“Five months after his resignation, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) still has more than $16.4 million in available campaign cash,” the Albany Times Union reports.
Youngkin Changes Focus of Diversity Office
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) “named Angela Sailor, a policy expert at the Heritage Foundation who has criticized school lessons on systemic racism in the U.S., as the state’s new director of diversity, equity and inclusion,” the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.
Youngkin also issued an executive order to refocus the office to promote “free speech and civil discourse” at colleges and universities, and ensuring that the state’s history curriculum is “honest, objective, and complete.”
GOP Lawmakers Refuse to Get Tested Before Briefing
“Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said the panel’s chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), has requested that members receive a negative Covid test before they participate in an upcoming committee briefing,” CNN reports.
“Turner, however, said Republicans on the committee will not comply with Schiff’s request.”
Biden Leaves Democrats Hanging as Midterms Approach
Top Democratic politicians, campaign officials and operatives tell CNN that the White House political operation “is heading into the midterms unprepared and unresponsive even to basic requests for help or information.”
White House Aims to Restart Agenda Talks
“The White House is planning to re-engage with Sen. Joe Manchin on President Biden’s signature education, healthcare and climate package, hoping to take a more muted approach to negotiations as some frustrated Democratic lawmakers push for passing pieces of the agenda individually instead,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Said White House chief of staff Ron Klain: “One lesson we learned in the first year is, I think, the less we talk about our negotiations with specific senators and congressmen, the better we are so I’m going to say our talks with Sen. Manchin will proceed directly and privately.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“It’s one thing to hold a position in the backroom. It’s another thing to hold a position on the floor of the Senate when the whole world is watching.”
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
International Airlines Cancel Flights to U.S.
“Major international airlines canceled flights heading to the U.S. or changed the planes they’re using Wednesday, the latest complication in a dispute over concerns that new 5G mobile phone service could interfere with aircraft technology,” the AP reports.
“Carriers took widely different approaches to the brewing crisis affecting international travel, from Middle Eastern airline Emirates drastically reducing its U.S.-bound flights to Air France saying it would fly as normal.”
Allies Wait on U.S. Approval to Arm Ukraine
“At least three European allies are waiting for the U.S. State Department to approve their requests to send U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, as fears grow of a multi-front invasion by Russian forces and the Biden administration prepares to ship a new batch of weapons to Kyiv,” Politico reports.
White House Tells Democrats to Tout Accomplishments
“The White House is working to sell frustrated House Democrats on a simple pre-midterms pitch: Stop focusing on what hasn’t gotten done yet and start touting the two big bills the party has passed so far,” Politico reports.
“Democrats have already passed a pandemic aid package and infrastructure law totaling $2.4 trillion. Many lawmakers, however, remain determined to log another legislative achievement they can champion, worried that voters will be disappointed and disenchanted — following lofty campaign promises — if they don’t get more done.”
Video Shows U.S. Killing of 10 Civilians in Drone Strike
“Newly declassified surveillance footage provides additional details about the final minutes and aftermath of a botched drone strike in Kabul in August, when the American military mistakenly killed 10 innocent people — including seven children — in a tragic blunder that punctuated the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan,” the New York Times reports.
“The disclosure of the videos is the first time any footage from the strike has been seen publicly. They encompass about 25 minutes of silent video from two drones — a military official said both were MQ-9 Reapers — showing the minutes before, during and after the strike.”
Roger Marshall Selling ‘Moron’ T-Shirts
After being called a “moron” by Dr. Anthony Fauci in a Senate hearing, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is now selling “Moron” t-shirts for his supporters to wear.
Pelosi Lobbies Joe Manchin
“Speaker Nancy Pelosi has spoken on the phone with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) several times in recent days about his opposition to altering the filibuster to pass voting rights bills, several sources told us. Pelosi, of course, is a staunch proponent of passing the package of voting rights bills currently under consideration in the Senate. The two are friendly; Pelosi often speaks about their shared Italian heritage,” Punchbowl News reports.
“Pelosi is pretty judicious about not weighing in on legislation in front of the Senate – and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer extends that courtesy when it comes to the House – so this is significant outreach.”
Time to Fix the Electoral Count Act
The Bulwark: “Properly crafted, an Electoral Count Act of 2022 wouldn’t just deliver us from evil, it would also lead us not into temptation.”
“The Electoral Count Act of 1867 is a ticking bomb. Now that its vulnerabilities have been exposed, it is only a matter of time before someone uses it to overturn an American presidential election and with it, American democracy. Even an unsuccessful attempt would be disastrous.”
Sotomayor Said She Didn’t Ask Gorsuch to Wear Mask
Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in a statement Wednesday that she did not ask Justice Neil Gorsuch to wear a mask, but she also did not give her reasons for participating in oral arguments remotely from her chambers, instead of on the bench, the Washington Post reports.
In a joint statement released by the court, the two said news accounts of the dispute “surprised us” and described them as “false.”
Confusing Takeaways of the Redistricting Cycle
Nathaniel Rakich: “Many analyses of congressional redistricting so far have tried to sum the situation up into a single sentence. While we understand the urge, it’s increasingly the case that there is no one takeaway from the 2021-22 redistricting cycle.”
“In reality, the picture is complicated: Democrats have gained seats based on partisanship alone … but Republicans have gained when you factor in which party currently holds the seat. The House map’s long-term Republican bias has lessened somewhat … but it’s still not an even playing field. Swing seats are getting redrawn to be safer for Democrats … but light-red seats are also being redrawn to be safer for Republicans.”
Ex-Ally Compares Boris Johnson to Neville Chamberlain
“U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be ousted from power within the week, after a longtime ally compared him to Neville Chamberlain in a stunning rebuke in the House of Commons on Wednesday,” Axios reports.
Said former minister David Davis: “I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take. Yesterday he did the opposite of that.”
Davis concluded with a quote from Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain: “You have sat there too long for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go.”
Meanwhile, the BBC notes Tory MP Christian Wakeford left the Conservatives and walked across the floor to join Labour in another dramatic moment.
Taliban Asks Muslim Nations to Recognize Afghan Rulers
“The Taliban’s prime minister called on Muslim nations to be the first to officially recognize the government that seized power in Afghanistan in August,” AFP reports.
“No country has yet recognized the Taliban government, with nations watching to see how the hardline Islamists -– notorious for human rights abuses during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001 -– will rule this time around.”
Political Wire Q&A
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