying, coup d'états, and public spats have infected the Republican Senate Conference. And the public has taken notice. Late night talk shows lambasted Republicans and Cliff Fleming and David Stewart were mocked on SNL, with a skit going viral that showed Stewart (played by Beck Bennett) and Fleming (played by Alex Moffat) announcing an upcoming boxing match, parodying the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight announcement. Republicans were mocked on social media and their fights, tweets, remarks, and actions were endlessly analyzed on MSNBC, CNN, and even Fox News, with the latter pulling almost no punches in their wall-to-wall coverage of the drama. Needless to say, it was a bad first half of the year for Republicans, with the Generic Congressional Ballot reflecting that. For Democrats, they didn't have to do much to clear the very low bar set by their colleagues, but they had their own issues. Several nominations were defeated despite them only needing a 51 vote majority. A minimum wage bill was brought to the floor, with Democrats emphasizing it in the media, and was quickly pulled after several Blue Dog Democrats endorsed an amendment to include E-Verify and lower the amount to $10 instead of $15. It's safe to say that Democrats majorly benefitted from Republicans airing their issues out in public, with a 5% lead, and a major fundraising advantage despite a rather abysmal success rate -- so far -- in getting anything to clear the Senate. Individual Senate Approval Ratings All commentary is based on local pundits in the states polled. Senator Clifford Fleming (R), Alabama Approve: 47% Disapprove: 46% Alabamans are divided on Cliff Fleming, the once again Senate Minority Leader, largely thanks to the controversy he's been embroiled in on the Beltway. At the moment, a solid majority of Republicans approve of Fleming, which -- thanks to Alabama's demographics -- is keeping his head above water. On the other hand, an overwhelming majority of Democrats and a majority of independents in the state disapprove of Fleming. While Fleming hasn't had the most active press office, he has been highly visible by making various media appearances. In addition to that, Republicans in the state appreciated his effort in the Senate to strike a deal with Blue Dog Democrats on the minimum wage bill which would have included E-Verify. Most Republicans view Fleming as a dependable conservative, someone willing to fight for them and get dirty doing it. As Senate Minority Leader, Alabamans do appreciate the power their elected Senator holds, and will likely continue to judge him greatly by how he uses it. Senator April Kelly (R), Alabama Approve: xx Disapprove: xx We know Senator Kelly has been elected Senate Minority Whip, however, at the moment, there is not enough record of Kelly's press activity. Senator Lloyd Bishop (R), Arizona Approve: 46% Disapprove: 42% Bishop has sent some mixed signals to Arizonan's in his press releases, including a few embarrassing slip ups -- like mentioning a non-existent pandemic -- but nonetheless has remain fairly consistent in his stances. Republicans in his state appreciated his stance on the Supreme Court nominations and David Stewart's ouster. They also appreciated his stance on Democrats' 'Raise the Wage Act.' But Bishop will have to be careful. This is a state that was originally a swing state in 2016. In representing a state that is increasingly turning purple, there is a fine line between pleasing your base, while pissing off undecided, non-affiliated voters. Senator Kimberly Atkins (R), Arizona Approve: 46% Disapprove: 43% Some of Atkins' public positions haven't helped her and her close affiliation to David Stewart only befuddled conservatives in Arizona. She's been walking a fine line with her affiliations but has kept her public positions relatively consistent. Many in Arizona were confused when she voted against an amendment to tie E-Verify to the minimum wage bill in the Senate, but it didn't stay in the news for long. One major benefit to Atkins has been her legislative work, particularly related to veterans, with a bill she sponsored clearing the Democratic Senate, an impressive feat for a Republican Senator. Nonetheless, it is clear Atkins has some work to do to regain the trust of her base in Arizona following Stewart's fall from grace. Senator Camilo deSonido (I), California Approve: 54% Disapprove: 40% Senator deSonido has done a very good job of catering to his state, sticking to his guns on progressive issues, and cultivating a loyal following. His leadership recently during the Sacramento bridge collapse has earned him favorable coverage across the board. deSonido lead the effort in the Senate to write a relief bill for Sacramento, shepherded the bill through the Senate, and was able to save the city from being forced to take on all the funding offered as a loan. His recent announcement he was joining the Democratic Party proper was seen positively by most Democrats in California. A lot of pundits have speculated that deSonido could be the future of the party due to his growing status in the Senate. Senator Taylor Kennedy (D), California Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Kennedy's press activity. Senator Erica Smith (D), Florida Approve: 45% Disapprove: 40% At the moment, Smith has limited coverage by the media, and limited activity. The one visible thing Smith has done was vote to expand the child tax credit, which would have provided monthly payments to families that meet income thresholds. Smith's constituents appreciated the vote and her press efforts. We look forward to seeing more from the Senator from Florida. Senator Barak Mofaz (R), Georgia Approve: 45% Disapprove: 40% Senator Mofaz hasn't done much press, but he did gain some national recognition for being the Senator to call for new elections, ousting former Senate Minority Leader David Stewart. An overwhelming majority of Republicans approved of this action following Stewart holding a press conference at the White House announcing his support for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Mofaz's press office has been largely rudimentary other than a statement criticizing strife within the GOP, which did gain him bonus points with independents, but didn't do him any favors with Republicans. Senator Tarik Lee (R), Georgia Approve: 47% Disapprove: 41% Lee, the new RNC Chairman, has high approvals among Republicans and thus far has also done well with independents, though a large majority of Democrats disapprove of him. Lee came out in opposition to the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson and most Republicans in the country agree with that stance. Lee, however, has also been busy getting some legislative work done, partnering with Senate Majority Leader Diego Everhart on a bill to make permanent and increase federal funding to HBCUs. This certainly gave Lee some credibility with the mainstream press and the bill received coverage locally across Georgia. Senator Edgar Villanueva (D), Illinois Approve: xx Disapprove: xx Not enough recent record on Senator Villanueva's press activity. Senator John Carlsen (D), Indiana Approve: 50% Disapprove: 44% John Carlsen has been in a somewhat precarious position a number of times during this Congress, a sentiment I'm sure many of his fellow Senators in states with less favorable demographics would agree. Issues Democrats campaign on and emphasize, such as the minimum wage, abortion, immigration, and labor rights are much tougher to navigate in a state like Indiana, a state that Katherine McCord picked up easily in the 2016 Presidential election. But Carlsen has been trekking those murky waters pretty sensibly, working to appeal to Republican voters in his state. Earlier this year, Carlsen decided to step away and distance himself from Democratic leadership by stepping down as President Pro-tempore of the Senate, a move political analysts have largely agreed to be a savvy one. Senator James Cambridge (R), Iowa Approve: 41% Disapprove: 46% Senator James Cambridge was involved in the Stewart debacle; he attended the famed White House press conference, he's been an antagonist to the establishment, and he was the one to suggest Judge Jane Kelly when Paulina Richards came out against killing the filibuster. And, similar to Stewart, Cambridge was tossed out as Senate Republican Whip following the Ketanji Brown Jackson nomination. Republicans overwhelmingly disapprove of Jackson's nomination, just as they overwhelmingly disapproved of Paul Watford's nomination, which Cambridge was also in support of. Many Iowa Republicans view Cambridge as being far too moderate. Evangelicals in Iowa are especially concerned about the Supreme Court and Cambridge hasn't spoken to their concerns, instead opting for language related to the importance of the constitution, balance of government, etc. One credit to Cambridge is that his justifications for supporting the President's Supreme Court nominees has been much clearer and more effective than his counterparts. In addition, Cambridge's focus on local issues, like ethanol, has also boosted his standing. Senator Kyle Van Horn (R), Kentucky Approve: 58% Disapprove: 33% Kyle Van Horn is one of the most active legislators in the Senate, consistently a voice for conservative proposals in the Senate and in Congress as a whole, which has made him highly favored back home in Kentucky. While Van Horn was removed as Senate Whip in the Stewart debacle, he came out of it relatively unscathed, as he was not featured in any major press conferences or news segments talking about the behind-the-scenes issues. Instead, Van Horn has focused his attention on immigration, an issue that is highly resonate with Republican voters across the country. He was the primary sponsor of one of the most discussed bills on conservative media being debated in the House, the Death Penalty for Cop Killers Act. Van Horn has been the driving force of a number of immigration related measures, including the EL CHAPO Act, which has received widespread coverage. Senator Nolan Stokes (D), Maryland Approve: xx Disapprove: xx Not enough recent record of Senator Stokes' press activity. Senator Alex Fakhouri (D), Michigan Approve: xx Disapprove: xx Not enough recent record on Senator Fakhouri's press activity. Senator Andrew Clarke (D), Missouri Approve: 49% Disapprove: 42% Senator Clarke has done a solid job of staying on top of his press office and keeping his constituents informed. Clarke is seen as a reliable moderate in the Senate and has support from a large majority of Democrats. He has come out in support for a compromise deal on the minimum wage, which was supported by a majority of Americans, and Missourian's. This has become a pattern for Clarke who has supported various signature Democratic bills and proposals, like CTC expansion, a minimum wage increase, and efforts to end right-to-work nationally. On the other hand, Clarke is a hawk on immigration and some other issues. So far, Clarke has been able to ride the Blue Dog line well, a line he'll certainly need to keep steady considering Missouri is increasingly leaning Republican. Senator Martin Merkur (R), Montana Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Merkur's press activity. Senator David Rollins (R), Nebraska Approve: xx Disapprove: xx Not enough recent record on Senator Rollins' press activity. Senator Harrison LeClavers (D), New Jersey Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator LeClavers' press activity. Senator Paulina Richards (D), Ohio Approve: 44% Disapprove: 48% Democrats were furious when Senator Richards announced that she would be opposing efforts to overturn the filibuster and confirm Paul Watford and many remain embittered over it despite her eventually coming around. Her close affiliation with Stewart and other Republicans was panned for weeks and is still a topic of discussion among Ohio Democrats. But Richards has also been pretty impressive legislatively, spearheading the bipartisan childcare legislation currently up for debate in the Senate, and publicizing a number of other proposals in the Senate. Richards represents a state Katherine McCord won by 3% in 2016, so it is easy to see why she would be eager to try and differentiate herself from the party at large. Yet, something as important as a Supreme Court nomination, one Democrats view as Republicans attempting to steal, likely was not the right time or place for it. Senator Tony Johnson (R), Oklahoma Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Johnson's press activity. Senator Diego Everhart (D), Pennsylvania Approve: 49% Disapprove: 43% Everhart hasn't been very visible in his press office but his status as Senate Majority Leader allows his constituents to see what he is up to more than probably anyone else would be able to get away with. Pennsylvanian's are supportive of Everhart's efforts for unions but many were disappointed when the minimum wage bill was pulled from the Senate floor, and Everhart got his fair share of blame in the media for it. Everhart will certainly need to start doing more press and publicizing his victories and the party's victories. Senator David Stewart (R), Pennsylvania Approve: 40% Disapprove: 50% Stewart was elected to the Senate in 2016 and had a meteoric rise and a meteoric fall within the span of six months. Stewart seemingly gained a large following within the Republican Senate Conference and ascended to the top job quickly before being ousted just a week later. That is one of several factors on why his approval rating has fallen so badly. His support of Ketanji Brown Jackson was panned by Republicans nearly across the board, an action that lead to Stewart's ouster, which came just weeks after he was censured by the RNC Chairman for reportedly meeting with Teamsters President James Hoffa in an attempt to sink the primary campaign of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Polls show that Stewart rates low with voters on the issues of trust and leadership. On the other hand, Stewart has gained some support from independents, which many attribute to his support for unions and his anti-trade stances. He must be careful, however, as recent actions such as supporting a Muslim ban is not popular with the independents he has attracted. Senator Gary Scott Freeman (R), South Carolina Approve: 40% Disapprove: 46% Gary Scott Freeman's endorsement of Democrats' attempts to overturn the filibuster caused a scorched earth campaign against him by members of the conservative media. The move was not viewed favorably overall and it hurt Scott significantly. Scott also ardently defended David Stewart in the press, even as he was excoriated by conservative media as well. While many independents and Democrats agree with Scott's move, it wasn't enough for them to approve of him, as Scott remains underwater with both Democrats and independents in his state. Many pundits predict this could be temporary as many will likely forget about this ordeal a few months from now. It's clear, though, that Scott will need to reassure Republicans in South Carolina that he is on their side. And, luckily for him, he's in much better shape than his fellow Senator . . . Senator Jason Roy (R), South Carolina Approve: 36% Disapprove: 54% Roy is incendiary, vitriolic, and crass. He's been criticized as being bigoted and racist, as he called former President de la Cruz an "anchor baby" and insinuated she was friends with members of the Hispanic dominated gang MS-13. Roy proposed a blanket ban on all Muslims from the United States. He insinuated that the former Senate Majority Leader was sympathetic to terrorists because he was a Muslim. In addition to all of this, Roy remains a close ally to David Stewart, and the two have been mentioned in the same breath by members of the media again and again. This has provided Roy with widespread negative media coverage inside and outside of South Carolina. Roy has gained a cult following on the far-right who love his rhetoric but he has lost the support of many Republicans and is overwhelmingly disapproved by independents and Democrats, resulting in one of the lowest approval ratings in the Senate. Senator Henry Patterson (R), Tennessee Approve: 44% Disapprove: 46% Patterson's claim to fame, thus far, was his speaking filibuster when Senate Democrats attempted to overturn the filibuster on judicial nominees for the first time in the spring. Patterson received several days of national coverage for the filibuster and was even praised by some, such as George Will, for being sensible in voting for Watford but also working to protect the filibuster, with Will saying Patterson was "basing his decisions on his integrity, not on poll numbers." On the other hand, Patterson was one of the first Republicans to support the Watford nomination, which hurt him with Republicans in his state much more than it helped him with any other demographic. As national Republicans and conservative media worked to portray Watford as someone who defended cop killers, Patterson was the poster child for a RINO traitor who voted with Democrats to confirm him. In addition to this, since the Waterford debacle, Patterson hasn't been active in the press, so the issue is still fresh in the minds of Tennessee conservatives. Senator Linda Lawler (R), Tennessee Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Lawler's press activity. Senator Tom Donelson (R), Texas Approve: 46% Disapprove: 44% Tom Donelson was introduced to the national stage when he became RNC Chairman and was almost immediately dealt one of the biggest PR crises in the parties history. Donelson, unfortunately for him, became collateral damage in a larger fight for the future of the party, and was ousted as Chair after a short stint that involved several public spats between he and David Stewart. Nonetheless, Donelson did manage to score some points with Republicans due to his stand against the President's Supreme Court nominees. Donelson's press office has not been managed recently which has also negatively effected him and his perception among Republicans and independents. Democrats overwhelmingly disapprove of Donelson. Hope isn't lost, though, as Donelson has a lot of room to maneuver, with 10% still undecided in this poll. He starts with a +2 lead which is better than what many predicted. Senator Dylan Macmillan (D), Virginia Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Macmillan's press activity. Senator Heather James (D), Washington Approve: 55% Disapprove: 36% James has done a very good job of keeping connected to her constituents and focusing on issues that the people that voted for her really care about. This includes lowered prescription drug prices, expanded medical service, environmental protection, to name just a few. James is often also seen presiding over the Senate and people have taken notice of that, especially those who follow politics closely, with memes of James' reaction to Republicans antics going viral a number of times this year. Progressives angry at James for her endorsement of TPP in early 2016 have largely forgotten about it. She is sitting with one of the highest approval ratings in Congress in large part due to her ability to recognize the state she is representing and appealing to the voters in that state. A novel concept! Senator Anney Iyal (D), Washington Approve: 51% Disapprove: 41% Anney Iyal keeps a relatively low profile but remains active in her press office and on social media. Iyal isn't known to make huge waves but has gained a significant amount of followers on social media, in part thanks to her consistent bemusement with recent Republican theatrics. In the grander picture of things, however, Iyal is supported by a good majority in her state of Washington. Her voter base appreciated her advocating for the minimum wage bill and her efforts on issues such as her tsunami warning bill, which has become one of the only pieces of legislation to get past the rigorous and sometimes arbitrary barriers in the Senate. Iyal also appeared on various shortlists for VP and was, at times, even considered a favorite for the position by various pundits and commentators, garnering her a week or so of positive national media attention. Senator Sean Stevens (D), West Virginia Approve: xx Disapprove: xx No record yet on Senator Stevens' press activity.

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POLITICO PLAYBOOK: Stewart-White House Deal on Jackson Turns Sour By BARNABY ANTHONY and ELLA LANDRY | 05/19/2017 7:31AM D.C. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Doug Murphy. CREDIT: NYT) DON'T MISS IT: Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Resigns Amid Shareholder Revolt FIRST IN: President DOUG MURPHY had a busy week after taking office following the resignation of former President Xiomara de la Cruz, who is now home being treated for cancer. His first big move was choosing KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, a Judge on the D.C. District Court, to fill the now year-long vacancy on the Supreme Court. Jackson, appointed by Barack Obama in 2013, has served on the court for four years, previously serving as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Jackson is the first African American woman to be nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. A DAY OF DRAMA -- At the White House, flanked by Senate Minority Leader DAVID STEWART and Minority Whip JAMES CAMBRIDGE, the President announced Jackson's nomination to surprise from White House reporters. Her nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2012 sailed through the Senate by a voice vote and had the support of the now-Speaker of the House Paul Ryan," the President boasted, before turning over the podium to Stewart, who echoed Ryan's support of Jackson during her confirmation for the district court. "If we cannot support a woman who has previously received unanimous support, and has the support of our current House Speaker, I don't know what to say," Stewart said, almost foreshadowing the days events ahead. The announcement shocked and stunned Senate Republicans, many of whom admitted openly they were never consulted or told about Stewart and Cambridge's support of Jackson before they appeared at the White House. Sen. LLOYD BISHOP (R-AZ), who was name checked at the press conference by the President and thanked for his support, clarified on Twitter that he was not in support of Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court. It was later revealed by sources within the White House that Stewart had directly told the President he could count on Bishop's support. Minority Whip James Cambridge later admitted on Twitter that Stewart had told him that he had the votes to confirm Jackson, and that it was "clearly not the case." -- Stewart, already on shaky foundation, was immediately attacked by Republicans and Democrats alike. All day, leaks were coming in, with Republicans stating their dissatisfaction and frustration. Even staunch Stewart ally Sen. JASON ROY (R-SC) came out in opposition to Jackson's nomination, saying Stewart was "trying to appease too many people from the left and the right." Former Senate Minority Whip KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY) had harsher words, saying he told Stewart he wasn't ready to be Senate Minority Leader, calling him "more establishment than Paul Ryan." House Republicans loyal to Stewart, like Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-FL), jumped ship and called on Stewart to resign, calling his actions "a betrayal." RNC Chairman TOM DONELSON accused Stewart of blackmail and "bullying" fellow Republicans into voting to confirm Jackson, noting his opposition to her nomination, while saying Stewart "governs with a lens of power, manipulation, fear and blackmail." -- The backlash was immediate with Republicans calling for new elections with Stewart's opponents using the same new charter rules that were leveraged to toss out former leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL) against him. Fleming, notably, is rumored to be running for the job for a third time. The motion to oust Stewart was reportedly initiated by Sen. BARAK MOFAZ (R-GA), who earlier in the day on Twitter publicly announced his displeasure with Stewart, confirming he was among the large number of Senate Republicans kept in the dark on the White House Press Conference announcing Jackson. -- There is real hope this is rock bottom for the GOP among staffers and donors, after weeks of tumultuous infighting and chaos that has cost them dearly. Early reports for Q1 and Q2 fundraising for both parties shows Democrats with a likely large advantage as donors have watched in horror, staffers have resigned en masse from the NRSC and NRCC, and recent polling of a generic congressional ballot by NBC News shows Republicans with a jaw dropping six point deficit. "This has to be rock bottom, the end of the chaos, otherwise we're toast," a staffer admitted to POLITICO, "there needs to be a complete turnaround or we are risking everything in 2018." -- Whoever the new leader is has a tall task ahead with a majority of Republicans opposed to a Supreme Court Justice nominee that just received a wholehearted endorsement from top Republican brass, and who has received support from Speaker PAUL RYAN in the past, making for an awkward situation. In addition to that, the new Senate Leader will have to deal with the divided factions within the Senate Conference. While it's clear Stewart's influence has been significantly damaged by his support of Jackson, it's clear to anyone observing that the party remains deeply fractured and in need of a unifying figure at the helm of leadership. REPUBLICANS ON JACKSON: VAN HORN: "She is the ultimate left-wing judicial activist." ROY: "I never supported Watford and I do not support Jackson." BISHOP: "I have not supported nor will I support Judge Brown for SCOTUS. Period." MOFAZ: "I was not consulted by leadership. I will not support anything when left in the dark." WHO'S THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT? Nobody knows yet but that hasn't stopped rumors circulating around the beltway, with the names of many on the tip of every staffers tongue. A few we've heard include Sen. ANNEY IYAL (D-WA), Nat. Security Advisor CYNTHIA HARVEY, Sen. ANDREW CLARKE (D-MO), and Sen. CAMILO deSONIDO (I-CA). No official list has come from a White House source yet as anyone the President might be considering has been kept close to the vest. While many Democrats hope it is someone exciting to the base, others acknowledge the political reality that whoever it is will need to be confirmed by the Republican House majority. Good Saturday morning and thanks for reading Playbook weekend edition. Drop us a line; Barnaby Anthony, Ella Landry. PRESENTED BY GOOGLE Google supports small businesses by providing resources that help them succeed. From advertising tools to free business profiles, we’re helping small business owners make the most of the web. Learn more at grow.google/local-businesses. DRIVING THE DAY On the Hill RELIEF FOR SACRAMENTO: The I-5 Relief Act, spearheaded by California Sen. CAMILO deSONIDO, has been docketed by Sen. Majority Leader DIEGO EVERHART. The legislation would allocate $6 billion toward relief efforts for the I-5 bridge collapse, with $2 billion coming in the form of a loan. The money would be used to repair I-5 and surrounding areas, though the language of the bill was kept fairly vague, allowing funds to be used for emergency appropriations and other relief efforts. Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-AZ) has sought to amend the bill, making the entirety of the allocated funds a loan to be paid back in ten years. Republicans are still reeling from their loss in the Wisconsin special election as DAN KIND (D-WI) was sworn in this morning by President Pro-tempore PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) due to the vacancy of the Vice Presidency. Kind defeated Gov. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI) in a close election. Many pundits attributed Walker's loss with the public chaos in the GOP happening in split screen with the election and staffers on the ground believed the debacle tainted the party with Wisconsin voters. "It was embarrassing, it was humiliating," a staffer told POLITICO, asking to remain anonymous, acknowledging that many on the ground "remain furious at what happened here." It's a big victory for Democrats who were able to hold on to the seat once held now-President Doug Murphy. A bill to enhance U.S. cyber security efforts was proposed by Sen. JAMES CAMBRIDGE (R-IA) and Sen. GEORGE FREEMAN (R-SC) during a press conference with Stewart. The press conference was largely overshadowed by the days events, however, and all three left without taking any questions from reporters. Cyber security has come to the forefront after a report came out that recent sophisticated cyber attacks against U.S. businesses was straining critical cyber infrastructure and aging systems were becoming more vulnerable. ALL POLITICS Republicans severely lagged behind Democrats in Q1 and Q2 fundraising with Dems raising $25,440,000 to the GOP's $10,250,000. The staggering lead by Democrats in 2017 is likely to serve as a wake up call to Republicans after a chaotic six months of instability and infighting. The top fundraisers for DEMS were: MURPHY, EVERHART, JAMES, and deSONIDO. The top fundraisers for the GOP were: VAN HORN, DONELSON, FLEMING, and STEWART. KEEP AN EYE ON IT: Progressives, furious over the quick death of the $15 minimum wage bill in the Senate, have taken the fight to California, but this time they are asking for more. Activists behind the group 'FairWage Advocates' have called for a $20 minimum wage in the state by the year 2024. Director of the organization, PAU LUALI, said the fight for $15 has turned into a fight for fair wages for all, no matter where they live. "The fight for $15 started a movement, but that number doesn't mean the same thing here in California," Luali said, "we are going to fight for a fair living wage in every state across the country and it begins here." California Gov. JERRY BROWN has previously pledged support for a $15 minimum wage but the legislature has not yet acted on a minimum wage increase. SUPREME COURT UPDATE: It is not known whether the court will return at full strength for the 2017 term in October but we do know the new term could be a blockbuster one with several cases likely to provoke conflict. One of them, on political gerrymandering, has the potential to reshape American politics. Another may settle the question of whether businesses can turn away patrons like gay couples in the name of religious freedom. The court will hear important workers’ rights cases, including one on employers’ power to prevent workers from banding together to sue them. In addition, the court will hear arguments in a case on immigration and due process for undocumented immigrants who have spent more than six months in detention without a hearing. MORE HEADLINES BBC: GLOBAL RANSOMWARE ATTACK CAUSES CHAOS DRUDGE: CLEAN HOUSE OR LAY DOWN AND DIE: GOP IN CHAOS MEDIAITE: INFIGHTING SEEPS INTO CONSERVATIVE MEDIA NYT: WHO IS KETANJI BROWN JACKSON? WSJ: PASS THE EL CHAPO ACT NOW

President Xiomara de la Cruz Resigns Due to Severe Cancer Diagnosis (Washington D.C.) - In a shocking turn of events, President Xiomara de la Cruz has announced her resignation from office after receiving a devastating diagnosis of a severe form of pancreatic cancer. The news, which has sent shockwaves across the nation, comes as a heavy blow to both her supporters and the political landscape of our country. President de la Cruz, known for her unwavering dedication to public service and her tireless efforts to improve the lives of citizens, has been forced to step down from her position due to the demanding nature of the treatment required to combat her illness. The cancer, identified as stage IV pancreatic cancer, poses an immense threat to her health and well-being, requiring immediate and intensive medical attention. Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its aggressive nature and low survival rates. It arises when cells in the pancreas, a vital organ responsible for producing enzymes that aid in digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels, begin to grow uncontrollably. By the time symptoms manifest, the cancer is often in advanced stages, making it challenging to treat effectively. In President de la Cruz's case, the advanced stage of her cancer necessitates an aggressive treatment regimen that includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and possibly surgery. These treatments are not only physically demanding but also mentally and emotionally taxing. The side effects, ranging from nausea and fatigue to hair loss and weakened immune system, would severely limit her ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the presidency. As the leader of our nation, the President's role demands constant attention, decision-making, and engagement with both domestic and international affairs. "My heart is with the nation, but my focus must be on my recovery," the President said. "Battling a life-threatening illness requires her full focus and energy," the first Gentleman told the nation speaking alongside President de la Cruz, "leaving little room for the demanding rigors of governing and effectively leading the country." Understandably, President de la Cruz has made the difficult but necessary decision to prioritize her health and well-being over her political career. In her resignation speech, de la Cruz recognized her supporters, those who have been by her side during her diagnosis, and the American people for being patient. de la Cruz also spent a significant portion of her speech thanking Vice President Doug Murphy and reassuring the American people of her full faith and trust in him. Despite the immense challenges ahead, she remains optimistic about the future and urged unity and resilience in the face of adversity. The resignation of President Xiomara de la Cruz marks the end of an era in our nation's history. Her leadership, integrity, and dedication to public service have left an indelible mark on our society, and her absence will undoubtedly be felt deeply. At noon tomorrow, Doug Murphy will take office and become the 46th President of the United States. Murphy will have to tackle a number of challenges, including a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, choosing a new Vice President, and creating a renewed agenda.

POLITICO PLAYBOOK: GOP Drama Overshadows Democrats' Missteps in Senate By BARNABY ANTHONY and ELLA LANDRY | 05/04/2017 8:37AM Senate Majority Leader Diego Everhart speaks to reporters outside the Capitol in Washington D.C. on the Paul Watford nomination. MINIMUM WAGE BILL COMES AND GOES -- Democrats finally seemed interested in trying to reshape the political narrative surrounding Congress following the failed attempt to kill the filibuster on Supreme Court nominations, with newly elected Senate Majority Leader DIEGO EVERHART docketing the 'Raise the Wage Act', which was sponsored by former Presidential candidate and Sen. CAMILO deSONIDO (I-CA). The bill would have raised the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next seven years. THE FLEMING AMENDMENT: Former Senate Minority Leader CLIFF FLEMING (R-AL) offered an amendment to lower the wage hike to $10 an hour while also implementing E-Verify nationally. After proposing the amendment, notable Blue Dog Senator JOHN CARLSEN (D-IN) endorsed the amendment by Fleming on Twitter. There was also speculation on whether or not another Blue Dog, who is up for reelection in 2018, Sen. ANDREW CLARKE (D-MO) would support the amendment. "The amendment offered by Senator Fleming matches my own stated positions on e-verify [sic] and the size of the minimum wage increase," Carlsen wrote, "I am pleased to support his amendment." This immediately perked up observers as Democrats have no votes to spare when it comes to blocking amendments, with just a 50-seat majority currently. A Democratic staffer, who asked to remain anonymous, acknowledged there was no margin for error. "These discussions should've been had prior to the bill coming to the floor," the staffer said, "instead, the fallout is that we failed to communicate, and one of our major agenda items was stifled out of the gate." EVERHART PULLS THE BILL: After the amendment came to a vote, a number of Republican Senators seemed happy to oppose it, though it remains unclear why. Sen. JAMES CAMBRIDGE (R-IA) and Sen. KIMBERLY ATKINS (R-AZ) opposed the amendment, raising questions on whether or not it could even obtain enough votes between the two parties to pass. Nonetheless, both Clarke and Carlsen voted for the amendment, seemingly drawing enough doubt among Democratic leadership for Everhart to pull the bill before voting could even finish on the Fleming amendment. A staffer for a rank-and-file Democrat told POLITICO they were frustrated with Everhart pulling the bill. "An increased minimum wage bill could have passed both Houses of Congress, but instead of accepting half a loaf, our leadership thinks it is better to chase after a fantasy number and end up with nothing," the staffer said. PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR MINIMUM WAGE: A new Hill-HarrisX poll found that 53 percent of registered voters said they would support raising the the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Another 23 percent said it should be increased but to a lesser amount. Various polls based in states such as Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania show a large majority of voters also support the use of E-Verify to halt the hiring of undocumented immigrants. STEWART FOR LEADER? -- Rumors swirling that a number of Senators have endorsed and propped up Sen. DAVID STEWART (R-PA) for Republican Senate Leader have raised alarm bells internally and among incredulous Republican donors. Following recent revelations that Stewart met with Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa in an attempt to torpedo the primary campaign of Wisconsin Gov. SCOTT WALKER in the Wisconsin Senate special election, rumors are now swirling that several Senators have endorsed Stewart to replace outgoing Senate Minority Leader Cliff Fleming. This also comes after Stewart was censured by the Pennsylvania Republican Party and by RNC Chairman TOM DONELSON. In a press briefing, Donelson said the words and actions of Stewart "had been lacking," and indicated that Stewart had personally apologized to him for the meeting with Hoffa. -- It could be Fleming again, as he's publicly announced his intention to run for the job he was just thrown out of. Fleming has also been endorsed by a contingent of Senators, angry that there was ever a movement to remove him. Sen. LLOYD BISHOP (R-AZ) called the new elections "petty and wrong," saying that Stewart and "his gang" were making moves against Fleming "because they don't like him." Bishop predicted the division in the party would hurt their upcoming chances in the Wisconsin special election. Members of the House Freedom Caucus have stayed out of the fray, with many frustrated that protections for unions and a number of other left-leaning initiatives have been undertaken or backed by Stewart. -- Others are tired of Fleming and Stewart both, with suggestions of a compromise candidate looming in the background. Names such as JAMES CAMBRIDGE (R-IA), KYLE VAN HORN (R-KY), and GARY SCOTT FREEMAN (R-SC) have all been thrown out there as possibilities for the top spot. Van Horn is currently the Republican Senate Whip, although new elections are also being held for his spot, and many expect him to run to try and keep his job. Cambridge endorsed Freeman as a replacement for Fleming on Twitter, saying he would "make a great leader for our conference." Stewart also called Freeman "an excellent choice" in a tweet of his own. -- Everyone agrees Republicans have shot themselves in the foot with the public division, gaffes, and more focus on party intrigue than actual policy. Democrats have made a number of missteps in the Senate, including the failed effort to confirm Watford by killing the filibuster, pulling a number of bills from the floor before they reach a vote due to their own division, and the lack of public presence or direction from President Xiomara de la Cruz. "We're giving up PR wins because we can't get our a shit together," Paul Brian, a Republican staffer in Ohio, told POLITICO. "I'm damn glad I'm not in communications in Wisconsin trying to explain this BS to voters, who I'm sure wonder why they should even come out to vote, if this is what they are going to get out of it." Good Wednesday morning, and thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line; Barnaby Jackson, Ella Landry. PRESENTED BY DELTA DRIVING WASHINGTON TODAY WHO'S NEXT FOR THE SUPREME COURT? Following the public disaster in the Republican Party, Sen. PAULINE RICHARDS (D-OH) publicly came out in support of a one-time vote to bypass cloture rules on Supreme Court nominations to confirm whoever President de la Cruz nominates next for the job. Richards was the roadblock in Democrats' previous attempt to kill the filibuster. Judge PAUL WATFORD was widely supported by voters but it seems unlikely he'd be renominated, as exhaustion grows with the process. Watford sat in wait for a year after he was appointed by Obama in 2016 to replace Scalia. He was then rejected by the Senate three times despite receiving some support among Republicans, but never enough to cross the 60 vote threshold. -- There's been rumors of backroom negotiations between Stewart and former Senate Majority Leader ALEX FAKHOURI on possible nominees, including Judge JANE KELLY, who was endorsed by a bipartisan contingent of Senators, including Stewart, Richards, Roy, and Cambridge. Pundits and commentators have thrown cold water on de la Cruz nominating Kelly, however, with MSNBC commentator James Carville calling it "a ridiculous ploy," arguing de la Cruz would be "out of her mind to capitulate to a group trying to control the nomination process." -- Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval was also rumored to possibly be in contention. Sandoval, a moderate Republican, is pro-choice and holds a number of center-left positions. Nonetheless, Sandoval is a Republican, and many of his positions are much further to the right than any mainstream Democrat. -- It still remains unclear if Democrats will have to kill the filibuster in order to confirm someone. Antonin Scalia's seat has now been vacant for well over a year and many are growing exhausted with the process. The latest poll from Pew Research showed that most Americans don't have strong opinions on the filibuster. Just 25% support eliminating the filibuster to confirm a nominee, while 28% oppose eliminating it, and 46% had no opinion. When asked if Paul Watford should have been confirmed by the Senate, 54% of respondents said yes, with 37% saying no. WATCH: VP DOUG MURPHY was on 60 Minutes and interviewed by Lesley Stahl last night. Murphy slammed Republican dysfunction, praised the poise of President de la Cruz, and confirmed he would be campaigning in Wisconsin alongside Senate candidate RON KIND in what is sure to be the summers hottest drama, The Tale of Ron and Doug. The Wisconsin Special Election is in the final weeks and both parties are expected to be out in force in the final stretch. The fate of Doug Murphy's former Senate seat is at stake and so is the question of whether or not Murphy will be put on center stage in the Senate with a tied 50-50 Senate, which would be the case of Gov. Scott Walker can pull it off. There's lingering questions about how impactful recent scandals inside the Republican Party will be, and how much Wisconsin voters believe in the direction of President de la Cruz. PLAYBOOK READS CNN: Bridge Repair Costs Estimated at $4 Billion, Cleanup Progressing -- "As the aftermath of the devastating bridge collapse on Interstate 5 near Sacramento unfolds, authorities have announced staggering estimates for the repair costs, reaching approximately $4 billion. However, amidst the financial projection, there's a glimmer of progress as most of the initial damage from the collapse has been cleared up." CNN: British Airways IT Meltdown Causes Global Disruption -- "In a massive setback for travelers, British Airways canceled all flights from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports on Saturday due to severe IT failures, affecting thousands of passengers. The disruption, attributed to a power supply issue, has brought operations to a standstill, with no clear resolution in sight. Travel plans for thousands were thrown into chaos as British Airways abruptly grounded its planes. Passengers described the scene at the airports as "chaotic" and criticized the airline for insufficient communication about the unfolding situation. Piles of unattended luggage and long, stagnant queues became the day’s grim symbols." BBC: Economic Crisis in Venezuela Could Impact Wider Hemisphere -- "Venezuela, under the reign of dictator Nicholas Maduro, continues to suffer from economic decline as inflation reaches a historic level and growing discontent leading to mass migration out of the country. As the economic crisis continues to grow in Venezuela, the Maduro Regime has expanded its crackdown on democratic institutions and on some vocal members of the opposition. Migrants fleeing the crippled economy have placed significant pressure on neighbors like Colombia and could possibly begin to make their way towards the Southern United States. The Maduro Regime has condemned the United States as the cause of their economic woes as a result of economic sanctions currently placed on the country." NYT: Chaos and Missteps: Senate Freedom Caucus Spooks GOP Donors -- "The Senate Freedom Caucus has been at the center of firestorms and controversy after several weeks of leading members Sen. Jason Roy (R-SC) and Sen. David Stewart (R-PA) being in the news for accusations of racism, meddling in the Wisconsin Special election primary, and causing concern and backlash among major Republican donors and legacy figures in the party."

Chaos and Missteps: Senate Freedom Caucus Spooks GOP Donors, Meddles in WI Special Election, and Spark Accusations of Racism (WASHINGTON D.C.) - The Senate Freedom Caucus has been at the center of firestorms and controversy after several weeks of leading members Sen. Jason Roy (R-SC) and Sen. David Stewart (R-PA) being in the news for accusations of racism, meddling in the Wisconsin Special election primary, and causing concern and backlash among major Republican donors and legacy figures in the party. Sen. Jason Roy (R-SC) has been perhaps the most controversial figure in the entire Senate due to his inflammatory and bigoted remarks on social media as well as a recent speech he delivered at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which, according to those in attendance, left many in the crowd "slack jawed" and "horrified" by his comments. At the event, Roy told attendees that "we have an anchor baby as President of the United States," asking the crowd "can you believe it?" Roy went on to say to speak directly to President de la Cruz, saying "we let your mother in, she got over here and dropped you out on American soil, but it wasn't enough I guess. It wasn't enough, people. Now she wants to let in her cousins; [sic] her nieces and nephews, her MS13 gang-member friends." Roy also suggested a "Muslim ban" because the country was being "invaded", while pointing out former Senate Majority Leader Alex Fakhouri was "the same religion as Osama bin Laden." In the past, Roy suggested that Paul Watford's entire was "thanks to affirmative action." The comments lead to widespread backlash and criticism, although not totally, as Roy was full-throatily endorsed by Richard Spencer, a self-proclaimed white nationalist, and a crowd of his supporters. At an event shortly after CPAC, Spencer called Roy "the future of the political right" and told the crowd in attendance that he was "speaking our language." The crowd was delivering the Seig Heil salute, famously used by the Nazi Party in Germany, in video released by The Daily Beast. Roy was condemned by major rank-and-file figures in the party. Now Former Senate Minority Leader Cliff Fleming (R-AL) spoke out on social media against Roy. "Jason Roy is not representative of the Republican Party," Fleming wrote, "I have said before and will say again, his views do not match those of the other 48 members of the Senate Republican Caucus." Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said there was "no place for bigotry in the GOP" while Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) called Roy's comments "stupid, moronic, racist, disgusting, and intolerable." What shocked many in Washington, including high level insiders, was the apparent removal of Cliff Fleming as the Republican Senate Leader by the Republican Senate Conference. Fleming addressed this on Twitter shortly after a number of rules changes were passed to the conference charter. "Following changes to the Charter forced upon me at the threat of removal, my actions in calling out the hateful rhetoric of Senator Roy has led himself, Senator Lawler and Senator Cambridge to remove myself and Minority Whip van Horn without any sort of vote, debate or chance to defend ourselves," Fleming wrote, "this is sadly the state of the Senate Freedom Caucus and an explanation for why I ended my affiliation with them several months ago." Fleming said he had a "special shout out" to Pennsylvania Senator David Stewart, saying that Stewart "represents the worst kind of backstabbing, insider DC politics imaginable." It's notable that Fleming also called out Senator James Cambridge (R-IA) and Senator Linda Lawler (R-TN) specifically by name, both who have come to the defense of Jason Roy. Cambridge is a member of the Republican Mainstreet Partnership but has worked closely with David Stewart and Jason Roy, specifically during the Supreme Court debacle, as Cambridge was the one to suggest Judge Jane Kelly be nominated by de la Cruz. Sen. David Stewart (R-PA) was the center of backlash involving the Wisconsin Special election, when news broke that Stewart had personally met with Teamsters President to strike a deal to oppose Scott Walker's bid for the Senate in exchange for Stewart's support to vote for a ban on Right to Work nationally. Hoffa was incredulous about the deal, saying he told Stewart during the meeting he would be adamantly opposing Walker regardless of anything he had to say. "I was rather ambivalent, I had low expectations, but anyone who wants to enhance the rights of unions has my ear," Hoffa told POLITICO. News of the deal further shocked political observers, considering Republican hostility to unions and labor laws like collective bargaining. Upon hearing the news, many staffers within the NRSC were furious. An anonymous staffer called Stewart's gambit "the dumbest f***ing thing I've ever heard," saying that it was "seemingly designed to try and sink Walker to placate union interests, and for what?" A spokesperson for Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) said that the Congressman "had nothing to do with David Stewart, James Hoffa, or any kind of meeting," and said Tiffany was "not in support of any kind of national right-to-work ban." Stewart's attempts to go behind the back of party leaders to strike deals didn't end there. A high-level staffer in the office of former Senate Majority Leader Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) revealed to The New York Times that Stewart was heavily involved with negotiations with Fakhouri on Paul Watford's nomination to the Supreme Court. According to the source, initial negotiations between Fakhouri and Fleming "lead no where," as Fleming insisted on a conservative nominee and simply "wouldn't budge." This prompted Fakhouri to backchannel with Stewart, who the source says claimed he had "a great amount of influence" within the Republican Senate Conference. "Not only did Stewart actively lobby votes for Watford, but he also pledged support for Judges Jane Kelly, Lucy Koh, and Patricia Millet in the event Watford failed," the staffer said. According to the staffer, it was a generous offer from Stewart, who also encouraged debate on the Equality Act, the Mass Incarceration Act, and the Cambridge-Richards child care bill. It's unclear why Stewart would lobby votes for Watford despite publicly opposing his nomination and voting against him. Roy and Stewart's wild adventures haven't come without consequence. Several major Republican donors have come forward and admitted they are concerned about the future of the party. One major donor, who asked to remain anonymous, said Roy was "embarrassing us, the party, and damaging our chances at winning a very important high level election in Wisconsin." Another donor in Wisconsin said Stewart's involvement with Teamsters was "the real nail in the coffin for his credibility as a possible major figure in the party." Staffers who committed to the NRSC have resigned in light of Fleming's removal as well, leaving a slew of empty roles needing filled by incoming RNC Chairman Tom Donelson. The Pennsylvania Republican Party has censured both Roy and Stewart and have called on the RNC Chairman to do so the same. Several Pennsylvania State Senators who previously endorsed Stewart withdrew their support from him after the news broke as well. "I want nothing to do with whatever nonsense they are trying to achieve," Gary Howard, a Republican State Senator, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "These guys are arsonists, they aren't real leaders, they are just lighting fires for the sake of it, in what seems like a desperate need for attention," Howard continued, "I won't support it." Nonetheless, it seems Roy and Stewart enjoy wider support among the Senate Republican Conference, as a number of their colleagues have jumped to their defense and instead criticized the media or Democrats and it remains unclear if there will be any consequences for Roy or Stewart, though it's clear there is mounting pressure on Republicans to quell the self-created crises and negative media coverage in the lead up to the upcoming Wisconsin Special election, and the 2018 midterms.

Name: Charles Walker Media/Outlet: CNN/State of the Union with Jake Tapper Reason: Democrats Attempt to Nuke the Filibuster Democrats are attempting an overt power grab in the United States Senate and one can only assume they are being directed to do so by the White House, including President de la Cruz and Vice President Doug Murphy. These are the people who pledged to unify the country. They pledged to bring forward bipartisan solutions and not cater to either extreme, be it on the left or the right. We now know that President de la Cruz lied to the American people when she pledged to work for 'all Americans' when she was elected President, and when she promised not to cater to the extremists on the left. This move by the Senate Majority Leader, to kill the filibuster, is one that will have wide ranging ramifications. It's the most bitterly partisan move Democrats could make because instead of withdrawing Paul Watford, and this President picking a nominee that can be confirmed, a consensus nominee, they are now trying to break the rules in the Senate and confirm him with just 50 votes. This is not only unprecedented, it is against the will of the American people, plain and simple. There's a special election in Wisconsin coming up to fill the Senate seat Doug Murphy ashamedly left behind, after the state voted for Katherine McCord and I in the 2016 election. Let this be a message to voters in Wisconsin: we cannot send another rubber stamp for this President and this Senate Majority Leader to run roughshod over the American people, who made their voices heard, and elected 49 Republicans in the Senate, and a Republican House Majority. The American people wanted Republicans in Congress to hold the President accountable. And now Democrats are trying to subvert the will of the American people by breaking the rules and making unprecedented motion to overturn the recent vote on Watford, which failed for the second time.

Police secure the crime scene of the San Bernardino Attack in San Bernardino, California on December 2, 2015. (Credit: SBSun) With Crime on the Rise, Congress Must Act A feature by Larry Coleman (@LRColeman) In recent years, America has been grappling with a sobering reality: the alarming surge in murder rates. The years 2015 and 2016 witnessed a large spike in homicides, centered mainly in the 30 largest U.S. cities mostly ran by Democrat Mayors, sending a rippling effect of fear and concern in communities across the nation. This crime surge and the implications from it demands not just attention but decisive action, and it's high time for Congress to step up to the plate and act to quell the chaos. The statistics paint a grim picture. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the murder rate rose by a staggering 10.8% in 2015, followed by another 8.6% increase in 2016. These aren't just numbers on a page; they represent lives lost, families shattered, and communities torn apart by violence. But it's worse than that as police officers face more danger as well. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 14 police officers were killed in 2016 in "ambush killings." An example is two police officers in Iowa who were ambushed and shot by an assailant while on patrol. In Democrat run cities, the picture is even more bleak. Chicago alone accounted for more than 40% of the murder rate increase in 2016 resulting in the deadliest year in recorded history, with Baltimore and Washington D.C. trailing close behind. This represents a catastrophic failure on policy and in addressing the core issues resulting in crime, as well as an increasing lack of dedicated resources for law enforcement to address growing gang violence, all the while being under enhanced threat of death or violence. Now it's up to Congress to act on this alarming growth in murder and crime overall. There's a litany of things Congress can achieve if they came together to pass measures that would curb the rising crime rate. But most paramount is increasing resources for local police departments, putting more cops on the street, and addressing the core issues of crime, including the out of control drug epidemic, personal responsibility in our youth, and the disparity in our education system. But let's start with how Congress can do the bare minimum, by assisting police officers on the ground, and putting an end to the lackadaisical approach by local Democrat leadership. 1. DRUG TRAFFICKING: A SCOURGE ON COMMUNITIES Drug trafficking is a scourge on American communities, leading to overdoses in our youth, gang crimes in our urban centers, and crimes committed by people using drugs or seeking drugs, including theft, murder, rape, and home invasions. The only way to stop the massive amount of drug trafficking in the U.S. is to stop the flow of drugs coming from Mexico. This requires a real effort to secure our border, which includes enhanced funding for more border patrol agents, advancing the technology available to border patrol agents, and reforming our immigration system to ensure would-be traffickers or existing traffickers are not allowed to ingratiate themselves inside the United States. A good option is to pass the Secure the Border First Act of 2017. This bill contains a number of innovative solutions to address drug trafficking and curb the flow of drugs from Mexico into the United States. 2. TOUGHER SENTENCING LAWS: CONSEQUENCES MUST MEET THE CRIME Implementing stricter sentencing guidelines for violent offenders and drug traffickers can serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals. Congress should consider legislation that imposes mandatory minimum sentences for individuals convicted of violent crimes, particularly repeat offenders. At the moment, if you manufacture or distribute drugs that result in the death of someone else, the mandatory minimum sentence is just 20 years. This crime should be considered on the same level as premeditated murder. The mandatory minimum for using a firearm to commit a felony is just 5 years. Our sentencing laws can and should be tougher, especially for repeat offenders. 3. BRING POLICE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY WITH MORE RESOURCES Far too often, police departments have fallen behind in technological resources thanks to a lack of resources. Law enforcement departments across the country face shrinking budgets and are forced to partner with non-profits and surplus stores to get proper equipment. This is unacceptable. Our police officers shouldn't have less of a technological capacity than the Apple Store down the road. Congress can enact measures to enhance police access to new technology, including drones, computer systems, gunfire analytics equipment, and more. Congress could also consider expanding the 1033 Program which provides surplus military equipment to local police officers by rolling back Executive Order 13688 and allowing more advanced technologies for police use. 4. STOP DEMONIZING THE POLICE IN THE MEDIA The media and social media companies have allowed the demonization of the police to infect our culture, as police officers as a whole have been accused of being racist, prejudice, and outright abusive to communities. The reality, however, is that an overwhelming majority of police officers put their lives on the line day in and day out to protect their communities. Widows and children who have lost a parent who worked as a police officer can testify this. Not only do they have to live with losing their loved one, but they have to live with their loved one being villainized even in death. Those who believe in the police and their purpose must help repair this perception. These are just a few ways Congress can act to assist law enforcement officers on the ground and curb the growing rate of violent crime and murders. But we cannot overlook the importance of personal responsibility. While government policies can certainly create an environment conducive to reducing crime, ultimately, it's up to individuals to make the right choices and abide by the law. Instilling a sense of personal responsibility and accountability is essential to fostering a law-abiding society. Our schools and our community leaders must do better in encouraging children, especially high-school aged children, to not pursue criminality and rather offer them other outlets. This is why Congress must also look at school choice, expanding voucher programs, and expanding vocational training offered by community colleges and private institutions. In addition, Congress must encourage family stability and responsible fatherhood. At the end of the day, the surge in murder rates demands urgent attention from Congress. By embracing principles that align with our law enforcement agencies and departments across the country, and enacting commonsense policies aimed at addressing the root causes of crime, we can work towards a safer, more secure America for all its citizens.

Chairman: Tom Donelson Press Spokesperson: Mariah Carlisle

Thank you CPAC! Thank you very much. I'm proud to be Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Despite what you might hear in the media, despite what some of the establishment may try and tell you, this is a strong party, with a deep bench of talent, and a motivated and talented group of activists leading the way on the ground. I know many of you are here tonight, so let me tell you, from the bottom of my heart: thank you. It is because of folks like you that the assault on our religious liberty as Americans is being talked about. It is because of people like you that Republicans across this country understand what an important fight it is in the Senate against the nomination of Paul Watford, a man who defended two cop killers out in Kentucky, and a man who believes in unfettered mass migration in the United States, with a sanctuary for illegal immigrants in every other town over. That isn't the America we want! That isn't what de la Cruz promised blue collar Americans during the election. That's not what she claimed her record would be. Democrats lied their way to the White House. They lied to the American people and they deceived voters to get their way. Now that they are in power, they are trying to ram through a Supreme Court nominee who is on the very fringe of the far left. And what about ISIS? What about the terrorists who've been targeting our cities, killing journalists abroad, and planning more terrorist attacks in our country? Not a peep from this administration on any kind of change in policy in Iraq, in Syria, or anywhere else in the Middle East. This President has been absent in defending this country from terrorism. She's been absent from giving us any kind of update on what she's doing to better protect us from what we see on the news every single day -- Islamic extremist terrorists hellbent on destroying our way of life. Want to know why? Because it was never truly a priority for them. The way the Democrat Party sees it, ISIS deserves to exist, because in their eyes, Islamic extremist terrorism isn't even real. This is the kind of backward world view we are dealing with. But guess what -- we can hold them accountable, and we have an opportunity to do so coming up in Wisconsin. Doug Murphy, the man ashamed of Wisconsin, left for Washington. We now have an opportunity to hold his feet to the fire and the President's feet to the fire. We have an opportunity to make the Senate 50-50. And every time they want to pass an extremist left wing piece of legislation, when we win in Wisconsin, they'll have to cart old Doug Murphy out of his house and bring him into the Senate, to put the White House stamp of approval on it. Because we're not going to let this President, this White House, pretend they are representative of the average American anymore when the truth is they are representative of the very far left, the extremists, the socialists, and those who wish to see our country become something completely unrecognizable. Now, we rely on people like you, to organize, to register voters, to raise funds. The battleground moves to Wisconsin this week, my friends. Join us in this fight. And join us in holding de la Cruz and Democrats accountable for their actions. Thank you all so much, God bless you, and God bless America.

Name: Charles Walker Media/Outlet: CNN Reason: Watford Nomination Paul Watford, a nominee baked in from the Obama administration, is an activist. And he'd be an activist from the bench. We saw his activism on illegal immigration where he defended sanctuary cities on behalf of the ACLU. We know he would aid in the assault on the right to life, our second amendment rights, and our religious liberties. Here's the facts: President de la Cruz presented herself as a moderate when she ran for President. She told the American people she wanted to work with Republicans and her intention was to work with both parties to achieve more for them. But the first thing she does is appoint a dozen Obama alums to her cabinet and then appoint Obama's Supreme Court pick. The President should do the right thing, withdraw Watford from consideration, and submit a moderate, consensus candidate in line with the values she presented to the American people during the election. That would be a big step in proving she is actually serious about the promises she made during the campaign, and most recently, at the inauguration. Any comments made about Judge Watford's race are abhorrent and not in line with the values of the Republican Party. We aren't worried about the color of Judge Watford's skin: we're worried about his plans if he replaces Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. And many Republicans, rightfully so, believe those plans to be in line with an extremist vision of the far left.

Background: The Olliver Liberty Center (OLC) is a conservative U.S. think tank based in Washington D.C. Founded in 1994, its influence has steadily grown in conservative circles within Washington and beyond. The founder of the OLC, Jacob Olliver, is a former advisor to President Ronald Reagan, who founded the think tank during the Clinton years. Inspired by the 'Gingrich Revolution', the goal of the think-tank was to help Republicans usher in conservative policies while they had control of the House of Representatives. Since then, it has worked to shape public policy and influence judicial and executive appointments both on the federal and state level. Mission: The primary mission of the Olliver Liberty Center is to advance the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and personal freedom. Through research, policy analysis, and advocacy, the center seeks to shape public policy debates and influence decision-makers at all levels of government. OUR LEADERSHIP Chairman and CEO, Jacob Olliver Jacob Olliver is a prominent Republican policy advisor and strategist with a distinguished career spanning several decades. Olliver began his career as a policy analyst and he was later recruited to serve as a policy advisor for the Ford administration, where he played a role in shaping economic and regulatory policies. Olliver's reputation as a skilled strategist caught the attention of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, and he was tapped to join the team as a senior advisor. Olliver played a role in crafting Reagan's message of economic freedom and national renewal. Olliver would go on to work in the White House for several years. In the years that followed, Olliver remained at the forefront of conservative politics, advising Republican candidates and leaders at both the state and national levels. He played a key role in the successful gubernatorial campaign of George Deukmejian in California. In 1994, Olliver founded the Olliver Liberty Center. Under his leadership, the center has emerged as a leading voice in the conservative movement, providing research, analysis, and advocacy on a wide range of policy issues. President, Cecilia Adams Cecilia Adams, a Harvard graduate, began her career working at the United Nations as a policy advisor for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Adams would later leave the UN and join the U.S. State Department as a spokesperson. Adams was subsequently recruited to join the National Security Council, advising on political affairs, which lead to her joining NATO as a public affairs advisor there. Adams was appointed as a Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy in 2006. After leaving the Bush administration, Adams delivered guest lectures at Stanford. Adams joined the Olliver Liberty Center in 2010 as President.

Background: The Olliver Liberty Center (OLC) is a conservative U.S. think tank based in Washington D.C. Founded in 1994, its influence has steadily grown in conservative circles within Washington and beyond. The founder of the OLC, Jacob Olliver, is a former advisor to President Ronald Reagan, who founded the think tank during the Clinton years. Inspired by the 'Gingrich Revolution', the goal of the think-tank was to help Republicans usher in conservative policies while they had control of the House of Representatives. Since then, it has worked to shape public policy and influence judicial and executive appointments both on the federal and state level. Mission: The primary mission of the Olliver Liberty Center is to advance the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and personal freedom. Through research, policy analysis, and advocacy, the center seeks to shape public policy debates and influence decision-makers at all levels of government. Founder: Jacob Olliver, a seasoned political strategist and influential conservative thinker, founded the Olliver Liberty Center with a vision ushering in a new conservative vision for the Republican Party, based on Newt Gingrich's 'Contract with America.' Olliver previously served in Republican circles for decades prior advising on policy, including the Ford administration, the Reagan administration and serving as a close advisor to California Governor George Deukmejian. During the Bush years, and more so in the Obama years, the OLC has shifted further to the right. Current Leadership: The current President of the Olliver Liberty Center is Cecilia Adams, a respected policy expert who previously worked in the U.S. State Department as well as the United Nations. With a background in law and public policy, Thompson brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to advancing the center's mission. Jacob Olliver remains the Chairman and CEO of OLC. Other Major Participants: Dr. Michael Harris: A renowned economist and Senior Fellow at the center, Dr. Harris is a leading voice on free-market economics and fiscal policy. Emily Wallace: As Director of Communications, Wallace plays a key role in shaping the center's messaging and outreach efforts, ensuring that its research and analysis reach a broad audience. John Parker: A distinguished Senior Fellow and former U.S. Congressman, Parker provides invaluable insights and expertise on legislative matters and public policy. Dr. Ron Nguyen: A rising star in conservative intellectual circles, Dr. Nguyen serves as a Research Fellow specializing in healthcare and regulatory policy.

Charles Walker Wins South Carolina, Defies the Odds LOS ANGELES -- Charles Walker was victorious tonight in the state of South Carolina, the home state of Senator Katherine McCord, defying expectations and odds of pundits and commentators across the nation by placing close seconds in Iowa and New Hampshire as well. Charles Walker provided remarks on the state of the race from Los Angeles, where his campaign has headquartered ahead of Super Tuesday. "I'm fired up. The people of South Carolina spoke loudly tonight. The momentum I've seen for this campaign has grown stronger and stronger and there is no better proof than what's in the pudding. Iowa, New Hampshire, thank you. We beat career politicians tonight. You used your voice and woke up the establishment tonight. I saw earlier Senator John McCain and Governor Mitt Romney endorsed my opponents. I have great respect for Senator McCain, a hero to the country. Governor Romney fought valiantly for what he believes in. But they lost. They lost to this President, who has failed us, time and time again. The direction of our party, and the direction of our country, can no longer be dictated and puppeteered by career politicians and creates of the Capitol. It's time we move on from that and on to leaders who will deliver us more than hope; leaders that will actually deliver results. "This campaign -- I offer an alternative. A lot of folks have told me they weren't paying attention to politics before this election, that they've become so disillusioned with it, they don't even want to hear about it. But look, that's not an option anymore. This time, it's up to us. This time, we put our foot down. We wake up in the morning, pull ourselves out of bed, and get in the fight. Because we have to. The future of this country depends on people like you putting your foot down and saying enough is enough. We're tired of it. Our jobs matter. Our southern border should be protected. Our children should be safe enough to play outside. Conservatives shouldn't be unfairly targeted by the government simply for being conservative. Corrupt politicians shouldn't be able to harm the national security of our country and get off free without consequence. We have to do more than just pay attention, my friends, we have to fight back! "And I'm glad to be fighting back, I'm glad to be in this race, because it's clear we can win this damn thing. We're now on to Super Tuesday. These next primaries will very likely decide the outcome of this race. And we need all hands on deck. Get in the fight. Get registered to vote. This campaign is strong, my will is stronger than ever. Doug Murphy's policies would be detrimental to our country. He's not only offering another four years of what we've already had -- he's offering a more extreme version of it. We know what we're up against. The question now is, how do we beat them? I can tell you: we do it by sending someone into the race who hasn't spent their time voting for the spending packages, tax hikes, and backroom negotiated deals that Doug Murphy has. And I'm the only one in this race who can claim that. Get in the fight! Vote! Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States."

Name: Charles Walker Media Outlet: The Rush Limbaugh Show Reason: National Polls in the Republican Primary You know, Rush, a lot of people said our campaign was a longshot. A lot of the political consulting class said we'd have a hard time against folks who've already been in Washington, making connections, calling up donors, building up their names. But Americans, Republicans, they see through it. They want someone who hasn't spent their time trying to break in. They don't want a creature of D.C., they want leadership to come in and take a sledgehammer to the old way of doing things and provide some real leadership after the last eight years of failure and empty suits. I have a lot of respect for Senator David Rollins, I'm sure he's a good family man. I just don't think he'll win. I think he has a good shot of losing this race in November if he's our nominee, because of his policies, which would be detrimental to American seniors. Look, we're virtually tied for first nationally, and in Senator McCord's own home state of South Carolina, we're close to beating her there. If this doesn't tell you our campaign has major momentum heading toward the first four, then you're wearing blinders. There is an establishment in place that has a lot of interest in trying to stop our momentum. Whether it be the media spreading falsehoods or Democrats attacking my character, just know this: we will not waver, we will not back down, and we're in this fight to win it.

Walker 2016 Platform Released NASHUA -- Charles Walker has released his platform for the 2016 Presidential campaign. It can be viewed in full below.

Charles Walker Announcement Speech Los Angeles, California LOS ANGELES -- Gen. Charles Walker, USA (ret.) delivered a speech in Los Angeles, California announcing his candidacy for President of the United States of America. Below are some of the remarks he delivered. "I'm tired of the same Washington games. Year after year, decade after decade, the same politicians are selling the same lies. It's the same names you see each time, telling you to keep hoping, while failing to deliver results. Folks can't find work. Food, gas, and healthcare is more expensive. Our reputation has been tarnished on the world stage. Yet, it seems after each passing vote, members of Congress' net worth grows a little bit more, while yours shrinks. It has become less and less about your interests and more about the interests of high-paying lobbyists and billionaire megadonors. It's become a feature of the system. And it's wrought hell on our people. And I think, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, as long as you're an American paying attention, we can all agree -- the system is broken. Our government has failed us. As your jobs are shipped overseas, and as your livelihoods have been ripped out from under you like a rug, little to nothing has been done to stop it. As China grows stronger, our economy and our military has been weakened. As terrorists grow more emboldened, our military has been cut out from the knees to act decisively against them. You have to ask yourself, friends: do you feel safer than you did four or eight years ago? Do you feel more confident about the future of this country? Do you feel like you've been dealt a fair hand by our government, by your representatives, by our commander-in-chief? I know my answer. I know a lot of Americans had hope the last eight years. They sure wanted change. And right now, it might appear as though it might have passed you by. Well, frankly, I'm tired of hoping. I'm tired of waiting for change. It's time for action. It's time for results. It's time to have leadership in place in Washington that has your values, your interests, and your livelihood in mind before their own. We need to secure our border and enforce our laws; together, we will. We need to restore America's reputation abroad, eliminate ISIS for good, and stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon; together, we will. We need to become energy independent, expand offshore drilling, and deliver on fracking; together, we will. We need to stop the conveyor belt of American jobs heading to China and reinvigorate our economy; together, we will. That is why, today, I am announcing my candidacy for President of the United States of America."