Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) knows he's struggling in the crowded 2020 Democratic field and probably isn't likely to qualify for the first primary debate, but he plans to stay in the race until the first primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire next year, reports Politico.
Why it matters: Bennet joined the presidential race nearly 3 weeks ago, and he hasn't yet had a major breakout, especially in competing with big names like former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. His profile also matches that of a few of the other lesser-known candidates: a centrist, middle-aged white male.
Vice President Mike Pence told the 2019 graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday that the world is a "dangerous place" and the graduates should expect to witness combat in the future.
The big picture: Pence also told the graduates that some of them will "join the fight against radical Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq," as the U.S. prepares to send thousands of troops to the Middle East amid growing tensions with Iran.
While visiting Iowa on Saturday, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar released a farming-focused plan as part of her 2020 body of policy that includes raising the debt cap on farm bankruptcies and increasing access to federal loan programs.
By the numbers: The presidential hopeful's priorities for farmers include raising the liability cap from $4.2 million to $10 million, giving more farmers flexibility to seek relief, especially during hiccups in the economy.
The flurry of abortion bans in GOP-controlled states may have provided Democrats with some ammo for the upcoming 2020 elections, helping them paint Republicans as extreme in swing states, reports AP.
Why it matters: Following the restrictive new Alabama abortion ban, Democrats have become more vocal, while Republicans seeking re-election are distancing themselves from the issue, per AP. Support for these extreme measures could alienate the GOP from more moderate women in swing states, but failing to support them could also alienate lawmakers from their anti-abortion rights base.
During President Trump's weekend trip to Japan, he was quick to single out Akio Toyoda, president of the Toyota Motor Corp., saying: "There's nothing like the boss," at a formal dinner with auto industry leaders, reports Bloomberg.
Why it matters: After Trump threatened to levy auto tariffs against Japan and the European Union, Toyota released a statement countering Trump's claims that foreign automakers pose problems for American national security, saying: it "sends a message to Toyota that our investments are not welcomed, and the contributions from each of our employees across America are not valued."
The 2 states with the largest Hispanic populations — California and Texas — will go to the polls earlier than usual in the 2020 Democratic primary race, the AP reports.
Why it matters: Candidates who can win consistent Hispanic support could potentially secure a viable path to survive the primary's frantic opening weeks.
A federal judge issued a temporary injunction on Friday night immediately blocking the transfer of funding and halting the construction of parts of President Trump's wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, reports the Washington Post.
"The position that when Congress declines the Executive’s request to appropriate funds, the Executive nonetheless may simply find a way to spend those funds ‘without Congress’ does not square with fundamental separation of powers principles dating back to the earliest days of our Republic."
— Judge Haywood Gilliam in his opinion for the temporary injunction, per Politico
Francis Cissna resigned from his position as the director of U.S. citizenship and immigration services on Friday per the request of President Trump — who is expected to name Kenneth Cuccinelli, Virginia's former attorney general, as Cissna's replacement, reports Politico.
The big picture: The move to push Cissna out is part of Trump's reimagining of the Department of Homeland Security. Trump also pushed out DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in April.
The Democratic National Committee and NBC have reached an agreement to evenly split the top qualifying candidates over 2 nights for the first 2020 Democratic primary debate in June, reports Politico.
The bottom line: The DNC wants to avoid featuring a "kiddie table," by spreading the most popular contenders across the 2 nights, addressing a problem Republicans ran into in 2016, per Politico. The decision also aims to maintain viewer interest by guaranteeing well-known contenders are debating on both nights.
The Trump Organization has fired more undocumented workers after all 12 locations implemented the government's online system E-Verify to check the eligibility of new hires, reports The Washington Post.
Why it matters: The increased firings shows President Trump's company is following through on its promise to use E-Verify after news broke that the family business had been hiring undocumented workers for years.
Women hold the majority of senior positions for top 2020 Democratic campaigns — and a quarter of those aides identify as women of color, according to a new analysis by the Wall Street Journal.
Why it matters: The behind-the-scenes makeup of the 2020 campaign — which already features the most diverse field of candidates in history — reflects a broader national trend: minorities will become the majority in the U.S. by 2045.
The Trump administration will soon make it easier for adoption agencies to reject same-sex couples, senior administration officials told Axios.
Why it matters: President Trump is steadily rolling back Obama-era nondiscrimination policies across the entire federal government — including health care, housing and the military.
Driving the news: 3 Democratic senators on Thursday wrote to NBC, host of the first primary debate in late June, urging them to devote a "significant" amount of time to climate.
There may not be another Democrat in the country, besides Speaker Pelosi, who would have had the ability to hold off the rank and file's push to impeach President Trump.
The state of play: The view on the Hill seems to be that if Pelosi puts her foot down and says "no" to impeachment, then there’s no chance House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler or others will defy her wishes.
Pete Buttigieg told a group of liberal Jewish leaders on Thursday that the U.S. should do a better job of advising Israel, rather than intervening in Israel's domestic politics as the the Trump administration has, reports NBC.
Why it matters: Some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have struggled with addressing the topic of Israel, while others have spoken out against the nation and its leadership. Meanwhile, Republicans are trying to paint an image that Democrats don't support Israel, per NBC.
President Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. is expected to write and release a book with Center Street Press by the end of the year, reports the New York Times.
President Trump has directed the intelligence community to "quickly and fully cooperate" with Attorney General Bill Barr's investigation into the origins of the Russia probe.
Why it matters: The president's desire to examine Obama-era investigators is now in full swing. Trump has also given Barr unilateral authority to declassify relevant documents as he sees fit.
