Trump's tax trouble: More than 100 lawsuits, disputes, tied to companies
While Donald J. Trump refuses to release his federal tax returns, saying his tax rate is “none of your business,” a USA TODAY analysis found Trump’s businesses have been involved in at least 100 lawsuits and other disputes related to unpaid taxes or how much tax his businesses owe.
Trump’s companies have been engaged in battles over taxes almost every year from the late 1980s until as recently as March, the analysis of court cases, property records, and other documents across the country shows. At least five Trump companies were issued warrants totaling more than $13,000 for late or unpaid taxes in New York state just since Trump declared his candidacy in June 2015, according to state records. This spring, as Trump flew to campaign rallies around the country aboard his trademark private jet, the state of New York filed a tax warrant to try to collect $8,578 in unpaid taxes
from the Trump-owned company that owns the Boeing 757. The company has since paid that tax bill.
[
Michael B. Thomas, AFP/Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump disembarks his campaign jet with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for a rally at Millington Regional Jetport Feb 27, 2016 in Millington, TN.
As recently as last week, Trump said he was “willing to pay more” taxes personally and that “taxes for the rich will go up somewhat” if he becomes president. But the lawsuits and other tax-related disputes show a different reality for his businesses. They illustrate a pattern of systematically disputing tax bills, arguing for lower property assessments, and in some cases not paying taxes until the government takes additional action. At least three dozen times, Trump companies’ unpaid tax bills have forced the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to go to local courts to get liens against his properties to try to collect overdue bills. New Jersey also had to go to court for a lien to collect a Trump company’s unpaid tax bill. Eventually, those disputes were resolved, and his companies paid some amount of taxes.
The disputes surrounding Trump’s business taxes are uncharted territory for the presidential nominee of a major party. The GOP’s 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, also had extensive business interests as the leader of a private-equity fund. But Trump has a network of complicated real estate and other investments, and some of the tax disputes are ongoing.
“You have to ignore us to end up with a tax warrant. We try to work with taxpayers to resolve the debt, long before it becomes a warrant.”
Geoff Gloak, spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance
Trump has acknowledged that he tries to pay as little taxes as possible, and the public records across the country shed light on how he does it. In documents rarely seen by the public, Trump's businesses regularly minimize the value of his properties for tax purposes. Publicly, including in his presidential financial disclosure report, Trump’s team declares many of those same properties are worth tens of millions of dollars more.
He’s fought tax collectors to lower the assessed values of his luxury golf courses in Briarcliff, N.Y., and Jupiter, Fla. Yet on his presidential financial disclosure report, he valued each at more than $50 million.
USA TODAY’s examination of Trump’s track record as a business taxpayer found not just court actions, but dozens of additional tax disputes with local authorities that didn’t reach the courthouse in states including New York, Nevada, Florida and New Jersey. In some cases, Trump’s businesses have disputed tax assessments; in others, they have simply not paid the tax bill until after the government took additional action.
Ignored New York bills
In New York, for example, there are dozens of tax warrants against Trump businesses. Tax warrants are filed only after the state has exhausted all other options to collect what’s owed.
“You have to ignore us to end up with a tax warrant,” said Geoff Gloak, spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance. “We try to work with taxpayers to resolve the debt, long before it becomes a warrant.”
If the tax warrant is ignored, the state can choose to take the matter to court – and in some cases has.
In addition to the five tax warrants
since his announcement, there are additional New York state tax warrants dating to the years before Trump became a candidate, including $1,580 in unpaid taxes in 2010 for Trump Mortgage, his failed mortgage venture, and $1,747 in unpaid taxes in early 2015 against Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, once known as the troubled Trump University, which was later paid.
[
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Trump Tower stands along 5th Avenue in Manhattan March 12, 2016 in New York City.
Among other tax disputes involving Trump entities:
*   Trump Mortgage owes federal taxes from 2006 and 2007 totaling more than $4,800, according to two federal tax liens
filed in New York.
*   Trump’s businesses have sued the New York City Tax Commission 55 times from the mid-1990s through 2011, disputing the city’s property assessment values on everything from apartment complexes once owned by his father to his core buildings and companies.
*   Trump-related companies have become embroiled in disputes over sales taxes owed to New York state and New York City. Tax warrants on file in New York County court found that over the past 27 years, Trump entities owed about $300,000 in back taxes, which were eventually paid.
*   The battles can save Trump millions of dollars. In 2006, Trump won a ruling on his 58-story headquarters at Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. It was the sixth time since 1999 that his appeals against the Tax Commission reached the courtroom, records show. The net result was about a 10% reduction over 10 years on the building — worth about $3 million to Trump.
Alan Garten, general counsel to the Trump Organization, said he was unaware of the particulars of the tax warrant cases. He said disputes can arise over how one calculates sales-tax liabilities.
“It happens all the time,” he said. “And some of the charges could have been mistaken.”
Real estate developers often appeal assessments, and Morris Ellison, a commercial real estate tax attorney based in Charleston, S.C., said it’s difficult to compare one organization’s volume of property tax appeals vs. another’s.
Garten said the companies do what any property owners have the right to do: challenge their property’s assessment to make sure they are fairly taxed.
“We are a business, and we are in the business of making money,” he said. “Why should it be any different if we think the assessment is incorrect? It would be irresponsible if we didn’t. It’s got to be fair.”
Trump has been particularly aggressive by any measure, acknowledging it’s part of his business strategy.
“I fight like hell to pay as little as possible,” he said at a New York news conference announcing his own tax plan in September. “I fight like hell always, because it’s an expense. And you know, I feel ... and I fight. I have the best lawyers and the best accountants, and I fight, and I pay. But it’s an expense.”
Conflicting accounts of worth
Trump’s boasts about his wealth have sometimes undercut his attempts to slash his taxes. In 1985, Trump scooped up Mar-a-Lago, the opulent estate built by Marjorie Merriweather Post in Palm Beach, Fla., for $10 million, bragging in his 1989 book, The Art of the Deal, that it was a sweet deal, worth far more than he paid. When the property was assessed at $11.5 million and later $17 million, Trump objected. Litigation dragged on until 1993 over the tax bills.
A settlement hinged on Trump agreeing not to develop the Mar-a-Lago land into individual lots, said Jay Jacknin, outside counsel for Palm Beach County’s appraisal’s office. Last year, the county assessed the property at about $20 million — though Trump’s federal financial disclosure form values it at “more than $50 million.”
Similarly, just up the road in Jupiter, Fla., Trump bought the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Spa in 2012 for a reported $5 million, then renovated it. For the past three years, his team has appealed the assessed value, of $13.7million as of 2015. In his financial disclosure forms, Trump claims that the course on 285 acres is worth “more than $50 million” and that it throws off more than $12 million in revenue.
In Westchester County, N.Y., Trump has taken an aggressive approach toward the town of Ossining regarding the taxable value of Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor.
The battle gained national prominence, after an investigation in September 2015 by The Journal News, which is part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, of the club’s audacious bid to slash its taxable value by 90%.
Town Assessor Fernando Gonzalez valued the 140-acre complex at $14.3 million (a valuation since increased to $15.1 million) — but Trump’s team countered that it was worth $1.4 million. For perspective, a three-bedroom villa built at Trump National’s 16th hole on a separate tax parcel sold in 2005 for $2.4 million and was recently on the market for almost $2 million.
[
Joe Larese/The Journal News
Briarcliff Manor homeowner Steve Cohen stands at theTrump National golf club in more
Trump’s claimed value would slash the $471,000 in taxes he owes to the town, village county and its school district to $47,000.
Residents are outraged. “What he’s claiming is way off,” said Briarcliff Manor homeowner Steve Cohen. “I see people playing there. The club looks fabulous. It certainly isn’t falling into disrepair.”
The Trump team’s lowball valuation follows a pattern similar to other assessment battles. His camp’s estimate appears to be a mere opening bid in a negotiation.
Trump’s attorney, Jeff Rodner, acknowledges that he is sure the property is worth more than the $1.4 million.
“Maybe it’s worth $12 million, maybe $13 million,” Rodner told The Journal News. “Now, my value is my opinion until it’s proven otherwise.”
The Briarcliff property is among 20 developments on Trump’s financial disclosure report that he values at “more than $50 million” — accounting for $1 billion of his net worth that Trump claims totals $10 billion.
Steve Reilly contributed to this report.
Sent from my iPhone


Today in the fight for a full and functioning Supreme Court: As Senators fly home for recess, a new poll shows Iowans growing increasingly frustrated with Senator Grassley's Supreme Court obstruction, the New York Times calls on Senate Republicans to do their job and the media reports that due to Supreme Court vacancy, the justices are accepting fewer cases.
Iowa voters oppose Sen. Chuck Grassley's obstruction of Chief Judge Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination.
Today, the Constitutional Responsibility Project, in conjunction with the League of Conservation Voters, released a new survey of Iowa voters conducted by Hart Research Associates. Findings confirm that a majority of Iowa voters support giving Chief Judge Garland a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote and believe that Sen. Grassley is playing partisan politics by refusing to allow the Senate Judiciary Committee to take action on Chief Judge Garland's nomination. Both undecided voters and one in five voters who otherwise might be inclined to support Grassley indicate that this issue could drive them to not vote for Senator Grassley in the November general election.
CLICK HERE
to download the audio from today's call. A full memo from Hart Research Associates outlining the survey's findings can be found HERE
.
Key findings from the Constitutional Responsibility Project and the League of Conservation Voters survey include:
*   By a margin of 57 percent to 35 percent, Iowa voters say the Senate should hold hearings and give Chief Judge Garland an up-or-down-vote.
*   When told about Senator Grassley's position on not allowing a hearing for Chief Judge Garland, 55 percent of voters have a negative reaction. 59 percent of independents view Senator Grassley's position negatively.
*   60 percent of voters, including 63 percent of independents, agree with the conclusion that Senator Grassley is letting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dictate the Senate Republican position on Chief Judge Garland's nomination, rather than acting as a leader as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
*   44 percent of all Iowa voters said they are less likely to support Senator Grassley in his re-election bid this year as a result of his position to not grant Chief Judge Garland a fair hearing.
*   One in five voters who otherwise might be inclined to support Grassley indicates that this issue could drive them away from him, and half of undecided voters also say this issue would make them less likely to be with Grassley in November.
Senate Republicans must rescue the Supreme Court from limbo.
The New York Times
editorial board calls on Senate Republicans to do their job so the Supreme Court can do its job:
"The consequences of the impasse have been growing graver by the day... It could get worse from here. So far, the justices' docket for the term beginning in October is smaller than usual
, and the eight-member court may hesitate before taking on high-profile cases on controversial topics that are more likely to result in split votes... Mr. Grassley and his fellow Republicans gambled that anger over their inaction would fade as the news cycle rolled on and the public's attention turned to the presidential campaign. Maybe Republicans are willing to take such gambles because they believe they don't have anything to lose. But the American people do."
We'll just kick the can down the road.
A short-handed Supreme Court is accepting fewer cases for next term. The Washington Post
reports:
"The number of cases the justices have accepted has fallen, meaning that a docket that in recent years has been smaller than what is traditional is shrinking still. The court has accepted only six cases since Scalia died Feb. 13. The number is low compared with the average.... John P. Elwood, a Washington lawyer and Supreme Court specialist, said "having an extra member matters. He said there seem to be a number of "defensive denials," meaning neither side of the ideologically split court wants to take some cases because of uncertainty about how it will turn out, or whether the court will be able to reach a decision."
The facts don't line up with Sen. Grassley's claims.
The Daily Gate City
fact-checks Sen. Chuck Grassley's claim that Supreme Court nominees are not confirmed during election years:
"President Roosevelt nominated Frank Murphy after Justice Butler died in 1939. Justice Murphy was confirmed in 1940. In 1968 Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Justice Abe Fortas to replace retiring Chief Justice Earl Warren. The Senate held confirmation hearings; however, Fortas asked his name to be withdrawn after battling fierce Congressional opposition... By refusing to begin the process of confirming Merrick Garland, Chuck Grassley isn't following tradition. He's making history. I guess his crystal ball is clearer than the history books he hasn't been reading."
Sen. Lankford and his Republican colleagues need to stop playing politics with the Supreme Court.
Elizabeth B. Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, writes in The Oklahoman
:
"If anyone is 'playing politics' with the Supreme Court, it is Sen. Lankford and his Republican colleagues, who are blocking Garland from even getting a hearing and a yes-or-no vote. America needs a fully staffed, fully functioning Supreme Court that can decide cases of profound importance to law enforcement and prosecutors who keep our nation safe, while ensuring that the people's constitutional rights are protected. It is time for Lankford to do his job and call for hearings and a vote."
If Justice Scalia were a Senator, he would support hearings and a vote on Chief Judge Garland's nomination.
Salt Lake County lawyer Lawrence J. Leigh imagines a world in which the late Justice Scalia could weigh in on the Republican obstruction around the Supreme Court for the Salt Lake Tribune
:
"Sen. Scalia saw instantly that the majority leader was not "the Senate." Nor was the Republican Caucus. The "Senate" meant 100 members, two senators from each sovereign state. And the phrase "Advice and Consent" meant a vote by the Senate either to give or withhold its consent according to the principle of majority rule. The issue was not even a close call. He would speak in favor of voting up or down on the nomination."
A look ahead at a sampling of activity by our grassroots allies:
TUESDAY 5/03/16
Event: DSCC Press Call on How Supreme Court Obstruction Has Emerged as Election Year Issue
Time: 10:30AM ET
Host: DSCC
Key briefers/speakers: Fred Yang of Garin-Hart-Yang Polling
RSVP information: Please email Lara Sisselman at sisselman@dscc.org
to receive a call-in number
Press Contact: Sadie Weiner, Lauren Passalacqua, 202-545-3524
Event: Don't Trump the Courts Allentown event
Location: In front of Sen. Toomey's office, 1150 S Cedar Crest Blvd # 101, Allentown, PA 18103
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Aletheia Henry, 614-668-5116, aletheia@henryhigginsconsulting.com
; Pat Millham, 570-854-1378; pat.millham@gmail.com
Event: Cedar Rapids #DoYourJob Event
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Time: 12PM local time
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Derek Eadon, 515-954-8630, derek@bluprintstrategies.com
Event: Kansas City #DoYourJob event
Location: Sen. Blunt's office, 1000 Walnut Street, Suite # 1560
Kansas City, MO 64106
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Martin Casas, martcasas@gmail.com
Event: Springfield #DoYourJob event
Location: Sen. Blunt's office, 260 Russell Senate Office Bldg, Washington, DC 20510
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Martin Casas, martcasas@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY 5/04/16
Event: Tucson #DoYourJob Event
Location: Tucson, AZ
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Rodd McCleod, 347-387-1010, rodd.mcleod@gmail.com
Event: Asheville #DoYourJob Event
Location: Ashville, NC
Time: 5PM local time
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Gerrick Brenner, 919-452-2248, gerrickbrenner@progressnc.org
Event: Charlotte #DoYourJob Event
Location: Charlotte, NC
Time: 12PM local time
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Gerrick Brenner, 919-452-2248, gerrickbrenner@progressnc.org
Event: St. Louis #DoYourJob Event
Location: Outside of Senator Blunt's St. Louis Office, 7700 Bonhomme, Clayton, MO 63105
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Martin Casas, martcasas@gmail.com
Event: Jefferson City #DoYourJob Event
Location: Missouri State Capitol, 201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Martin Casas, martcasas@gmail.com
Event: Portsmouth #DoYourJob event
Location: Sen. Ayotte's Office, 14 Manchester Square, Ste 140
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Time: 12PM local time
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Liz Purdy, 603-731-2200, liz@mepstrategies.com
Event: Des Moines #DoYourJob event
Location: Sen. Grassley's Office, 210 Walnut St #721, Des Moines, IA 50309
Time: 12PM local time
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Derek Eadon, 515-954-8630, derek@bluprintstrategies.com
THURSDAY 5/05/16
Event: Phoenix #DoYourJob event
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Rodd McCleod, 347-387-1010, rodd.mcleod@gmail.com
Event: #DoYourJob NH Coalition recess protest
Location: Sen. Ayotte's Manchester Office, 1200 Elm Street, Suite 2
Manchester, NH 03101-2503
Time: 12PM local time
Press Contact: Liz Purdy, 603-731-2200, liz@mepstrategies.com
Event: Youngstown #DoYourJob event with Rep. Tim Ryan
Location: Youngstown, OH
Host: Americans United for Change
Press Contact: Joanne Pickrell, 614-364-1442, joanne.pickrell@gmail.com
###


Outgoing call to +1 (202) 731-1819 (Other)
Duration: 03 Minutes 46 Seconds
+1 (202) 731-1819
Other:  +1 (202) 731-1819
Microsoft Lync


Because the Party's platform is a statement of our values, the DNC is committed to an open, inclusive and representative process. Both of our campaigns will be represented on the Drafting committee, and just as we did in 2008 and 2012, the public will have opportunities to participate.
[SigDems]
Luis Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 - MirandaL@dnc.org
- @MiraLuisDC


Watch here:

Ezra
From: Oslund, Joseph
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 5:24 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: Video Request: Dean Heller Gaggle
Gaggle with Dean Heller

-          Dean Heller says he will not vote for HRC but isn't committing to Trump either
-          Says that there are other options besides HRC and Trump
-          Points out that you can vote for 'none of these candidates' in NV
-          If there's a third party candidate, everybody's going to take a look
-          Doesn't know if he'll go to the GOP convention, has to talk to his wife
-          "I have to sit down, talk to my wife, see if she's comfortable going to Cleveland."
-          Basically says that Trump has hurt Joe Heck's chances at getting elected
-          Joe Heck has a "great" relationship with the Hispanic, Latino community but those who don't know him, who are they going to vote for?


Trump on Fox and friends
Leading HRC in the polls?
- Bernie Sanders says she has bad judgment
- Unlike Sanders, "I will pickup on the emails big league"
HRC criticizing you on guns background checks and guns in schools?
- I don't want guns in classrooms
- But some teachers should have guns
- Trained teachers should have guns
NRA endorsement?
- I was honored.
- Tough endorsement to get
GOP donors opposition?
- Special interests know they won't have access to me
- Pete Ricketts endorsed me. So not whole Ricketts family
NYT story?
- NYT is a failing newspaper
- Dishonest
Self-funding?
- Special interests won't control me
- Helping raise money for down ballot
Bernie Sanders/DWS?
- 30%+ of Sanders voters will support me
- We agree on trade
________________________________
From: Sarge, Matthew
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2016 8:45 AM
To: Kauffman, Nathan
Cc: Comm_D; DJTspeaks@hillaryclinton.com
Subject: Re: Video request: Trump on Fox and friends at 8:30
Trump on Fox and friends
Leading HRC in the polls?
- Bernie Sanders says she has bad judgment
- Unlike Sanders, "I will pickup on the emails big league"
HRC criticizing you on guns background checks and guns in schools?
- I don't want guns in classrooms
- But some teachers should have guns
- Trained teachers should have guns
NRA endorsement?
- I was honored. Tough endorsement to get
GOP donors opposition?
- Special interests know they won't have access to me
- Pete Ricketts endorsed me. So not whole Ricketts family
NYT story?
- NYT is a failing newspaper
- Dishonest
Self-funding?
- Special interests won't control me
- Helping raise money for down ballot
Bernie Sanders/DWS?
- 30%+ of Sanders voters will support me
- We agree on trade
On May 22, 2016, at 8:10 AM, Kauffman, Nathan
> wrote:
[X]     Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump
)
5/22/16, 7:58 AM
I will be interviewed on @foxandfriends
at 8:30 A.M. Enjoy!
Download
the Twitter app
Sent from my iPhone


From: DNC Press
>
Reply-To: DNC Rapid Response
>
Date: Monday, May 9, 2016 at 10:01 AM
To: DNC Press
>
Subject: DNC Chair Statement on Republican Senator Admitting Senate Republicans Should do Their Job on Supreme Court
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2016
Contact – DNC Press 202-863-8148
DNC Chair Statement on Republican Senator Admitting Senate Republicans Should do Their Job on Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement on Senator Jeff Flake's comments this weekend on Meet the Press that if Republicans lose the presidential election they "ought to approve [Chief Judge Garland] quickly:"
"Senator Flake's comments are a reminder that Republicans are playing political games with the Supreme Court. Chief Judge Garland is the most qualified nominee to immediately serve on the Supreme Court, with more federal judicial experience than any other nominee in history, he should get a fair hearing and a vote. That the GOP has nominated a reckless and dangerous candidate in Donald Trump who lacks the temperament and judgment to serve -- much less appoint a Supreme Court justice -- should be enough for Republicans in the Senate to do their job now, not recklessly leave a Supreme Court seat unfilled until November."
###


Today on the Internet
Let us all take a quick break from our day and see what’s trending worldwide. You deserve it.
Content to Share
Twitter
RT @AmyKDacey
: The DNC will spend the next 6 months fighting back against Trump with everything we have. Good luck to the RNC on defending this nominee.
RT @DWStweets
: Donald Trump, the presumPtive GOP nominee, is:
Anti-woman
Anti-immigrant
Anti-science
How soon can we vote against him? Asking for America.
RT @TheDemocrats
: The presumptive Republican nominee for president, everyone: vine.co/v/i7P7wKWXDK9
RT @TheDemocrats
: Last night, the stakes in this election got much higher. Stand with Democrats to stop Trump:
RT @TheDemocrats
: In becoming the party of Trump, the GOP has completely abandoned the American middle class:
Facebook
Democratic Party:
Last night, the stakes in this election got much higher. Stand with Democrats to stop Donald Trump:
What's Trending
Twitter
#MayThe4thBeWithYou
#DropOutHillary
John Kasich
#HalaMadrid
#AskHayes
Facebook
Elizabeth Warren
: Senator Comments on Possibility of Donald Trump Being GOP Nominee
Instagram
: Facebook Gives $10,000 to 10-Year-Old Finnish Boy for Finding Flaw on Photo Sharing App
Kyle Lowry
: Toronto Raptors Point Guard Forces Overtime Against Miami Heat With Half-Court Shot
Kylie Jenner
: Reality TV Personality Shares Images of Scratched Legs Caused By Met Gala Dress
Google
The World Cup winner has split his trousers in Real Madrid
's last two matches in Europe - but he's vowed to wear a larger size for Wednesday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu
Janet Jackson
expecting first child with Wissam Al Mana, report says
Charles Krauthammer (again) exposes Bill O’Reilly’
s bankrupt apologism for Donald Trump
The Latest
: Suspect in killing called religiously active
Until tomorrow,
Julie
Digital Assistant
@thomp_julie


We need the DNC Comms rec for these events by COB today. Thanks.
On Apr 27, 2016, at 9:13 AM, Bonosky, Garret
> wrote:
Attached are the emails we received for the White House Correspondents Dinner receptions.
Garret Bonosky
Deputy Director, Office of the Chair
Democratic National Committee


Today in the fight for a full and functioning Supreme Court: The Des Moines Register observes that Sen. Chuck Grassley's Supreme Court obstruction is jeopardizing his legacy, President Obama calls on Senate Republicans to fill the Supreme Court vacancy in light of Donald Trump becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Chief Judge Garland reflects on his lifetime of public service and, today's Supreme Court decisions showcase the need for a fully functional, nine person bench.
Tomorrow, #WeNeedNine will host a press conference at Capitol Visitor Center - SVC 202, with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association, Elizabeth A. Davis, President Washington Teachers Union, and Jim Leonard, U.S. government teacher at Wilson High School in DC to mark the 62 anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. They will demand Senate Republicans move forward with hearings and an up-or-down vote on Chief Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court.  To RSVP for this event, please email Natalie Raps at nraps@skdknick.com
.
Editorial: Grassley's court maneuver threatens his legacy, reputation.
The editorial board of the Des Moines Register
writes:
"After 57 years in elected office and countless legislative accomplishments at both the state and federal level, Grassley seems destined to be remembered largely for this single, petulant act of politically motivated obstructionism... Over the course of six terms in the U.S. Senate, three terms in the U.S. House, and 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, Grassley cultivated a reputation for being a fair-minded, hard-working, bipartisan lawmaker. That well-deserved reputation is now badly damaged - perhaps irretrievably so."
President Obama: Trump candidacy a key reason to confirm Garland now
Today, President Obama weighed in on Donald Trump becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, saying it should incentivize Senate Republicans to confirm Chief Judge Garland now. In a live interview with Chris Geidner, Buzzfeed
reports:
"The GOP is 'looking at a Republican nominee' - Donald Trump - 'who many of them say isn't qualified to be president much less appoint someone' to the Supreme Court.... But now, 'it seems to me [Republicans would] be better off going ahead and giving a hearing and a vote to somebody that they themselves in the past have said is well-qualified, is fair, and to treat the Supreme Court with the seriousness and the sense that it's beyond politics, that it deserves,' Obama said. 'Precisely because this election year has been so crazy, precisely because you have a number of Republicans who have said that they're concerned about their nominee, it shows you why you don't want to politicize a Supreme Court appointment.'"
Supreme Court punts on major case, showing the importance of a full and functioning high court.
In a memo, People for the American Way
notes that the Supreme Court's decision to send Zubik v. Burwell-a major case concerning the Affordable Care Act-back to the lower courts highlights the crucial importance of a fully functioning Supreme Court.
"The Supreme Court issued a brief unsigned opinion today in the Zubik case, and vacated all the conflicting opinions...The result is to punt the issue away until the Court again has nine justices...While both sides can therefore claim some temporary victory from the Court's ruling, the clear loser is our American justice system."
Chief Judge Garland: the committed tutor.
Teacher Charlene Wilburn reflects on the 18 years Chief Judge Garland spent tutoring students at J.O. Wilson Elementary. Watch the video HERE
.
Charlene Wilburn, teacher at J.O. Wilson Elementary: "The fact that he would continue to come with his busy schedule and his big job to take the time to work with children, it just really touches my heart-and I really think it speaks to him, what kind of person he is. For him to be a judge for the Supreme Court is perfect."
Senate Republicans can learn something from New Hampshire.
Former New Hampshire state representative and senator Debora B. Pignatelli writes in the New Hampshire Business Review
that the Senate GOP should take a lesson from a NH state law that requires all state judicial nominees to receive a public hearing.
Former New Hampshire state representative and senator Debora B. Pignatelli: "When I was a New Hampshire state senator, my colleagues, both Republican and Democratic, enacted a bill I co-sponsored that required all state judicial nominees receive a public hearing. It has served our state well...Instead of continuing to obstruct, the Senate Republican leadership should give Chief Judge Garland a hearing and a vote... Our belonging to a political party didn't make any difference. We did our jobs. The hearings were important to ensure the public had the opportunity to vet a nominee's qualifications and record. There were no political shenanigans."
A look ahead at a sampling of activity by our grassroots allies and Democratic Senators:
TUESDAY 5/17/16
Event: Senator Cardin, Education Leaders Demand Senate GOP Move Forward on Filling Supreme Court Vacancy
Additional Information: On the 62 Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education, Sen. Cardin, Education Experts Discuss the Importance of Restoring the Supreme Court to Nine Justices
Location CHANGE: United States Capitol, Capitol Visitor Center - SVC 202
Time: 10AM local time
Key briefers/speakers: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association, Elizabeth A. Davis, President Washington Teachers Union, Jim Leonard, US Government teacher at Wilson High School in DC
Press Contact: For media interested in attending the event, please email Natalie Raps, nraps@skdknick.com
###


Learn the Facts: Dangerous Donald's Economic Policies
It's common knowledge know that Donald Trump would be dangerous for our country's national security at home and abroad - but his economic policies are just as dangerous. What he has proposed and said about the economy are harmful, ill-informed and would disrupt the historic trend of 73 consecutive months of private sector job growth under President Obama.
Donald Trump has proposed he would start a trade war
with China, which experts say
would hurt American jobs and cause a global recession. His trade agenda could cost
the United States $250 billion, would surmount to a global
trade war, and drive up
the prices of consumer goods. Almost every fact check about Donald Trump's statements on trade have been rated as false (see here
, here
and here
), and as one expert put it
, "A vote for Trump is a vote against the American consumer."
Not only that, Trump misunderstands basic facts about the economy. He repeatedly
likes to claim that the unemployment rate is at 42%, and when Donald Trump said that there were 93 million people out of work, Politifact wrote
that Trump has a "basic misunderstanding of the labor market."
It goes beyond what Donald Trump says though - his business record proves that Trump has demonstrated poor business judgement and makes business deals that are in the best interest of himself, not the American worker. His companies have had to file for bankruptcy four times
, going so far as to proclaim themselves as "serial filers
." This type of financial mismanagement has led to about a thousand of Americans to lose their jobs, and Trump still likes to brag about how filing for bankruptcy was "an amazing, amazing deal!"
He said that the 2007 real estate collapse would be "very minor" and encouraged investors to purchase subprime mortgages. And while he even started his own business to sell subprime mortgages to borrowers with poor credit histories, he still blamed "regular consumers" for the financial crises.
"After a historic trend of 73 straight months of private sector job growth, Donald Trump's dangerous economic policies would be a disaster for the progress we have made under President Obama. His business record and economic record are harmful, ill-informed and would take us back to the American economy under George W. Bush, which helped the rich and left the middle class out to dry. Donald Trump is dangerous, and is unfit to be commander in chief." - spox


Tweet showing protest:
From: Garcia, Walter
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 9:36 AM
To: Comm_D
Subject: FW: Lost Jobs Under Governor Martinez’s Corporate Welfare Agenda
NM release on RGA summit
From: Democratic Party of New Mexico Press Liaison
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 8:44 AM
Subject: MAP: Lost Jobs Under Governor Martinez’s Corporate Welfare Agenda
[Inline image 1]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/17/2016
Contact: Felicia Salazar
Phone: (505)
750-2585
MAP: Lost Jobs Under Governor Martinez’s Corporate Welfare Agenda
Governor Martinez’s Corporate Policy Summit Embodies What’s Wrong with Republican Priorities
Albuquerque, N.M. – As Governor Martinez hosts the Republican Governors Association (RGA) for what she called a "corporate policy summit", the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) released a map
of lost jobs under Governor Martinez’s watch.
[Inline image 1]
Under Governor Susana Martinez's watch, New Mexico has lost jobs across the state. From more than 1,600 jobs in her harmful behavioral health shakeup to thousands of private sector jobs, Governor Martinez and Republicans' corporate policy agenda has done little to keep jobs in New Mexico.
In addition, Governor Martinez continues to put the interests of corporations ahead of the needs of New Mexico families. Corporate tax cuts have cost New Mexico valuable revenues that could have been used for infrastructure projects, to cover the $86 million Medicaid funding gap, to improve education, and increase the economic stability for New Mexico families.
###


Dealing with this

Nevada Democrats: Sanders Campaign Has Violent Streak
Nevada's
Democratic party on Monday warned the
Democratic National Committee that Sen. Bernie Sanders' supporters have a penchant for violence and may seek to disrupt the party's national convention in July, as they did during the Nevada convention Saturday.
The allegation is the latest fallout from a divisive Nevada Democratic convention that had to be shut down because security at the Paris Las Vegas hotel could no longer ensure order on Saturday night. The gathering closed with some Sanders supporters throwing
chairs; later, some made death threats against state party chairwoman Roberta Lange.
Sanders' backers had been protesting convention rules that ultimately led to
Hillary Clinton winning more pledged delegates. Clinton won the state's caucuses in February, 53-47, but Sanders backers hoped to pick up extra delegates by packing county and state party gatherings.
Sanders had released a statement Friday night asking supporters to work "together respectfully and constructively" at the convention. But the state party alleged in its letter to the co-chairs of the DNC Rules and By-laws committee, "The explosive situation
arose in large part because a portion of the community of Sanders delegates arrived at the Nevada Democratic State Convention believing itself to be a vanguard intent upon sparking a street-fight rather than attending an orderly political party process."
Michael Briggs, a Sanders campaign spokesman, said, "We do not condone violence or encourage violence or even threats of violence." He added that the campaign "had no role in encouraging the activity that the party is complaining about. We have a First Amendment
and respect the rights of the people to make their voices heard."
On Saturday, Sanders backers shouted down the keynote speaker, Sen. Barbara Boxer, and others they thought were tilting the rules in Clinton's favor. Protesters shouted obscenities and rushed the dais to protest rulings. The letter by the state party's general
counsel, Bradley S. Schrager, warns that similarly chaotic scenes could unfold in Philadelphia, site of the Democratic National Committee's July convention.
"We believe, unfortunately, that the tactics and behavior on display here in Nevada are harbingers of things to come as Democrats gather in Philadelphia in July for our National Convention," Schrager wrote. "We write to alert you to what we perceive as the
Sanders campaign's penchant for extra-parliamentary behavior — indeed, actual violence — in place of democratic conduct in a convention setting, and furthermore what we can only describe as their encouragement of, and complicity in, a very dangerous atmosphere
that ended in chaos and physical threats to fellow Democrats."
Several Sanders backers have condemned some of the threats against Lange and other actions Saturday. Former state assemblywoman Lucy Flores, a current congressional candidate, said in a statement: "There were actions over the weekend and at the Democratic
convention that very clearly crossed the line. Progressives need to speak out against those: Making threats against someone's life, defacing private property, and hurling vulgar language at our female leaders."
State party offices remained closed Monday for security reasons after Sanders supporters posted Lange's home and business addresses, email and cell phone number online. Copies of angry and threatening texts to Lange were included with the letter.
Lange said she'd been receiving hundreds of profanity-laced calls and texts from inside and outside of the U.S., threatening her life and her family. Lange said the restaurant where she works has received so many calls it had to unplug the phone.
"It is endless, and the longer it goes the worse it gets," Lange said in an interview. "I feel threatened everywhere I go."
——
Associated Press Congressional Correspondent Erica Werner in Washington contributed to this report.
Sent from my iPhoneSent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Zac Petkanas
Date: 05/16/2016  20:41  (GMT-05:00)
To: "Miranda, Luis"
Cc: "Paustenbach, Mark"
Subject: Re: Have to postpone...
Let me know what's going on when you can. Thanks
On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 4:57 PM, Zac Petkanas
wrote:
sounds good.
On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 4:55 PM, Miranda, Luis
wrote:
Hey Zac, we can’t make the call today but we’ll email you details and be in touch.
Luis
Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 –
MirandaL@dnc.org -
@MiraLuisDC


________________________________
From: Burman, Blake [Blake.burman@FOXBUSINESS.COM]
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 11:21 AM
To: Miranda, Luis
Subject: Hi Luis
Hello, good afternoon, happy Friday.  Are you able to confirm the following from the WaPo this morning:
“the Democratic National Committee plans to offer a concession to Sen. Bernie Sanders — seats on a key convention platform committee.”
I’m free to chat if you have a moment.  Thank you.
Blake Burman
Fox Business Network
Washington Correspondent
202.684.4017 (office)
202.394.7292 (cell)
This message and its attachments may contain legally privileged or confidential information. It is intended solely for the named addressee. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to the addressee), you may not copy or deliver this message or its attachments to anyone. Rather, you should permanently delete this message and its attachments and kindly notify the sender by reply e-mail. Any content of this message and its attachments that does not relate to the official business of Fox News or Fox Business must not be taken to have been sent or endorsed by either of them. No representation is made that this email or its attachments are without defect.


[   Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders
)
5/22/16, 1:54 PM
We need representatives who know we cannot change a corrupt system by taking its money. Support @Tim_Canova
:
bernie.to/ProgressiveCon…
Download
the Twitter app
Sent from my iPhone


See below, I’ve confirmed everything but the Anchor and POC for New Day tomorrow. Should have that soon.
On Apr 26, 2016, at 1:07 PM, Manriquez, Pablo
> wrote:
Will reply here when completed.
What:             TV – FOX NEWS “ELECTION SPECIAL”
When:             Today, 26 April, 9:20PM EST
Where:           FOX News DC Bureau (400 North Capitol)
Format:           Live
Who:               Bret Baier/Megyn Kelly, Anchor/Reporter
Topic:             Super Tuesday
Staff:             Luis
Contact:       Erenia Michell, erenia.michell@foxnews.com
, 202-824-4638
TIMELINE:
Arrival Time:  9:00PM EST
Makeup:         YES
Hit Time:        9:20PM EST
Cleared:        9:30PM EST
What:             RADIO – CBS NEWS RADIO
When:           Today, 26 April,10:06PM EST
Where:            AT DWS CONVENIENCE
Format:           Live
Who:               Dan Raviv, Anchor/Reporter
Topic:             Super Tuesday
Dial-in:           212-975-1115
Staff:               Luis
Contact:          Dustin, dustin.gervais@cbsnews.com
, 212-975-1115
TIMELINE:
Call-In Time:     10:04PM EST
Hit Time:                10:06 PM EST
Cleared:               10:12 PM EST
What:             RADIO – FOX NEWS RADIO
When:              Today, 26 April,10:34PM EST
Where:             AT DWS CONVENIENCE
Format:           Live
Who:               JARED HALPERN, Anchor/Reporter
Topic:             Super Tuesday
Dial-in:            212 375 6415; Backup: 212 301 5870
Staff:               Luis
Contact:          Jessica, Jessica.curtis@foxnews.com
, 212 301 5800
TIMELINE:
Arrival Time:  10:34PM EST
Hit Time:        10:35PM EST
Cleared:         10:41PM EST
What:             TV – FOX BUSINESS “MORNINGS WITH MARIA”
When:             Tomorrow, 27 April, 6AM EST
Where:            DNC Studio
Format:           Live
Who:               Maria Bartiromo, Anchor/Reporter
Topic:             Super Tuesday
Staff:               Luis
Contact:          David, david.goodman@foxbusiness.com
, 917 543 3843
TIMELINE:
Arrival Time:  5:55AM EST
Makeup:         No
Hit Time:        6:03AM EST
Cleared:          6:13AM EST
What:             TV – CNN “NEW DAY”
When:              Tomorrow, 27 April, 6:35AM EST
Where:             DNC Studio
Format:           Live
Who:               TBD, Anchor/Reporter
Topic:             Super Tuesday
Staff:               Luis
Contact:          TBD
TIMELINE:
Arrival Time:  6:30AM EST
Makeup:         No
Hit Time:        6:35AM EST
Cleared:         6:41AM EST
Pablo Manriquez
Democratic National Committee
Phone: 202.572.5488
Email: pablo@dnc.org
web: democrats.org
Twitter: @Pablo_DNC


NV Convention Talking Points
Violence is Unacceptable
*   First, let’s be clear, at the DNC we are neutral in this primary.
*   That said, violence and intimidation are absolutely unacceptable in our Democracy and in our primary process, and it is incumbent upon all of us in positions of leadership to speak out against it.
*   This was a State Democratic Party event, not a DNC event, so we were not present for what happened.
*   But the videos and  troubling details about the conduct on display by some participants in Nevada on Saturday and over the weekend were concerning.
*   We are reaching out to both campaigns and calling on every Democrat to denounce threats of violence and intimidation, they don’t serve any of our candidates well.
Roberta Lange and Private Property
*   It’s especially troubling that the threats went beyond the hall.
*   Roberta Lang, the Nevada Democratic Chair, was simply performing her duty as Chair and has done nothing to deserve the disgusting attacks and death threats she has received over text, emails and over the phone.
*   The individuals launching these attacks – as well as the vandalism that took place over the weekend -- should be ashamed.
We’re Better Than Trump
*   Energy and passion for a candidate are absolutely welcome as part of this process.
*   The vast majority of Democrats who have already participated in our primary have done so appropriately -- with enthusiasm and civility.
*   For those who let their passion turn to rage when things don’t go their way, well that’s better left to the ugliness we’ve seen at Donald Trump’s rallies, it doesn’t belong on the Democratic side.
The Rules of This Process are Not New
*   The rules governing the Democratic Party delegate selection process have been in place for decades and the specific procedures for this cycle were agreed upon in 2014.
*   The system for determining these rules has been fair and transparent.
*   It is the same process that ultimately led to the nomination of Barack Obama in 2008, for example.
*   Shouting down any democratic process isn’t just disruptive, it’s unacceptable. We need to come together and be united.
*   If there are legitimate concerns from the supporters of either Democratic campaign, those concerns can, should and must be addressed in an orderly, civil and peaceful manner.
On concerns about the process
*   There is a process in place to address any concerns and both campaigns were equally represented in the credentials committee that was charged with resolving these disputes. But ultimately no matter what happened, there is no need to resort to violence.
*   The Democratic Party is a party of ideas and substance and the last thing we would want is for these frustrations to overshadow the important and substantive ideas our candidates have to offer.
*   We need for both campaigns and their supporters to understand that there is a process in place and that regardless of the outcome, violence should not be condoned. Period.


Hi Lindsey,
Shu Yen and Deahundra are working out of Richmond to be able to participate in a state party event with Virginia press. Can we approve reimbursement for gas? Thx
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Wei, Shu-Yen"
Date: 05/19/2016 09:17 (GMT-05:00)
To: "Miranda, Luis"
Cc: "Jefferson, Deshundra"
Subject: Going to Richmond, VA on Tuesday?
Hi Luis,
The Virginia Democratic Party is hosting an open house with state press and communications staffers from Kaine, Warner, the AG and Governor’s office at their headquarters in Richmond this coming Tuesday (5/24). Deshundra and I would like to attend but also work from Richmond for the day, to make sure we aren’t sitting in traffic if not necessary. DPVA has work space available for us.
Please let us know if there’s any problems with this.
Thanks
__________
Shu-Yen Wei
Northeast Press Secretary
AAPI & Women’s Media
Democratic National Committee
207-512-0005
weis@dnc.org


Watch here
From: Debose, Levi
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 12:22 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: Video Request: Becerra on MSNBC
Just finished. 12:21 pm end time


The @RJC comes out in (tepid) support of Trump. You know, because he's so much more hawkish on Israel than Clinton.
Original Tweet:
[Media preview]


Fiorina. not that it matters anymore but the last bit was new.
*   Fell in love with the people of Indiana
*   you people are warriors
*   only in this nation that so many people are given the opportunity to realized their god given gifts
*   Founders of the constitution focused on life liberty and the pursuit of happiness
*   It has been my pleasure to fight alongside ted cruz
*   Ted favors substance over sloganeering and real policy solutions over hand waving
________________________________
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 8:04 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: RE: Video Request: Cruz election night speech
+comms. Obviously will be on all networks.
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 7:26 PM
To: Research_D
Subject: Video Request: Cruz election night speech
Will be here:


Hi All,
Thank you for participating in yesterday's Caucus call.  On Friday, May 20th we have a call with the Council Chairs @ 11AM. See details below. Please let me know if you or someone from your team can participate on this call.
Please note:  We do these calls for Council Chairs and Caucus Chairs once a month and your participation is greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Jillian
From: Scott, Jillian
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:55 AM
To: 'Jan H. Donatelli'; 'don@fowlercommunications.com'; 'lachman4dnc@mac.com'; 'raejason@yahoo.com'; 'Rion Ramirez'; 'sregenstreif@gmail.com'; 'brichie711@sbcglobal.net'; 'jjz@aaiusa.org'
Cc: Davis, Marilyn
Subject: RE: 2nd DNC Council Chairs Conference Call
Good Morning Council Chairs,
I am sending a friendly reminder about our conference call on Friday, May 20th @ 11AM-11:30AM eastern time.  Please find the conference call number below.  If there are any issues, comments, and/or concerns that you want us to address during this call please send them my way.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Jillian Scott
201-696-2695
Conference Call Information:
866-810-8093 / Code: 816-697-0275
From: Scott, Jillian
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2016 3:39 PM
To: 'Jan H. Donatelli'; 'don@fowlercommunications.com'; 'lachman4dnc@mac.com'; 'raejason@yahoo.com'; 'Rion Ramirez'; 'sregenstreif@gmail.com'; 'brichie711@sbcglobal.net'; 'jjz@aaiusa.org'
Cc: Davis, Marilyn; Gregory Hinton; Thompson, Dejuana; Pratt Wiley
Subject: 2nd DNC Council Chairs Conference Call
Good Afternoon Council Chairs,
I am sending a friendly reminder about our next conference call on Friday, May 20th @ 11AM-11:30AM eastern time.  Please find the conference call number and the conference call  kick-off email regarding these calls below.  As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Jillian Scott
Conference Call Information:
866-810-8093 / Code: 816-697-0275
DNC Council Chair's Conference Call:
Thank you all for your input regarding scheduling. Your monthly conference call will kick-off on Friday, April 15th @ 11AM-11:30AM eastern time, and will be every 3rd Friday of the month @ 11AM-11:30AM eastern time moving forward. The conference call details are below. Thank you all again,  Have a wonderful weekend.
[DNC]
Jillian Scott
Democratic National Committee
Scottj@dnc.org
202-863-8105


BUT NOT IN STUDIO. HE NEEDS NOTES IN FRONT OF HIM AND SOMEONE POINTING HIM TO KEY TALKING POINTS SO HE DOESN'T RAMBLE.
[SigDems]
Luis Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 - MirandaL@dnc.org
- @MiraLuisDC
From: Manriquez, Pablo
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 7:20 PM
To: Jefferson, Deshundra
Cc: Walker, Eric; Miranda, Luis; Paustenbach, Mark; Price, Jenna
Subject: Re: Request - PRATT//SIRIUS XM//MAGGIE LINTON//1 or 3 JUNE
Yup, sounds good.
On May 10, 2016, at 9:22 AM, Jefferson, Deshundra
> wrote:
Luis cleared this on a separate chain.
Let's do June 1st at 11 or 11:30a. Pablo, do you want to circle back with Maggie?
Sent from my iPhone
On May 9, 2016, at 2:45 PM, Walker, Eric
> wrote:
Not in the habit of doing 30 min interviews. Lots of opportunity for a slip, and then it becomes "DNC official says X" and it's an issue
From: Manriquez, Pablo
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2016 2:43 PM
To: Miranda, Luis; Paustenbach, Mark; Walker, Eric
Cc: Price, Jenna; Jefferson, Deshundra
Subject: Request - PRATT//SIRIUS XM//MAGGIE LINTON//1 or 3 JUNE
WHO:                         Pratt Wiley and Maggie Linton
WHAT:                      30 minute live radio interview on SIRIUS XM's "Urban" channel show "The Maggie Linton Show" to discuss the state of voter expansion in the 2016 race.
WHEN:                      There are available hit times of which we can chose one. They are 1 June (11a, 11:30a ET), 3 June  (11a, 11:30a ET).
WHERE:                    SIRUS XM DC Bureau
Pablo Manriquez
Democratic National Committee
Phone: 202.572.5488
Email: pablo@dnc.org
web: democrats.org
Twitter: @Pablo_DNC
Pablo Manriquez
Democratic National Committee
Phone: 202.572.5488
Email: pablo@dnc.org
web: democrats.org
Twitter: @Pablo_DNC


Finally found those "wonderful reviews" Trump was talking about...
Donald Trump's foreign policy speech earns praise in Russia
CNN - Fred Pleitgen
After Donald Trump gave a much-anticipated foreign policy speech Wednesday, some of the most glowing reviews that he received were from a place that doesn't often see eye-to-eye with American politicians.
Trump's speech was more than well-received in Russia. In Moscow's Red Square, passersby speaking to CNN praised the New York tycoon. And Russian politicians from President Vladimir Putin on down have been quoted saying favorable things about the GOP presidential front-runner.
Putin recently called Trump "a brighter person, talented without a doubt." Trump returned the compliment saying: "I like him because he called me a genius. He said Trump is the real leader."
And in his address in Washington Wednesday, the billionaire businessman expressed hope about the potential for improvement in American-Russian relations.
"I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia, from a position of strength only, is possible," Trump said, though he added that the United States should be willing to walk away from the negotiating table if Russia is too demanding.
The message is one that is warmly received on the streets of Moscow.
"The key thing about him is his willingness for a breakthrough in relations with Russia, maybe they won't get closer but at least there will be a dialogue," said one man said feet away from the Kremlin.
Another added, "First of all, Trump is a positive guy and he spoke about Putin in a good way. He wants positive changes in America."
Many believe that Trump and Putin would get along well on a personal level and that alone could help ease tensions between the U.S. and Russia, which have been building up over the past years.
Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, said he believes Vladimir Putin would like Trump's style.
"He likes people who are frank, open and who disregard political correctness. And that is exactly the case with Mr. Trump," Lukyanov told CNN.
But of course a bromance between political leaders is not enough to improve bilateral relations.
The U.S and Russia have had massive disagreements over Ukraine in particular, where America accuses Russia of funding, equipping and providing combat support to separatist rebels and demands the return of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Russia, for its part, wants sanctions levied against it by the international community because of its meddling in Ukraine's affairs to be canceled.
When Trump spoke about improving relations with Russia he didn't mention Ukraine or Crimea. Top-level Russian politicians have called Trump the most "pragmatic" of the candidates for the White House.
"He expresses readiness to come to terms with the Russian President instead of making conflicts with us, the way today's administration is doing," Alexey Pushkov, head of the foreign relations committee of Russian parliament said, according to the Tass news agency.
So would a Trump presidency really mean better relations between the U.S. and Russia?
Lukyanov doubts it.
"Whoever will be president, the expertise will be made by the same people. And the conclusion is pretty gloomy," he said. "There's no way to find people inside America's intellectual community who are ready to take on a more say sympathetic position towards Russia."


Donna wanted to add a line (in blue)
Washington, D.C. -- Donna Brazile, the DNC’s Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation, issued the following statement praising Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s decision to restore voting rights for people with felony convictions:
“The Democratic Party applauds Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s decision to restore the voting rights of over 200,000 citizens. Terry and I first started working on voting rights together when he was the DNC Chair, and he helped established the Voting Rights Institute. Democrats across the nation believe the right to vote is our most fundamental right – it is the right that protects and preserves all of our other rights and freedoms. Democrats also know that we solve our nation’s problems with more democracy, not less.
“The contrast between our two national parties has never been more stark than on the issue of our democracy.  Sadly, restricting access to the ballot box has become the political strategy for the Republican Party. We have witnessed Republican-led legislatures in Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere make it harder to vote by eliminating same-day registration, reducing early voting, eliminating polling locations, and imposing strict Photo ID laws.  Democrats, however, are actively fighting to the expanding expand voter access in states like Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Vermont and everywhere in between. We are fighting in state houses to pass automatic registration, implement online voter registration, expand early voting and same-day registration. Democrats in Congress are working to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act.
“When long lines form or citizens are unable to overcome election burdens, Republicans blame the problem on ‘too many voters’ and celebrate those burdens as a key to their general election victory. Meanwhile, New York Democrats are holding people accountable and actively seeking answers.  Because Republicans don’t hold themselves accountable for election failures, the Democratic National Committee and its partners are doing so for them by filing suit in Arizona to reverse the culture of discrimination and disenfranchisement.
“Today’s action is a reminder that elections matter. Our nation and our democracy are stronger and healthier when we elect Democrats up and down the ticket.”
From: Crystal, Andy
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:23 PM
To: Jefferson, Deshundra; RR2
Subject: RE: Ready for research: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Good here
From: Jefferson, Deshundra
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:16 PM
To: Crystal, Andy; RR2
Subject: RE: Ready for research: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
I added a sentence in green below. Is it okay with that change?
From: Crystal, Andy
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:12 PM
To: Jefferson, Deshundra; RR2
Subject: RE: Ready for research: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Good to go, couple small eds
From: Jefferson, Deshundra
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:04 PM
To: RR2
Subject: Ready for research: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
From: Jefferson, Deshundra
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:03 PM
To: Miranda, Luis; Paustenbach, Mark; Walsh, Tom
Cc: Pratt Wiley; Lindsay Langholz; Wei, Shu-Yen
Subject: RE: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
I will strike it and send to research.
From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 7:02 PM
To: Jefferson, Deshundra; Paustenbach, Mark; Walsh, Tom
Cc: Pratt Wiley; Lindsay Langholz; Wei, Shu-Yen
Subject: RE: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Given the complaints i would leave it out
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Jefferson, Deshundra"
>
Date: 04/22/2016 7:00 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: "Paustenbach, Mark"
>, "Walsh, Tom"
>, "Miranda, Luis"
>
Cc: Pratt Wiley
>, Lindsay Langholz
>, "Wei, Shu-Yen"
>
Subject: RE: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Incorporating Luis’ comments.
The De Blasio reference is in regards to the Board of Elections suspensions. Pratt – are you comfortable striking this?
From: Paustenbach, Mark
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 6:56 PM
To: Jefferson, Deshundra; Walsh, Tom; Miranda, Luis
Cc: Pratt Wiley; Lindsay Langholz; Wei, Shu-Yen
Subject: RE: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Thanks. Quick suggestions in yellow.
Mark Paustenbach
National Press Secretary &
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
W: 202.863.8148
paustenbachm@dnc.org
From: Jefferson, Deshundra
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 6:27 PM
To: Walsh, Tom; Paustenbach, Mark; Miranda, Luis
Cc: Pratt Wiley; Lindsay Langholz; Wei, Shu-Yen
Subject: Please read: DNC Applauds VA Gov. McAuliffe on Rights Restoration
Washington, D.C. -- Donna Brazile, the DNC’s Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation, issued the following statement praising Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s decision to restore voting rights for people with felony convictions:
“The Democratic Party applauds Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s decision to restore the voting rights of over 200,000 citizens.  Democrats across the nation believe the right to vote is our most fundamental right – it is the right that protects and preserves all of our other rights and freedoms. Democrats also know that we solve our nation’s problems with more democracy, not less.
“The contrast between our two national parties has never been more stark than on the issue of our democracy.  Sadly, restricting access to the ballot box has become the political strategy for the Republican Party. We have witnessed Republican-led legislatures in Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere take steps to make it harder to vote by eliminating same-day registration, reducing early voting, cutting eliminating polling locations, and imposing strict Photo ID laws.  Democrats, however, are actively fighting to the expanding expand voter access in states like Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Vermont and everywhere in between. We are fighting in state houses to pass automatic registration, implement online voter registration, expand early voting and same-day registration. Democrats in Congress are working to restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act.
“When long lines form or citizens are unable to overcome election burdens, Republicans blame the problem on ‘too many voters’ and celebrate those burdens as a key to their general election victory. Meanwhile, New York Democrats are holding people accountable and actively seeking answers. Meanwhile, Democrats like Mayor Bill De Blasio [there’s no context for De Blasio reference] are holding people accountable and actively seeking answers.  Because Republicans don’t hold themselves accountable for election failures, the Democratic National Committee and its partners are doing so for them by filing suit in Arizona to reverse the culture of discrimination and disenfranchisement.
“Today’s action is a reminder that elections matter. Our nation and our democracy is [are?] are stronger and healthier when we elect Democrats up and down the ticket.”
[SigDems]
Deshundra Jefferson, Southern Regional Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
JeffersonD@dnc.org
| (202) 863-8112


April 26, 2016
Sample TWEETS:
We must act. // @TIME: "The #Zika virus is continuing to spread around the globe, as health responders scramble to contain outbreaks."
RT if you agree: @HouseGOP, we must protect American communities & address #FlintWaterCrisis, opioid addiction tragedy & #Zika threat!
Did you know that @SpeakerRyan's the former #Budget Committee Chair? Really something to have missed the deadline on enacting a budget.
FACT: More Americans die every day from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes. @SpeakerRyan, we must address #opioid epidemic!
Here's an idea. #DoYourJob, Republicans! // @AP: @HouseGOP misses #budget deadline amid caucus divisions →
.@TPM
: Months after being elected speaker w promise he'd return the House to "regular order" @SpeakerRyan will miss deadline to pass #budget
.@SpeakerRyan
"is on the verge of failing to pass a #budget, an embarrassing setback that underscores deep divisions inside the GOP." - @CNN
.@HouseGOP
wants a return to the radical trickle-down agenda that shattered our economy & hollowed out the wages of middle-class Americans.
FACT of the day:
"Zika has spread to 43 countries… and is continuing to spread around the globe, as health responders scramble to contain outbreaks and understand the effects of the virus, including serious brain defects like microcephaly. The World Health Organization recently warned that there is potential for a ‘marked increase’ in the number of infections, including in Europe and the US." – Staff Reporter, TIME, Here's where Zika has spread around the world
Link:
CLIP of the day:
Rep. Nydia Velazquez on NY1 Online: Help for Puerto Rico
Link:
QUOTE of the day:
"Democrats have introduced an emergency supplemental bill that will provide the swift and decisive action needed to help protect American communities from the Zika virus this summer. While Republicans inexplicably block action to protect America’s expectant mothers from Zika, Democrats are continuing to demand the robust emergency resources American families need." – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Link:
HASHTAGS to use:
#Budget
#Zika
#Opioid
#MiddleClassFirst
#PuertoRico
#WomenSucceed
#20MillionStrong
#ACAworks
#DoYourJobHouseGOP
#SCOTUSnominee
#ProtectSeniors
#LetsGetOnWithIt
#FlintWaterCrisis
#CancerMoonshot
#ActOnClimate
#RestoreTheVRA
#RestoreTheVOTE
#StopGunViolence
#HonorWithAction
#StandWithPP
#ActOnClimate
#PeopleOverPolitics
Share GRAPHICS


Looks like the video is about to be approved so bumping this topper for your consideration
From: Helmstetter, TJ
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 12:03 PM
To: 'Walsh, Tom'; 'Walker, Eric'; 'Miranda, Luis'; Paustenbach, Mark; 'Freundlich, Christina'
Subject: APPROVE: topper for LGBT video reel
Headline: WHEN YOU'VE LOST HUGH HEWITT & FOX NEWS....
As Republican legislators and governors continue its assault on LGBT Americans through Right to Discriminate laws, even many conservative talking heads and thought leaders think they've gone too far. Watch what prominent conservatives Charles Krauthammer, Juan Williams, Hugh Hewitt, and Kathleen Parker, plus Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, have to say:
WATCH
[screenshot]
"We've seen it time and time again - the GOP's attempts to gain voters by stoking fear and prejudice. This latest round of anti-LGBT legislation like North Carolina's HB2 further institutionalizes bigotry and encourages harassment. Law enforcement experts agree there is no evidence of a transgender crime wave in bathrooms. Transgender Americans are one of the most at-risk groups targeted for violence, harassment, and discrimination, and they deserve protection under the law. The fact is, people should be more concerned about what Republican politicians are doing in public bathrooms."  -- Mark Paustenbach, DNC spokesperson


Cool
Original Message
From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 1:25 PM
To: Lee, Jesse C. EOP/WHO
Subject: RE: Yo
Yup, we're working on something around how yesterday there should've been a hearing, so we'll work this into that.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lee, Jesse C. EOP/WHO
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 10:50 AM
To: Miranda, Luis
Subject: Yo
Think there's any kind of diddy you guys could do off of this a la "GOP senators in denial about Trump...But don't do their jobs to hold SCOTUS seat open for him"?
>
GOP senators in denial about Trump
Republican lawmakers refuse to acknowledge the business baron as their standard bearer even as he closes in on the nomination.
By BURGESS EVERETT 04/28/16 05:44 AM EDT
Donald Trump declared himself the presumptive Republican nominee after his romp across the Northeast Tuesday night.
Republican senators trying to save their majority this fall apparently didn’t get the message.
Fully aware that the GOP nominee could make all the difference in whether they keep or lose their slim, 54-seat Senate majority this fall, Republicans of all ideological stripes clearly aren’t ready to accept the bombastic TV reality star as their standard-bearer. A dozen GOP senators interviewed on Wednesday acknowledged only that Trump is doing well — quite the understatement after his clean sweep and mathematical elimination of Ted Cruz from winning the nomination without the help of a contested convention.
Some said they’ll wait until the July convention to weigh in on Trump, let alone decide on an endorsement.
“He’s very close to wrapping it up. … I think it is likely that he is going to be the nominee,” said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. “I’ve always supported the Republican nominee, and I don’t think this year will be different. But I’m going to wait and see what happens at the convention.”
Blocking out the business mogul is, of course, a lot easier said than done. Vulnerable senators will have to run parallel campaigns that try to leverage Trump’s positives — his popularity with crossover voters drawn to his devil-may-care campaign style – without being dragged down by some serious negatives. For starters, how to distance themselves from Trump’s rhetoric on women and Latinos, and the controversies he’s stirred on issues ranging from immigration to abortion.
It’s a headache that has plenty of Republicans who are not up for reelection this fall breathing a sigh of relief.
“I’m just glad I’m not on the ballot,” said Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), who outperformed Mitt Romney in his swing state in 2012.
Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado on Wednesday became the third GOP senator to endorse Cruz, who just a few weeks ago was seen as the party’s best bet of blocking Trump from the nomination. But otherwise, the movement to stop Trump has slowed to a crawl on Capitol Hill. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) touted his vote for Cruz in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, only to watch his pick lose to Trump by 35 points in the Keystone State a few hours later.
“Republicans will vote for a Republican and that will be somebody other than Donald Trump,” Gardner insisted on Wednesday.
Any shift among Republican senators in welcoming Trump as the likely head of their party are subtle at best. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) praised Trump’s “very good foreign policy speech” on Wednesday, and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is bullish that Trump would run a different campaign for the general election than he has in the primary race.
“He’s going to have revamp things he’s doing, and I think he’ll be able to,” Hatch said in an interview. “He hasn’t won it yet, but if he does, I’m going to support him.”
Many Republicans still want to stop Trump but acknowledge they are powerless to do so. After all, these are the folks who backed Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio.
Endorsements barely move the needle, and Cruz is running out of opportunities to stop the New Yorker. His pact with John Kasich to block Trump’s path sputtered out of the gate, and Republicans aren’t exactly convinced that Cruz’s choice of Carly Fiorina as his running mate will transform the race.
“That alliance with Kasich sure did wonders,” Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said sarcastically. He views the increasingly likely nomination of Trump with “fear and dread.”
The head of the Senate GOP campaign arm wouldn’t even touch Trump.
“In a year-and-a-half, I’ve not answered any questions about the presidential race. Trying to think of why I should start today,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi when asked whether Trump is the presumptive nominee. “I’m going to decline.”
Democrats have made it clear they’ll spend every day until the election hanging Trump around the neck of every vulnerable Republican incumbent if he’s the nominee. In response, Republicans are doing all they can to stake out their independence.
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has been on the floor all month whacking the House for not taking up his opioid prevention bill. And back home, he’s touting his ability to forge consensus with Democrats.
His argument is that voters still care about accomplishments in a purple state like his own, not abrasive rhetoric that heaps blame on both parties.
“I’m not Donald Trump. And nobody perceives me as Donald Trump,” Portman said Wednesday. “You won’t hear me giving a lot of red meat speeches. I never have. That’s not my thing. You will hear me talking about how we work together to solve problems.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to distinguish himself by leaning on his national reputation as a two-time presidential hopeful himself. His opponent, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), is working diligently to tie the 2008 GOP nominee with the favorite for the 2016 nomination.
“My name ID is 100 percent. They know me, so they’ll be making their judgment on me rather than anybody else,” McCain said of Arizona voters.
Not everyone is eager to show their hand about how they intend run alongside, or against, Trump. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who quipped about a campaign of “The Ronald and the Donald” last month, declined to discuss the matter on Wednesday. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) similarly rebuffed questions about how he’d run with Trump at the top of the ticket and said he had “stopped analyzing” the unpredictable presidential race.
Even senators who are shoo-ins for reelection want to wait until the die is cast before speaking of Trump as the presumptive nominee.
“People are still deciding that,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) “I’ve really not gotten into the race. Obviously, I’ve got one vote like everyone else does in my state. I voted in our primary.”
So who’d he vote for?
“Nice try,” Lankford responded.
Seung Min Kim and Darren Samuelsohn contributed to this report.


Hi CNN Team,
Change of POC on our end for tonight’s hit. It will be Mark Paustenbach. Cell: 202 841 1091. Who will be POC on your end for tonight’s hit? Thank you!
Pablo
On May 17, 2016, at 5:21 PM, Rudolph, Sara
> wrote:
Thanks
On May 17, 2016, at 5:19 PM, Manriquez, Pablo
> wrote:
Hi Team,
For awareness — We have a 10:10 with MSNBC immediately following your 10PM ET hit. So we’ll have a hard stop at 10:08PM ET.  Thanks!
Pablo
On May 17, 2016, at 3:04 PM, Manriquez, Pablo
> wrote:
Thanks Team! Copying Mitch from our Studio here to facilitate patch-in and Eddie who will be our studio technician for tonight's hit.
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2016, at 3:02 PM, Miranda, Alexa
> wrote:
Hi there.  I wanted to loop everyone into one email about Rep. Wasserman Schultz CNN hit tonight with Wolf at 10pm eastern from the DNC Studio.  Ladies Ryan will be with her this evening for her hit and his cell is below.  Gentleman Christie has reached out about booking the studio for our hit this evening.  Let me know if anyone needs anything else.  Pablo who we work with regularly at the DNC is copied here as well just in case.
Ryan Banfill  Cell: (850) 933-7707
Many Thanks!
Alexa Miranda | Senior Director Network Booking| CNN| 1 Time Warner, 5thFloor | New York NY | O. + 1 212 275 7877
M. 917 309 7827
|alexa.miranda@turner.com
Pablo Manriquez
Democratic National Committee
Phone: 202.572.5488
Email: pablo@dnc.org
web: democrats.org
Twitter: @Pablo_DNC
Pablo Manriquez
Democratic National Committee
Phone: 202.572.5488
Email: pablo@dnc.org
web: democrats.org
Twitter: @Pablo_DNC


Q@#$R!@$!!
Luis Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 - MirandaL@dnc.org - @MiraLuisDC
-----Original Message-----
From: Paustenbach, Mark
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 3:52 PM
To: Miranda, Luis
Subject:
She definitely wants to do New Day. Wants us to tell Morning Joe that there was miscommunication in our department. Still wants to do call/meet with Mika, etc.
Mark Paustenbach
National Press Secretary &
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202.863.8148
paustenbachm@dnc.org


h/t Kelsey
Part One
Part Two
-----Original Message-----
From: Hancock, Kayla
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 1:58 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: Video request: Kasich town hall in San Jose, CA
Coming up On msnbc shift


Good
Sent from my iPhone
On May 20, 2016, at 10:22 AM, Walker, Eric
> wrote:
Research?
From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 10:22 AM
To: Walker, Eric; Berns, Jeremy; Comm_D
Subject: RE: WaPo: Trump’s income tax returns once became public. They showed he didn’t pay a cent.
Deadbeat Donald!
Love it.
________________________________
From: Walker, Eric
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 10:21 AM
To: Berns, Jeremy; Comm_D
Subject: RE: WaPo: Trump’s income tax returns once became public. They showed he didn’t pay a cent.
Wow. Could blast this out too.
SL: BREAKING: New report shows Deadbeat Donald didn't pay a dime in tax
Key point:
The only window into Trump’s handling of his income taxes came during the 1981 New Jersey report after Trump’s application for a casino license.
State records show that Trump claimed that his combined income in 1978 and 1979 was negative $3.8 million, allowing him to pay no taxes. A few years earlier, he had told the New York Times he was worth more than $200 million.
From: Berns, Jeremy
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 10:04 AM
To: Comm_D
Subject: WaPo: Trump’s income tax returns once became public. They showed he didn’t pay a cent.
Trump’s income tax returns once became public. They showed he didn’t pay a cent.
By Drew Harwell May 20 at 9:45 AM
The last time Donald Trump’s income-tax returns were made public, the bottom line was striking: He had paid the federal government $0 in income taxes.
The disclosure, in a 1981 report by New Jersey gambling regulators, revealed that the wealthy Manhattan investor had for at least two years in the late 1970s taken advantage of a tax-code provision popular with developers that allowed him to report negative income.
Today, as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Trump regularly denounces corporate executives for using loopholes and “false deductions” to “get away with murder” when it comes to avoiding taxes.
“They make a fortune. They pay no tax,” Trump said last year on CBS. “It’s ridiculous, okay?”
The contrast highlights a potentially awkward challenge for Trump.
He has built a political identity around his reputation as a financial whiz, even bragging about his ability to game the tax code to pay as little as possible to the government — a practice he has called the “American way.” Moreover, he has aggressively pursued tax breaks and other government supports to bolster his real estate empire. But that history threatens to collide with his efforts to woo working-class voters who resent that they often pay higher tax rates than the wealthy who benefit from special loopholes.
Trump’s personal taxes are a mystery. He has refused to release any recent returns, meaning the public cannot see how much money he makes, how much he gives to charity and how aggressively he uses deductions, shelters and other tactics to shrink his tax bill.
Trump, who said last week on ABC that his tax rate is “none of your business,” would be the first major party nominee in 40 years to not release his returns.
In an interview this week, Trump said that he has paid “substantial” taxes but declined to provide specifics.
He reiterated that he fights “very hard to pay as little tax as possible.”
“One of the reasons is because the government takes your money and wastes it in the Middle East and all over the place,” he said.
Trump’s contradictory approaches have been apparent for years.
He criticized the 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, for delaying the release of his returns. Romney, a former private-equity executive, had come under fire for paying a low tax rate because most of his income came from investments.
“It’s a great thing when you can show that you’ve been successful, and that you’ve made a lot of money,” Trump said at the time.
Romney eventually released returns showing that, for his 2011 taxes, he chose not to take certain deductions, bringing his tax rate more in line with that of average Americans.
Trump, early in his campaign, seemed ready to give voters a look at his tax filings.
In January, he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was ready to disclose his “very big . . . very beautiful” returns.
But as his campaign gained momentum, Trump backed away from his promise. He first claimed that ongoing audits by the Internal Revenue Service prevent disclosure.
Then last week, he told the Associated Press that voters are not interested in seeing his tax filings and that “there’s nothing to learn from them.”
Trump’s new position has unnerved some tax experts, who see value in the tradition of transparency by presidential contenders.
“At some point, he could be the tax-collector-in-chief. He’d supervise the IRS, making sure all of us live up to our own tax responsibilities,” said Joe Thorndike, a director at Tax Analysts, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that specializes in tax policy. “People deserve to know . . . how a person like that plays the game.”
Trump’s stance has become an issue in the campaign.
Romney said on Facebook last week that refusing to release the returns should be “disqualifying” for any nominee and speculated that Trump’s returns could be hiding a “bombshell of unusual size.”
Trump’s likely Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, who has disclosed decades of tax returns, released a 60-second ad last week asking, “What’s Donald Trump hiding?”
“You’ve got to ask yourself: ‘Why doesn’t he want to release it?’ ” Clinton said at a New Jersey rally last week. “Yeah, well, we’re gonna find out.”
Bob McIntyre of the liberal group Citizens for Tax Justice suspects Trump’s tax returns, if made public, would undermine the political image the candidate has crafted of a brilliant businessman with what his campaign has called “tremendous cash flow.”
Trump may be worried that “he’d show very little income on his tax returns compared to his wealth claims,” McIntyre said, adding that Trump’s returns could also show that he “writes off everything he has in his life — the hairdo, the plane — as business expenses.”
Trump has repeatedly said that he would be open to sharing his returns. In 2011, he said he would release them after Barack Obama released his long-form birth certificate but never did after the certificate’s release. In 2014, he said he would “absolutely” release them “if I decide to run for office.” Last year, he said he would release them when “we find out the true story on Hillary’s emails.”
To back his refusal, Trump has released a letter from his tax lawyers that said his tax returns had been audited by the IRS since 2002, and that audits on the returns since 2009 were still underway.
The lawyers’ letter also said returns from 2002 to 2008 had been closed administratively by the IRS, meaning their audits had been completed. Trump said in an interview he would still not release those returns because “they’re all linked.”
But experts say that Trump is free to release his tax records. President Richard Nixon released his returns while under audit. Nothing, including an audit, “prevents individuals from sharing their own tax information,” an IRS spokesman said.
The only window into Trump’s handling of his income taxes came during the 1981 New Jersey report after Trump’s application for a casino license.
State records show that Trump claimed that his combined income in 1978 and 1979 was negative $3.8 million, allowing him to pay no taxes. A few years earlier, he had told the New York Times he was worth more than $200 million.
Tax analysts say it is possible that Trump pays very low income taxes, or no taxes at all, using tactics available to wealthy investors and developers, such as depreciating the value of real estate.
When asked this week whether he pays income taxes, Trump said, “I will give that to you as soon as I get my audit finished.” He added later, “But with that being said, when you’re in the real estate business, you do have certain tax advantages.”
Trump has benefited from public money by aggressively seeking large tax reductions at developments including Trump Tower.
His first major development, the Grand Hyatt Hotel in midtown Manhattan built in partnership with Chicago’s wealthy Pritzker family, was made possible with the help of a New York City tax subsidy worth $400 million over 40 years, according to city records.
It was New York’s first-ever tax abatement for a commercial property, secured by Trump with help from his developer father’s political allies, according to “The Deals and the Downfall,” a biography on Trump’s developments by investigative reporter Wayne Barrett.
Trump has defended his use of public tax assistance to boost private projects. He said opponents of such government supports, including some conservatives, are out of touch with reality.
“The true conservative philosophy is that a thing like that shouldn’t happen. But they’re in the world of the make-believe,” Trump said in an interview. “The real world is that without certain tax abatements, you have a choice. The job could get built . . . or you don’t have to have anything. It could just go stagnant, and a town can die.”
Trump’s strategy to ease his company’s tax burden has resulted in sore feelings in some communities, where local governments rely heavily on tax receipts from large businesses.
In Ossining, N.Y., home to a Trump National Golf Club, town officials say that a tax break being sought by the company would cost their coffers more than $200,000 a year.
In seeking the reduction, Trump’s lawyers have claimed that the club is worth far less than the roughly $15 million value assessed by the city.
Trump’s lawyers have filed papers with the state claiming that the “full market value” of the property is $1.4 million. The same golf course appears on Trump’s new financial disclosure form released this week as part of his presidential campaign — valued by him at more than $50 million.
Trump lawyer Alan Garten did not respond to questions about the discrepancy.
Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg, a Democrat, expressed frustration that Trump seemed to be gaining “at other people’s loss.”
“It’s hard to look at someone who talks about their wealth frequently and think they got that successful on other people’s backs,” she said.


From: Michael Briggs
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 6:14 PM
To: Brinster, Jeremy
Subject: ICYMI: Bernie Sanders would be Donald Trump's worst nightmare; Hillary, not so much
New York Daily News: Bernie Sanders would be Donald Trump's worst nightmare; Hillary, not so much
By Shaun King
May 4, 2016
You may not like Donald Trump. Hell, you may hate his guts and think he is the worst thing to ever happen to American politics in modern history.
If you called him an offensive, sexist, xenophobic bigot, I'd be first in line to agree with you.
Yes, his skin is orange and his hair is ridiculous. He's also an incredibly formidable politician who just beat the dog crap out of more than a dozen different Republicans including the current governors from Ohio, Wisconsin and New Jersey, two widely-known multi-term governors from Florida and Texas, four current U.S. senators from Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida and Texas, a doctor and a former tech CEO.
One by one, they all underestimated Donald Trump, overestimated themselves and made it abundantly clear that they have no earthly idea what conservative American voters are looking for in 2016.
The GOP’s top contenders raised more money than Donald, outspent him and out-hired him. Still, with virtually no support from the political establishment and very little ground game to speak of, he swatted them all away like flies.
I can't stand the man, but what he just did was strange, historic and unprecedented.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again — Donald Trump could very well be the next President of the United States.
Now that he is the presumptive Republican nominee, and appears to be attempting to moderate his tone a bit, he is more dangerous than ever.
Underestimate him and his candidacy at your own risk.
Hillary Clinton is perhaps the worst possible Democratic candidate who could ever run against Donald Trump. I sincerely believe he could beat her in the general election.
Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, would give Donald Trump fits in a head-to-head match up. Let me break it down.
1. Like Donald's other fallen foes, Hillary Clinton represents the political establishment.
This narrative is strong and served as the primary crutch of Donald's strategy to defeat an enormous, well-funded Republican field. Americans are incredibly frustrated with our government and Donald used this very real sentiment to position himself as the anti-establishment candidate. Call it nonsensical, but this position, which Donald will hold against Hillary, is what President Obama used to defeat her in 2008, is what George W. Bush used to defeat Al Gore in 2000, and was even what Bill Clinton used to defeat George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Hillary Clinton is as establishment as establishment gets. The machine is behind her. Her campaign against Bernie Sanders has only advanced this sentiment.
Donald Trump simply could not use this angle against Bernie Sanders.
2. Hillary's millions of dollars worth of paid speeches to banks, lobbyists and billionaires cede a certain moral high ground to Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is a filthy rich fat cat. He's gaudy and cartoonish with his wealth. He openly admits that he hires foreign workers for cheap jobs and abuses tax loopholes. He is the poster child for everything that Bernie Sanders has railed against — not just in this campaign, but for his entire life in public service.
Hillary Clinton will not really be able to say much about this, though, because Donald's biggest liability is also an enormous liability for her. What's worse, being Scrooge McDuck, or getting paid to speak to a room full of Scrooge McDucks over and over and over again and refusing to release the transcripts of what you said to them? She and Bill rented a home in the Hamptons for $50,000 per week. They've made $230 million since Bill left office. Hillary made more money in 12 speeches to big banks than most American's will make in their lifetime.
Bernie Sanders is a career public servant and will be so until the day he dies. His entire life stands in stark contrast to the outrageous opulence of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The thought that this angle will basically be off the table if the campaign is between Donald and Hillary is simply dumb.
3. Independent and new voters are flocking to Bernie Sanders and even to Donald Trump, but not to Hillary Clinton.
Bernie Sanders is the longest standing Independent in the history of the United States Congress. Consequently, independent voters have flocked to his campaign en masse. When they are allowed to vote in primaries, like they did on Tuesday in Indiana, he wins. They have been absolutely essential to his wins in 18 different states thus far. With only 29% of Americans identifying as Democrats and 26% as Republicans, the largest voting bloc is independents.
Those voters make-up a large spectrum of political views and demographics, but they are all united in their frustrations with the government, the status quo and lobbyists.
I believe many independent voters will stay at home if Bernie Sanders isn't a candidate. It will be up to Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party to win them over, but they've expressed very little interest in such a thing thus far. Many more conservative independents will indeed vote for Trump.
4. Hillary's reliance on millions of dollars from SuperPACs is a real problem.
Zero percent of Bernie's campaign funds come from SuperPACs. Four percent of Donald's campaign funds come from SuperPACs.
Hillary? More than seven times that amount. An astounding 30% of her campaign funds come from SuperPACs. Donald Trump could feasibly decide he isn't taking a dime from them and put Hillary in a position to defend her reliance on them.
This would never be an issue for Bernie Sanders. It is his rejection of SuperPAC money that has actually won over millions of his voters. For them, this issue is everything. The idea of supporting the candidate who relies so heavily on this type of money nauseates many. Donald Trump will be able to get on the mic and tell supporters that he just isn't influenced by outside money and they'll believe him.
5. Young voters are crazy about Bernie Sanders and just don't care Hillary Clinton.
By young, we don't just mean teenagers. Voters under 25, voters under 35, even voters under 45 all support Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. The younger voter, the bigger the margin. In some age groups he's beating her by 85%-15%.
These young voters were the lifeblood and energy of Barack Obama's campaign and they have virtually rejected Clinton altogether in this campaign. They are incredibly loyal to Bernie. They trust him and believe in him. They won't simply or easily transfer over to another campaign. This is a real problem for Clinton and will show immediately in a general election.
Hating Trump is not the same thing as supporting Hillary Clinton and young voters know this. While Donald Trump doesn't have a youth movement of any kind to talk about, it just matters a heck of a lot less if it's Clinton he's going against.
Bernie has consistently said that he does better in every poll in a head to head match up against Donald Trump than Hillary does. The non-partisan fact-checkers at Politifact found this claim to be accurate.
In one new poll, Trump actually leads by 2 points in a race against Hillary. In another, she's just up by 3 points against Trump. Bernie beats Trump in every poll and by larger margins.
This race isn't new anymore. People know enough about Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to make an informed decision. I believe these polls are accurate. The team at FiveThirtyEight stated that they believe the polls between Trump and Clinton will continue to narrow.
We can all agree that Trump must be stopped, but this much is clear - Hillary Clinton is not the best opponent to stop him.
[Image removed by sender.]


CNN
From: Bhatnagar, Akshai
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 12:30 PM
To: Bennett, Eric; Comm_D
Subject: RE: Video Request: Pence endorses Cruz
Radio: Part One
, Part Two
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 12:25 PM
To: Video_D
Subject: Video Request: Pence endorses Cruz
Can we pull the video version that aired on the networks, please? Not sure who carried most of it.
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 12:23 PM
To: Miller, Lindsey
Cc: Comm_D
Subject: RE: Video Request: Possible Pence endorsement?
Very tepid endorsement for Cruz. Pence went out of his way to praise Trump. He also didn't urge the people of Indiana to vote for Cruz and said that he's for "anybody" but Hillary/Bernie.
--
Pence on Cruz endorsement:
This is an exciting time for Indiana-to have candidates travel across the state. I'm grateful that all the candidates are coming through the state.
This is a time for choosing. I like and respect all three Republican candidates. I particularly want to commend Trump who has given voice to the frustration of millions of America. I'm grateful that Trump has taken a stance on Hossier jobs-Carrier.
I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Cruz in the Republican primary.
On why he's supporting Cruz, Pence said he's a Reagan conservative. Goes on to talk about his admiration for Reagan. I tend to support men and women who support Regan principles. Calls Cruz a conservative.
Pence: I'm very impressed to Ted Cruz's knowledge and devotion to the constitution. Also highlights his support for the sanctity of life.
Pence: Cruz has shown the courage of his convictions. Not a popular thing to take on the leadership of his own party. Whoever wins the nomination, I'm going to work my heart out for them.
Pence: "I'm for anybody" but Hillary and Bernie Sanders.
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 10:50 AM
To: Miller, Lindsey
Cc: Comm_D
Subject: RE: Video Request: Possible Pence endorsement?
Per Fox news. CBNC and other reporters also tweeting
Pence to endorse Cruz for president

Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence plans to endorse Ted Cruz for president on Friday, Fox News has learned.
The announcement, expected during an upcoming radio interview, comes ahead of the state's critical primary next week.
Texas Sen. Cruz did not publicly confirm the endorsement when asked by reporters Friday morning, but praised Pence's leadership of the state.
From: Bennett, Eric
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 9:30 AM
To: Miller, Lindsey
Cc: Comm_D
Subject: Video Request: Possible Pence endorsement?
Thanks for flagging, Lindsey!
On Apr 29, 2016, at 9:20 AM, Miller, Lindsey
> wrote:
[
Greg Garrison (@GarrisonRadio
)
4/29/16, 8:30 AM
> tune in @ 12:06pm to @GarrisonRadio
on @93wibc
- @GovPenceIN
will be on w/ a significant announcement
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Rally with Ted Cruz
Monday, April 25th
Doors Open at 5:30pm
Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds
250 Fairground Street Franklin, IN 46131
WHEN
Monday, April 25, 2016 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)
WHERE
Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds - 250 Fairground Street, Franklin , Indiana 46131 - View Map

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Fox News (@FoxNews
)
4/26/16, 7:43 AM
TUNE IN: @SpeakerRyan
joins @AmericaNewsroom
today at 9a ET. Don't miss it! pic.twitter.com/u5JzI0SzNd
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