May 16, 2018

What's at stake for Democrats if McConnell cancels August recess

Alexi McCammond

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell considers cancelling August recess. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The 10 most vulnerable Democratic senators could lose four weeks of campaigning in their states just two months before the midterm election if Mitch McConnell cancels the August recess.

Driving the news: The Senate Majority Leader is seriously considering doing just that, Politico reports, after President Trump and a group of 16 GOP senators emphasized the need for extra time to work on spending bills and confirming POTUS' nominees.

Why it matters: August is a crucial time for campaigning, and vulnerable Democrats — like Joe Donnelly, Claire McCaskill, Joe Manchin, and Heidi Heitkamp — can't stand to lose time with constituents.

Be smart: Eliminating summer break wouldn't stop President Trump from going to theses states and campaigning himself. And all of their GOP challengers would be free to make appearances throughout August while their state's Democratic incumbents were stuck in Washington.

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Updated 8 mins ago - Politics & Policy

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32 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Minnesota activates National Guard amid fallout from George Floyd death

A portrait of George Floyd hangs on a street light pole in Minneapolis. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

George Floyd, 46, moved to Minnesota to improve his life and become his "best self," but instead, he is dead because of Minneapolis police.

The latest: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency and activated the state's National Guard in response to violent clashes over the past two days between police and protesters in the Twin Cities.

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2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump signs executive order targeting protections for social media platforms

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday designed to limit the legal protections that shield social media companies from liability for the content users post on their platforms.

What they're saying: "Currently, social media giants like Twitter receive an unprecedented liability shield based on the theory that they are a neutral platform, which they are not," Trump said in the Oval Office. "We are fed up with it. It is unfair, and it's been very unfair."

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