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3/19 BNR Afternoon +OT: Sanders Campaign Hires 15, among them Briahana Joy Gray as Press Secretary; Sanders Wins DK Poll

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Ten of the 15 hires are women; 5 of them are alums of the 2016 campaign. One of the new hires is Briahana Gray (@briebriejoy on twitter) of The Intercept, a progressive investigative digital publication. She’s also been a contributor to Rolling Stone, The Root, Current Affairs, The Guardian, and New York Magazine.

From Refinery:

The women coming on board include: René Spellman, deputy campaign manager, a Bernie 2016 alumna who has worked in the Obama White House; Analilia Mejia, political director, a union organizer who was honored by President Obama as a “Champion of Change”; Sarah Badawi, deputy political director, previously the legislative affairs director for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee; Claire Sandberg, national organizing director, a Bernie 2016 alumna and previously the deputy campaign manager for Abdul El-Sayed’s gubernatorial run in Michigan; Dr. Heather Gautney, deputy director of policy, formerly a senior policy advisor on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee and a researcher for Bernie 2016; Arianna Jones, communications director, a Bernie 2016 alumna with experience leading media strategy for progressive clients; Sarah Ford, deputy communications director, a Bernie 2016 alumna who served as the communications director for Cynthia Nixon’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign in New York; Briahna Joy Gray, national press secretary, a former attorney and senior politics editor at The Intercept; Georgia Parke, senior social media strategist, who worked in Sen. Sanders’ Senate office since 2016; and Robin Curran, digital fundraising director, formerly the email director at the Democratic National Committee.

Another interesting bit of detail about the campaign’s personnel announcement:

The campaign says that now, every single one of its teams — management, political, policy, organizing, communications, advance, digital, and fundraising — has women, and predominantly women of color, in leadership positions. Overall, the national leadership team is around 70% women.

Other tweets, videos, and news in the comments section. This is also an open thread.

Update: Bernie won the TOP Straw Poll. GOS just updated his post. No announcement.

#StillSanders

3/15 Ides of March Afternoon/Evening OT…

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

The Ides of March is here…but not yet gone. Some good breaking news from the Bernie train…

Open thread and now, virtual cocktail hour.

This is a Vermont cocktail. Cheers!

3/8 Afternoon Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Join us in the comments section with tweets, articles, links, videos!

1/9/2019 Afternoon/Evening Open Thread: Jeff Weaver Will not be Campaign Mgr for Bernie2020; Steyer Sits Out of 2020 & News

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Jeff Weaver will not return as Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager in 2020

Jeff Weaver, the longtime aide who led his 2016 bid, will not return to the role if Sanders enters the race, a source familiar with the planning process told CNN.
Weaver confirmed in an interview that his position will be changing, most likely to senior strategic adviser to Sanders, who is being encouraged by supporters to enter the race soon. A decision is expected in the coming weeks or months.

The move also underscores an understanding, both among Sanders’ close aides and outside backers, that the Vermont Independent will need a more robust infrastructure and diverse staff in order to reach or exceed the support he received during the 2016 contest.

The source said the decision for Weaver to return in a different capacity was made well in advance of new reports about sexual harassment by staffers working on the 2016 campaign. Sanders, Weaver and the senator’s campaign committee have all since expressed regret over the inappropriate behavior and pledged to provide stronger safeguards going forward.
“I am not going to sit here and tell you that we did everything right in terms of human resources, in terms of addressing the needs that I’m hearing from now, that women felt disrespected, that there was sexual harassment, which was not dealt with as effectively as possible,” Sanders told CNN’s Anderson Cooper last week, apologizing to “any woman who feels like she was not treated appropriately.”

When asked if he knew at the time about the allegations, Sanders said he was not, adding, “I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case” — a remark even close allies worried might undermine his apology.
Sanders and his team took steps after 2016, and before his 2018 Senate re-election campaign, to tighten rules and restrictions, requiring staffers to take training courses before joining and offering them an 800-number for lodging confidential complaints.

“Whether he runs for president or not, he took seriously enough the things he heard after the 2016 campaign to put some measures in place in 2018 and that’s what is most important,” said Nina Turner, a close Sanders confidant and president of Our Revolution, a political action organization spun out of Sanders’ 2016 success.
Weaver on Wednesday said he never intended to reclaim his title from 2016, noting that he has a teen son near college age, but said he expected to have an active role in putting together the infrastructure of a second Sanders presidential campaign.

“It was never my intention to run a subsequent campaign if there is one,” Weaver said on Wednesday. “I think if you look at presidential campaign managers, the number of people who have run multiple campaigns is very few. I think I can be most helpful to Bernie, if he runs, being a strategic adviser that needs to deal with some of the 30,000-foot issues as opposed to the management of a day-to-day campaign.”

Your news, tweets, videos! Open thread!

11/27 Mississippi Senate Runoff Election & Evening OT; Update: AP Calls It for Hyde-Smith

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Good Evening Birdies,

Today is the last of the federal elections (as far as I know) and it’s down to the wire at the polling stations, which are supposed to close around 7ET/6CT/5MT/5PT.

The runoff is between Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith (selected earlier this year by the governor upon the retirement of Thad Cochran) and Democratic candidate Mike Espy.


(photo courtesy of Axios)

NYT provides the broad particulars:

Ms. Hyde-Smith, a former Democrat who was Mississippi’s agriculture commissioner until her appointment to the Senate, has faced a rocky inaugural year in national politics. The White House questioned the political wisdom of installing her in Mr. Cochran’s seat — and that was before Ms. Hyde-Smith drew sustained scorn for comments that were criticized as racist or anti-democratic.

In one instance, Ms. Hyde-Smith said that if a supporter invited her “to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row,” a remark with painful resonance in a state with a history of racist violence, including lynchings. (On Monday morning, state officials said, two nooses were found hanging on the grounds of the State Capitol. Mr. Bryant has asked the F.B.I. to participate in the inquiry.)

In another recorded episode, Ms. Hyde-Smith said there were liberals “maybe we don’t want to vote.”

“Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult,” she said.

Mr. Espy, who would be Mississippi’s first black senator since Reconstruction, is hardly a newcomer to Washington, and Republicans sought to turn his record in the capital into a cudgel. They have pointed to his lucrative lobbying work, including a stint in service of an Ivorian dictator who is now on trial before the International Criminal Court, to depict Mr. Espy as out-of-touch and lacking in judgment. And the memory of Mr. Espy’s corruption trial, after several terms in Congress and years as President Bill Clinton’s agriculture secretary, has never been far from mind. (Mr. Espy was acquitted of all charges.)

The polls have the incumbent about 10 points ahead, but due to the senator’s hot mike comments, Mr. Epsy has mounted a vigorous campaign and has lowered the ratings from 14 points in October.

Mr. Espy’s ambitions rest on a robust turnout from black Mississippians, who represent about 36 percent of the voting-age population and usually side with Democratic candidates in large numbers. But to win Mr. Espy must also capture about a quarter of the white vote — a tall order given his performance in the first round of voting on Nov. 6, and how political lines often fall along racial ones in Mississippi.

In a strategy that could attract some white voters, Mr. Espy appealed to Mississippi’s perpetual disgruntlement with how it is perceived across the country and argued that a victory by Ms. Hyde-Smith would reinforce stereotypes of the state.

Deval Patrick, Cory Booker and Ayanna Pressley have been down to the state to campaign for Epsy and to GOTV. What’s interesting is that the DSCC has not played any financial or prominent role in this race.

You can follow the results at the NYT here; Politico’s reporting here; or the Clarion-Ledger’s here.

What does this mean for the Senate? If Hyde-Smith retains the seat, she will be the 53rd Republican and with any vote to come up requiring 51 votes, she’s likely to vote with her party as she has a 100% voting record aligned with Trump’s agenda.

This serves as an open thread. Updates as we get them. I will be ordering pizza for carry out.

9:25 CT update:

Cindy Hyde-Smith*
Republican

329,160 56.1%

Mike Espy
Democrat

257,761 43.9

11/14 Although There is A Recount Going On, Sick Rott Decides to Attend Freshman Orientation in DC Anyway; News Round-Up & OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Rick Scott is in DC for Senate Freshman Orientation as Florida Recount Rages On

Scott stood beside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for a photo op along with incoming Republican freshman senators including Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn and Missouri’s Josh Hawley Wednesday morning.

The incoming senators will vote for party leadership as well as pose for endless photos and learn where the restrooms are located.

So the question is, did Sick Rott invite himself or did McConnell?

I was gobsmacked by the photo-op on C-SPAN this morning.

Feel free to post your news via excerpts, tweets, and videos. This also serves as an open thread.

See you in the comments.

9/11 New Hampshire Primary Night

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Today is New Hampshire’s primary election. The race that most are watching is the very crowded CD-01, in which there are 11 candidates vying for the nomination. NOTE: as there are two diaries, this one will now be for commenting on the primary. For the Open Thread, go to the diary above this one. As the list reveals, Levi Sanders, son of our progressive hero of VT, is running in the primary. His poll numbers are low, however. Bernie Sanders chose not to endorse anyone in the field. The NYT has one lens on this House race: On the Democratic … Continue reading →

6/19 News Roundup – Bernie Sanders rallies w/ Ben Jealous; New Video Captures ‘Horrifying’ Reality of Children Taken From Parents & More

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Bernie Sanders joins candidate Ben Jealous to help fire up Maryland voters

Sen. Bernie Sanders may not be endorsing his own son’s congressional bid, but he rallied on a hot Monday night in Maryland to fire up voters for Ben Jealous’ campaign for governor.

The senator, known for his reluctance to endorse politicians, joined the former NAACP president outside an early voting center in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“I am proud to be here because Ben is one of those leaders who is not going to be nibbling around the edges, but understands we have got to transform the economic and political life of this country,” Sanders said in a plaza outside the voting center as a crowd of supporters cheered. Jealous stood by his side.

Jealous has been tied in recent polls with Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker in Maryland’s Democratic primary to challenge popular Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.

Jealous and Sanders share support for tuition-free college and expanding Medicare to all. Sanders also praised Jealous for supporting a $15 minimum wage and equal pay for equal work.

Sanders also said he wanted to see Jealous become governor to be a loud voice against President Donald Trump in nearby Washington, D.C.

“And when the president of the United States continues to do outrageous things, like separating children from their parents, I want Mr. Trump to hear Ben Jealous’ loud voice,” Sanders said as supporters, many of them young adults, cheered.

6/16 Bill Maher Offers a New Rule; Dad’s Day Weekend Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Last night, Bill Maher was on a roll with New Rules. But the last New Rule is often less funny, more serious social commentary. This one lasts nearly 6.5 minutes, but worth viewing. Consider this an open thread. For those who have fond memories of their dad, please share as you like! … Continue reading →

6/12 News Roundup – ‘Bernie Was Right But Will The Dems Listen?’, Catching Up With Amy4ThePeople & More

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Bernie Sanders was right, and Democrats are running on his message. But will the party listen?

Though Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 (and he might not win the nod in 2020, should he decide to run) he’s going to emerge triumphant from this moment in Democratic politics anyway.

Just look at the other candidates expected to run for the Democratic nomination in 2020, all of whom are in some way seeking to curry favor with Sanders’ supporters and coalescing around the policies he backed — even though, in 2016, those ideas were derided as a pipe dream promulgated by an old man from Vermont who didn’t understand the real world.

The most obvious example of this shift has occurred is in health care policy: Sanders’ single-payer style “Medicare for All” plan was widely panned by Beltway pundits and prognosticators in 2016 as hopelessly idealistic and a political non-starter. Now, though, Sanders has 16 co-sponsors on a single-payer bill, including potential 2020 contenders Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. The Democratic establishment, too, has come around to the idea that pushing for a single-payer style system is the correct thing to do.

Beyond health care, Booker has rolled out a plan to implement a jobs guarantee, Gillibrand and Booker want to legalize marijuana and they, along with Harris, have sworn off corporate PAC money. That first one is more than even Sanders dared to call for back in 2016; the latter two are straight out of his playbook. Even Sanders’ push for labor law reform, a dream of activists that didn’t happen under the Obama administration (despite Democrats having 60 votes in the Senate), has garnered its fair share of backers.

…

Even if you assume that establishment-types really do believe that moderation is the path toward big majorities, there’s little reason to think their case is a good one. Democrats have been decimated in the last few election cycles, up and down the ballot. But in 2016, Sanders won in places — like West Virginia, Montana and Idaho — in which Democrats are not typically successful. So it’s probably worth seeing if a different kind of Democrat taking a more progressive stance could break the GOP’s stranglehold in similar places. Nothing else Democrats have done has worked so, if the party had any sense, it’d get out of the way and let some candidates give it a whirl.

More Democrats will be running Sanders-style campaigns over the next few cycles regardless of what the party does, thanks to simple political reality and voters’ distaste for dictates from on high. The party’s power to decide for its voters is ebbing. And, for that, progressives — even ones that voted for Hillary Clinton — have Bernie to thank.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

5/24 News Roundup – Sanders To Swing Through California, Planned Parenthood Seeks Union Busting Help & More

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Bernie Sanders to make swing in California, state that will play starring role in 2020

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will make a swing through California early next month ahead of primary elections in a state that is set to play a starring role in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

Sanders will make four stops in southern California next Saturday, June 2, just days before the state’s closely watched primary elections on June 5. But instead of backing candidates in any of those races during the trip, Sanders will speak to protesting workers and rally with activists.

His packed day will start with a roundtable with Disneyland workers in Anaheim, where unions are pushing a ballot measure that would raise wages for hospitality workers at companies that have received subsidies from the city.

Then Sanders will hold a town hall with dockworkers near the Port of Long Beach.

After that, he’ll head to downtown Los Angeles for a rally with Shaun King and Patrisse Cullors, two prominent activists affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement. More than 3,500 people have RSVP’d online to attend the event.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

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5/18 News Roundup – Sanders Endorses Stacey Abrams, Six Dems Vote To Confirm Torturer Gina Haspel & More

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Georgia 2018: Abrams nabs Bernie Sanders’ endorsement

Democrat Stacey Abrams earned the support Thursday of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a former presidential candidate who is a hero to many of the party’s progressives.
Sanders called Abrams, a former state House minority leader, the “only candidate for governor of Georgia who has real solutions that will help the lives of working people in Georgia.”

Abrams faces former state Rep. Stacey Evans in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, and both claim they are the most ardent progressives – a sharp shift from the party’s conventional strategy.

..

In his endorsement, Sanders touted Abrams’ proposals to expand the pre-kindergarten program, raise the minimum wage, introduce automatic voter registration and eliminate cash bail.

“This is an agenda the working people of Georgia can stand proudly behind,” said Sanders.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

5/16 News Roundup – Sanders Emerges As Washington’s Leading Voice Against Gaza Violence, Bernie Speaks @ CAP & More

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Sanders emerges as Washington’s leading voice against Gaza violence

Most members of the U.S. Senate have had little to say about the Israel Defense Forces’ violent response in response to protests in Gaza that left more than 50 Palestinians dead. But there has been one notable exception.

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has stood out for his forceful condemnation of the Israeli government’s actions and the U.S. response.

The progressive firebrand’s public remarks are the latest in a series of condemnations against Palestinian deaths at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces, as Palestinian protesters have been participating in a series of protests at the Israel-Gaza border since March.

So far only a handful of Democratic representatives in the House have joined Sanders in strongly condemning the violence. In the Senate, the response has been characterized by either silence or unlikely praise for the Trump administration.

..

In both February 2017 and April 2018 Sanders gave speeches to the liberal Jewish anti-occupation group J Street, where he condemned Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

In April, during the first wave of Gaza protests, Sanders was the only member of the U.S. Senate willing to call out the Israel Defense Forces for their role in the violence.

Around that time, Sanders’ office released a Facebook video that featured several prominent activists detailing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

More news/video/tweets/etc. in the comments.

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