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WASHINGTON Painted in bright yellow letters outside the White House are the words "DEFUND THE POLICE": a rallying cry for a movement to combat police brutality and racism that has exploded across the nation and caused nervousness among Democrats.

Protesters around the country demanding justice for George Floyd's death waved "Defund the Police!" signs at rallies in major cities on a weekend when Joe Biden officially became the presumptive Democratic nominee to face President Donald Trump in the fall.

As Trump seizes on the slogan to paint his opponents as radicals who envision a world of lawlessness and anarchy, Biden and most other Democrats are resisting the left's calls and floating more modest measures to curtail bad police behavior.

No, I don't support defunding the police," Biden told "CBS Evening News" on Monday. "I support conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness and, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community."

Johnetta Elzie, a civil rights activist and organizer, said Biden's calls for "reform" sound stale, mealy-mouthed and out of touch as "black people are still dying behind these antiquated ideas and policies."

"It's not enough. Joe Biden knows it's not enough. Joe Biden's team knows it's not enough. It's not at all answering the calls of the moment," Elzie said. "People have been saying to anyone who's f---ing up in this moment: Read the room. People are calling for defunding the police.

"People in power politicians and policymakers are still talking about reform. We're beyond that. We're over that," she said. "If they wanted reform, they would have done it six years ago when we actually had the chance to. But that's not what happened."

The clash pits an ideological movement aiming to transform the national debate against a Democratic electoral apparatus whose overriding goal is to defeat Trump. While activists say they believe the need for radical change is worth taking political risks, party leaders say they worry about alienating moderate white voters who sympathize with the protesters' cause but still support police.

"As somebody who's been through a great number of political wars, branding matters," former Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said Monday on MSNBC. "My fear about the term 'defund the police' is it will be misused and abused by people who will want to scare people."

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Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told reporters that the "defund the police" movement was "consuming" the Democratic Party and argued that Biden "does not have the strength to stand up to the extremists who are now calling the shots in the party."

And appearing on MSNBC, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sidestepped the issue, saying that police funding is "a local matter" and that her focus is to "change policy to make our policing more just."

She and other Democratic congressional leaders introduced a police overhaul package Monday that would outlaw chokeholds and "no knock" warrants, require body cameras and create a variety of mechanisms to punish bad officers.

Rashad Robinson, who leads the civil rights group Color of Change, said the Democratic legislation "has some work to do."

"It's important that we're actually seeing forward movement on policing," he said. "But there are a number of places from dealing with grand juries to all the ways in which police get so many different rules after they shoot someone and kill someone that have to be dealt with."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, was loudly booed and forced to retreat from a gathering of demonstrators Saturday after he responded to a question about whether he would commit to defunding the police by saying, "I do not support the full abolition of the police."

When pressed to explain what the slogan means in policy terms, activists say "defund the police" is not actually a call for a country with no cops.

"It does not mean a world where we do not have safety and justice. It does not mean a world where we do not have order," Robinson said. "But what it does mean is that right now we seem to try to solve all of our society's problems by increasing the role and responsibility of law enforcement, and it has not worked."

Elzie said "defund the police" means "reducing police budgets, to me, down to the bare minimum."

"And seeing that money go to public schools in the city would make me extremely happy. Or investing in mental health services in the state. There's so many other things we should do with that money," she said. "If the police want to go buy M16s, they should f---ing organize a bake sale."

As Trump rallies his base against calls to "defund the police" and Biden distances himself from them, the movement is seen as unlikely to get its wishes. Yet it appears to be having an impact on the debate, as some major cities, like Los Angeles and New York, discuss reductions in police funding.

Advocates point to other movements over the past decade that have pushed radical-sounding ideas that altered the debate. The "Medicare for All" movement turned a public insurance option into a consensus position among Democrats after moderates in the party killed it in 2009. The "abolish ICE" effort nudged mainstream lawmakers to call for fewer deportations and to limit the power of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"It's not the job of activists to present poll-tested ideas," said Sean McElwee, a left-wing organizer and data scientist who popularized #AbolishICE. "It's the job of activists to demand we imagine a world built on fundamentally different assumptions. We've already seen a number of concrete and actionable policies that can fundamentally change the way we understand policing in this country."

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Conservatives used the tactic effectively under President Barack Obama. Tea party calls to "abolish the IRS" helped fuel IRS budget cuts of about 20 percent during the last decade. The 2011 push to amend the Constitution to require balanced budgets, which likely would have forced steep cuts in Social Security, led to Obama's signing $1 trillion in spending reductions that summer.

"A flat tax of 8 percent? Hell, why not? Just ask for it. You're not going to get it," said Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican consultant who was working in the tea party movement at the time. "On these sorts of things stake your position, ask for everything, knowing you're going to get your politicians to move a little bit."

Steinhauser said Biden "isolates himself from the backlash by finding a safe moderate position that is reasonable that calls for reform and calls for transparency and better training and punishment for cops that act poorly and criminally."

"His instincts are right on this one from a political standpoint," he said. "Republicans want nothing more than for Biden to embrace the most radical ideas."

Full coverage of George Floyds death and protests around the country

Originally posted here:
Democratic leaders clash with Black Lives Matter activists over 'defund the police' - NBC News

Former Vice President Joe Biden's close relationship with Sen. Bernie Sanders and willingness to engage with progressives could spell a difference between the 2020 presidential contest and former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 bid, Sanders said in an interview in The New Yorker magazine published on Tuesday.

"I think the difference now is that, between you and me, I have a better relationship with Joe Biden than I had with Hillary Clinton, and that Biden has been much more receptive to sitting down and talking with me and other progressives than we have seen in the past,"the Vermont lawmaker said.

Sanders competed against Clinton in 2016, and was the last Democrat standing against Biden during the 2020 primary contest. Democrats loyal to Clinton, with whom Sanders had an icy rapport, have criticized Sanders for what they saw as his insufficient effort to get his progressive backers behind her in 2016 after she defeated him in the primary.

Pressed to address that criticism, Sanders told The New Yorker that he did everything he could to get Clinton elected. But he said there was a misconception about how much influence candidates, on their own, can have on their supporters' votes.

"There is a myth out there that all a candidate has to say, whether it's Bernie Sanders or anybody else, to millions of people who voted for him or her, is, 'I want you to do this,' and every single person is going to fall in line," Sanders said. "That's just not the way it works in a democracy."

This time around, Sanders again lost to a candidate located ideologically to his right. But, Sanders said, Biden's apparent willingness to shift to the left on some issues could move the needle.

"I think you're going to see him being rather strong on the need for a new economy in America that does a lot better job in representing working families than we currently have," Sanders said. "He has told me that he wants to be as strong as possible in terms of climate change, and I look forward to hearing his proposals."

A spokesperson for Clinton did not respond to a request for comment.

Sanders endorsed Biden in April shortly after he dropped out of the race. The endorsement, which came far earlier in the cycle than his 2016 endorsement of Clinton, was seen as a major boost to Biden's campaign.

The two candidates announced at the time of Sanders' endorsement that their campaigns would form joint task forces to work out compromises on policy in six major areas: The economy, education, climate change, criminal justice, immigration reform and health care.

Sanders didn't say how much progress the task forces had made in the intervening months, though he said the two men were talking by phone. On the issue that most animated Sanders' political rise making health care free at the point of use Biden has notpublicly budged, even as Covid-19 has swept through the country and led to unprecedented job losses.

Addressing the task forces, Sanders said, "We'll see what the fruits of those discussions are." He said he didn't want to sugarcoat the differences between the two men ideologically.

"He has been open and personable and friendly, but his views and my views are very different, in some areas more than others," Sanders said. He added:"But Joe has been open to having his people sit down with some of the most progressive folks in America, and that's a good sign."

In a statement, Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said that "Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are friends and share a steadfast belief that we need a government that will deliver for working families."

"Senator Sanders and his team have been extraordinary partners in offering advice and support on the biggest challenges of our day, such as overcoming climate change and rebuilding the American middle class especially after the COVID-19 outbreak," Bates said.

Also in the interview, Sanders, a self-avowed democratic socialist, held out hope that a future candidate with his beliefs will be more successful than he was.

"Biden just mopped us up with older people," Sanders said. "On the other hand, even in states where we did poorly, and lost, we won a majority of young people, forty or younger. That's the future of America."

A spokesperson for Sanders didn't respond to an inquiry about whether he wanted to elaborate on his remarks.

Biden is currently leading President Donald Trump in national surveys by about 8 percentage points, according to an average of recent polls collected by RealClearPolitics.

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Joe Biden is 'more receptive' to progressives than past Democrats, Bernie Sanders says - CNBC

By PHIL EWINGAlbuquerque

I read with interest the opinion articles written by Anissa Tinnin (link) and Juan Jose Gonzales (link) and came to realize (as most of us have) that we are very much a polarized and partisan nation.

We have become very isolated in our lives and politics. As President John F. Kennedy once said: For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our childrens future. And we are all mortal.

The Republican Party of today is not the party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, or Eisenhower. These Presidents had compassion and put their country before themselves. The Republican Party was formed as a political party that was against slavery in America during the Lincoln era.

President Teddy Roosevelt was known as Teddy the Trust Buster because he did not want large monopolies dictating the economy in our country but rather promoting a free enterprise system.

President Eisenhower envisioned and created the interstate highway system in America.

Yet, Anissa Tinnin insists that progressives or as some may say, liberals, will destroy traditional New Mexico values. We all know that Democrats and Republicans alike want to promote these values and not destroy them.

Instilling fear into people is not the answer but rather solving problems through cooperation is the best way to move forward.

This is not a Democrat or Republican thing, its an American thing! Together and I mean together, we CAN solve the problems of today! And once again, as President John F. Kennedy said, If you mean by liberal someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of peopletheir health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties. If that is what they mean by liberal, then I am proud to be a liberal.

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Letter To The Editor: This Is Not A Democrat Or Republican Thing It's An American Thing! - Los Alamos Daily Post

Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenOvernight Defense: Army now willing to rename bases named after Confederates | Dems demand answers on 'unfathomable' nuke testing discussions | Pentagon confirms death of north African al Qaeda leader On The Money: S&P erases 2020 losses as stocks soar | US entered recession in February: NBER | Lawmakers worry IRS is giving rich people a pass Top Democrats demand answers on Trump administration's 'unfathomable' consideration of nuclear testing MORE (D-Ore.), the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, accused Labor Secretary Eugene ScaliaEugene ScaliaOn The Money: Initial jobless claims drop to 1.9 million | IRS faces obstacles with remaining stimulus checks | Nearly half of Americans have lost income over coronavirus Labor secretary: Unemployment rate could be under 10 percent by end of year AFL-CIO sues OSHA to demand standard for worker protections MORE on Tuesday of givingmisleading testimony on key questions pertaining to unemployment benefits.

"I think that's just misleading the committee, misleading the public and on a key kind of question, which is what to do going forward," Wyden said at the end of a three-hour Finance Committee hearing looking at how the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic affected workers.

At the heart of the matter was the question of extending the $600 in additional weekly unemployment insurance benefits, a provision of Marchs CARES Act thats set to expire at the end of July.

Republicans argue that the extra cash, which in many cases makes the total benefit higher than working wages, disincentivizes people from returning to work.

Wyden contended that the only reason Democrats had pushed for a flat $600 increase was because states, which administer unemployment benefits, would have to take months to upgrade their systems in order to simply provide workers their full level of wages.

"Do states have the capacity now to implement 100 percent wage replacement on an individual basis? Wyden asked Scalia at the hearing.

"I think, actually, the states have made some progress and are in a different place than they were before," Scalia responded, though he avoided flatly confirming that states were ready.

At the end of the hearing, Wyden took the unusual step of asking for more time to accuse Scalia of providing misleading answers, saying that in a recent private meeting, Scalia had told him the opposite.

"I'm open to a variety of approaches, but it doesn't help when we have misleading comments," he said.

Scalia, who sparred with several Democrats during the course of the hearing, said that he simply had new information.

"I actually have learned more since you and I spoke, and I confess as I sit here now I am more optimistic about the capabilities that states may have based on the conversations that we continue to have," he said.

Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate GOP leaders don't expect next coronavirus bill before mid-July On The Money: S&P erases 2020 losses as stocks soar | US entered recession in February: NBER | Lawmakers worry IRS is giving rich people a pass GAO provides guidance to lawmakers to protect watchdogs, prevent abuse MORE (R-Iowa) said that the original $600 benefit had been important for keeping the economy afloat, but that economic circumstances had changed since March as the country had begun to open up.

The question of how to approach unemployment benefits is one of the central issues in negotiating a new COVID-19 relief bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate GOP leaders don't expect next coronavirus bill before mid-July GOP senators urge Trump to back off Murkowski threat Schumer wants votes on police reform, fifth coronavirus bill by July 4 MORE said Tuesday that the bill would not be taken up until after July 4th, which had been the expected target for passing it.

An unexpectedly good jobs report last week boosted the GOP argument that more time was needed to evaluate the level of economic need, though Democrats have been quick to point out that the economy remains in the deepest recession and worst unemployment situation since the Great Depression.

Tensions in the hearing Tuesday centered on other issues, too. Wyden also accused Scalia of providing misleading information in regards to putting out detailed standards outlining when unemployed people can turn down work based on health and safety concerns.

Scalia repeatedly said the issue was up to individual states, but Wyden countered that that was not the case for expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, another CARES Act program that allowed the self-employed, freelancers and gig economy workers to receive unemployment benefits.

During the hearing, other Democrats expressed dissatisfaction with Scalias testimony.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownOhio is suddenly a 2020 battleground Democratic senators say police crackdowns undermine US response to Hong Kong Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd MORE (D) accused the secretary ofseeking to promotePresident TrumpDonald John TrumpMichigan to seek federal disaster declaration over broken dams Trump to make it easier for Alaska hunters to kill wolf pups and bear cubs: report Army briefs House panel on response to DC protests MORE for reelection instead of providing answers.

"We've heard the Trump commercial over and over again," Brown said after Scalia went out of his way to praise Trumps handling of the economy.

Brown has asked whether eliminating the additional benefit would disproportionately affect black and brown workers, who have significantly higher unemployment rates than white workers.

Scalia responded that African Americans had the lowest unemployment rate in history before the pandemic, echoing a frequent White House talking point.

"That was a simple yes or no and I got a commercial for the president's reelection, Brown said.

Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseSheldon Whitehouse leads Democrats into battle against Trump judiciary Bill aims to help farmers sell carbon credits GOP chairmen stake out turf in Obama-era probes MORE (D-R.I.) accused Scalia of filibustering, giving long-winded answers to run out the 5-minute limit each senator was given for question and answer.

"I'm starting to think you're having fun filibustering us. It's become a little bit of a sport for you to filibuster us and kind of yuk it up. I don't think that's fair to us," he said.

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Key Democrat accuses Labor head of 'misleading' testimony on jobless benefits | TheHill - The Hill

Both the Kansas State University economists and the Democratic staff of the Senate agriculture committee also found regional disparities in the disbursement of the aid. Joseph P. Janzen, the lead author of the Kansas State study, said the skewed benefits for cotton largely explained the disproportionately high payments to Southern farmers.

The average payment rate per acre to farms in Georgia and Texas, for instance, was more than four to five times higher after the Agriculture Department loosened the formula to calculate losses, he found. The Democratic report found that Georgia farmers led the list of top beneficiaries in the first round of payments in 2019, followed by Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Its stunning really. These are states that have positive political relationships with the president, said Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the Senate agriculture committee. She said she wanted to help farmers recover losses, but the reality is that the administration up to this point has not distributed financial support in an equitable way.

Although economists say that the benefits should be analyzed by acre, not by state, Mr. Northey said corn- and soybean-producing states in the Midwest received more money over all than Southern states.

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer watchdog organization, raised yet another problem endemic to many subsidy programs: The biggest farms receive most of the money.

Thats because while trade relief payments were capped first at $125,000 per recipient, then at $250,000 every farm manager could apply separately for subsidies, allowing multiple payments per operation. No limit applied for those who principally relied on farming for income.

That allowed DeLine Farms Partnership in Charleston, Mo., for example, to collect more than $2.8 million in trade relief payments in two years. Farms owned by the family of Jim Justice, the billionaire Republican governor of West Virginia who is often called the richest man in the state, collected $375,000, the watchdog group said.

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Farmers Get Billions in Virus Aid, and Democrats Are Wary - The New York Times