Sidewire / Roll Call
Head of Content at Sidewire, a social platform for political discussion, and columnist at Roll Call; co-author of HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton; former chief political correspondent for Vox; former Washington Bureau Chief for Bloomberg News; former White House Bureau Chief for Politico; former political reporter for Congressional Quarterly
Presidential campaigns address 'birther' lies and spin Donald Trump today changed his tune about President Obama's birthplace, but in the process, he tried to revise political history when he accused Hillary Clinton of beginning the controversy in her 2008 presidential campaign. Of course, it was Trump who kept the "birther" conspiracy alive even after the President released his birth certificate. Declaring that "his campaign was founded on an outrageous lie," Clinton has called for an apology. Jonathan Allen, who is is head of content at the political news platform Sidewire and a columnist at Roll Call , picks up the story.
The road to the White House: "Brass knuckles and back-alley brawls" Donald Trump's been sounding mellower lately, reading prepared speeches off a tele-prompter, but traditional GOP leaders are braced for what might come next. The campaign's latest CEO is Steve Bannon, who transformed the conservative website Breitbart by catering to the so-called "alt-right." That's the domain of white nationalism, misogynism, and anti-Semitism — anathema to mainstream Republicans. Breitbart has also published rumors about Hillary Clinton's health, adding false reports to the very real issues about e-mails, the Clinton Foundation — and trust.
Hillary Clinton: Tough, Tested...Not Always Trusted Hillary Clinton, one of the world’s most famous people, the former Senator and Secretary of State has a resume designed for the White House. It also comes with a record that’s opened challenges from Republicans — and from the Left of her own party. We hear about feminism, civil rights, the trials of a First Lady and how a thick skin can become a liability as well as an asset.
Hillary Clinton Finally Does It Again More than a minute into a two-minute web video with "everyday Americans," talking about their futures, Hillary Clinton says what everyone already knew. What everyone doesn't yet know is why she's running and what she stands for -- beyond becoming the first woman to capture the White House. It's a campaign announcement that's low key compared to her launch in 2007. Now she's literally "hitting the road" to Iowa in her "scooby-Doo van" -- no more helicopters or jet planes. Will her new style appeal to her party's "liberal wing."
Is the White House Overstepping Its Bounds? This week President Obama said that if Congress won’t pass sweeping immigration reform, he’d take executive action and do it himself by sending resources to help fix the border crisis. This wasn’t the first time that Obama has decided to go it alone in the face of Congressional obstinance. He’s taken executive action on a number of policies and issues including major ones like gun control, marijuana laws, climate change and the prisoner swap for Bowe Bergdahl. Republicans are calling Obama a “tyrant” and a “king.” Now House Speaker John Boehner has a plan: it’s simple -- sue the President. But what exactly would he sue Obama for, and what does he expect to accomplish? Are Obama’s executive actions a sign of over-reach or a last-ditch solution to obstructionism?
Obama Unveils Strict New Rules on Carbon Emissions President Obama today asked Democrats to "please go on offense" in support of the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is demanding that power plants cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels in the next 16 years. At a press conference this morning, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy lauded the plan. "The bottom line is we have never -- nor will we ever -- have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Jonathan Allen is Washington Bureau Chief for Bloomberg News .
New Paul Ryan Budget Outlines a Familiar Vision As House Budget Committee Chair, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan introduced a new budget today. It target's what Republicans call Big Government, just as Ryan did as last year's losing candidate for the vice presidency. But Ryan calls it an invitation. John Allen is senior Washington correspondent for Politico .
Superstorm Sandy and FEMA After major disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency becomes a household word. It gave George W. Bush a black eye after Katrina. Now President Obama is deploying FEMA with less than a week until Election Day. GOP Governor Chris Christie has welcomed him to New Jersey. What is FEMA's relationship to the states? Who's really in charge? What has Mitt Romney had to say about the agency and its future? We talk with a former leader of FEMA and others about federal assistance in times of trouble and in the presidential campaign.
A Divided Congress Gets to Work before Winter Break Another holiday means another deadline for important legislation in Congress, and opportunities for each political party to embarrass the other. Last night, the Republican House passed a bill extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance. An hour later, the Senate's Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, called it " dead on arrival ." What's at stake for the latest example of dysfunctional government?
Holiday Sausage-Making on Capitol Hill Last night, the Republican House passed a bill extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance. An hour later, the Senate's Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, called it " dead on arrival ." Deadline gamesmanship is under way in both houses of Congress. Bills that "must pass" before the holiday recess are loaded with so-called "poison pills." Other matters being held hostage include unemployment benefits and appropriations to keep government agencies open. Both parties are playing the game, with the President threatening vetoes and saying that, "nothing gets done until everything gets done." Can Congress accomplish its basic work in time to go home for Christmas? What's the price of dysfunctional government in the long term?
Super Committee Rounded Out with Pelosi's Picks The "Super Committee" to look for federal spending cuts between now and Thanksgiving is now complete. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has named three Democrats to join three House Republicans and six Senators of both parties, all of whom were named yesterday . Jonathan Allen is senior congressional reporter for Politico .
Debt Showdown: Playing Politics with the US Economy E-mail and phone lines are jammed on Capitol Hill, and there's a nasty Twitter campaign against all of Washington. But despite the impending deadline, Democrats and Republicans are still far apart on the debt ceiling. House Republicans and Senate Democrats are each working on plans unacceptable to the other, and President Obama is still talking about compromising on a Big Deal, including new revenue. He says the "hard deadline" is next Tuesday, August 2 when the government will run out of borrowing authority. But it's now reported that there will still be enough money to pay the bills until August 10. One of our gests calls it "The Politics of Calamity."
Deadlock on Capitol Hill The US is advancing toward the once-unthinkable prospect of default by next Tuesday, August 2, unless it turns out to be August 10 instead. While President Obama talks about "compromising" on a Big Deal, including new revenue, he's threatened to veto the Republicans' plan and Republicans won't vote for a Democratic alternative. Sarah Palin is the latest Republican to accuse the President of "fear mongering," but the head of the IMF says US default would be "very, very, very serious." In the midst of all the uncertainty, are both parties playing with economic disaster? Is it really all about next year's elections?
Obama Calls House Speaker Boehner in Hopes of Avoiding Shutdown House Speaker John Boehner reportedly told militant Republican budget cutters yesterday that a government shutdown would be a victory for Democrats. Today, President Obama called Boehner briefly before leaving Washington for speech-making. Meantime, his administration is outlining what a shutdown would mean. Jonathan Allen is senior congressional reporter for Politico .
The 14th Amendment, Illegal Immigration and the Republican Party South Carolina’s Republican Senator Lindsey Graham created a furor last month by saying that people come to this country “ to have babies .” He said, “it’s called drop and leave,” suggesting that families go home after their newborns have become citizens of the United States under the 14th Amendment . Republicans John McCain and Mitch McConnell have joined Graham’s call for hearings on amending the amendment. Is the current dispute about race? Will it play a role in the November elections?
Illegal Immigration, the 14th Amendment and the Republican Party Anyone born in the US is a citizen of the United States, even if the parents are illegal immigrants. That's the way the 14th Amendment has been applied. Now some Republicans want to amend the amendment, while some say the children of illegals could be factored out by an act of Congress. But other Republicans, including aides to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, say "birthright citizenship" is a proud legacy of the GOP and unique to America. The 14th Amendment gave equal rights to blacks. Is the current dispute about race? Will it play a role in November's elections?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.