Subject: DNC Clips 4.25.2016
From: "Palermo, Rachel" <[email-masked]>
To: "Palermo, Rachel" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 04:52:16 -0700

WEATHER: 84F, Mostly Sunny

POTUS and the Administration

Obama arrives in Germany, facing a Europe strained by the migrant crisis and a slow economy<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-arrives-in-a-europe-strained-by-a-migrant-crisis-and-slow-economy/2016/04/24/637d2d84-0a0d-11e6-bfa1-4efa856caf2a_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // GREG JAFFE

President Obama arrived Sunday in Germany, where he will encounter a Europe struggling with terrorism, an anemic economy and an unprecedented migrant crisis that have provoked nationalism and xenophobia in some quarters of the continent. "It's not my place to tell Europe how to manage Europe," Obama said in Bild Zeitung, a German newspaper, prior to his arrival. But the president has used his tour of Britain and Germany to provide some unusually frank advice to the Europeans on issues such as dealing with refugees, major trade deals and terrorism. In the United Kingdom, where Britons will go to the polls in June to vote on whether to remain in the European Union, Obama warned repeatedly - in an editorial, a news conference and a BBC interview - that a withdrawal from the bloc would be unwise.

Report: Obama to send 250 troops to Syria<http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/277454-report-obama-to-send-250-troops-to-syria>

THE HILL // CYRA MASTER

President Obama will announce Monday that he'll send up to 250 additional military personnel to Syria to help fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. The move will expand the footprint of American forces inside the country. Obama recently signed off on a new deployment that would increase the number of American troops operating in Syria to about 300, up from about 50. Obama is expected to announce the move Monday in Hannover, Germany, at the end of a weeklong trip abroad.

Obama's latest pivot - to Europe<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/obama-europe-crisis-222368>

POLITICO // MICHAEL CROWLEY

Barack Obama planned to pivot to Asia, escape the Middle East, reboot with Latin America and elevate Africa. Europe, he hoped, would take care of itself. No such luck. Europe is in crisis, many U.S. officials believe, and when Obama delivers a speech in Hanover, Germany, on Monday, aides say he will be addressing the whole continent as it grapples with terrorism, nationalism, refugees and questions about the European Union's survival. It also marks a turnabout in Obama's own thinking - amid grumbling by many European diplomats that the president hasn't given the continent the attention it needs. Even some Obama aides acknowledge that Europe has sometimes been overshadowed by Obama's other foreign priorities, like the Iran nuclear deal and relations with China. Obama's trip is a way of "sending out a signal that he's not indifferent to what's happening in Europe," Peter Wittig, Germany's ambassador to the United States, told Politico.

ISIS Targeted by Cyberattacks in a New U.S. Line of Combat<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/us-directs-cyberweapons-at-isis-for-first-time.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // DAVID E. SANGER

The United States has opened a new line of combat against the Islamic State, directing the military's six-year-old Cyber Command for the first time to mount computer-network attacks that are now being used alongside more traditional weapons. The effort reflects President Obama's desire to bring many of the secret American cyberweapons that had been aimed elsewhere, notably at Iran, into the fight against the Islamic State - which has proved effective in using modern communications and encryption to recruit and carry out operations. The National Security Agency, which specializes in electronic surveillance, has for years listened intensely to the militants of the Islamic State, and those reports are often part of the president's daily intelligence briefing. But the N.S.A.'s military counterpart, Cyber Command, was focused largely on Russia, China, Iran and North Korea - where cyberattacks on the United States most frequently originate - and had run virtually no operations against what has become the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world.

Obama pushes trade deal during stop in Germany<http://thehill.com/policy/finance/277436-obama-pushes-trade-deal-during-stop-in-germany>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

President Obama on Sunday touted a trade deal between the United States and the European Union (EU), but said it may be difficult to get it approved by the end of the year. "During presidential elections, it's always tough when we're in the heat of campaigns," Obama said during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Obama is in Germany to open the world's largest industrial technology trade fair and try to win support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade and investment agreement being negotiated between the U.S. and the EU. There is opposition to the agreement in Germany, and thousands of protesters swarmed the streets in Hanover on Saturday carrying signs that read: "Yes We Can - Stop TTIP!" Supporters say the agreement would boost business during a time of global economic uncertainty, while critics worry it could put consumer protections and environmental standards at risk.

Obama to send 250 additional military personnel to Syria<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/04/24/obama-syria-germany/83467188/>

USA TODAY // KIM HJELMGAARD AND JIM MICHAElS

President Obama has approved sending another 250 U.S. military personnel to Syria to help opposition forces battle the Islamic State, an administration official confirmed Sunday. Obama is expected to make the announcement Monday in a speech here as he completes a week-long foreign trip. The U.S. personnel will not be engaged in direct combat but will advise the units and can help coordinate airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition, the official said. The 250 would join 50 U.S. advisers the White House had earlier authorized for Syria, where they are helping a patchwork of Kurdish and Arab fighters battling the Islamic State in northeastern Syria. There is no timeline yet for deploying the new forces. The administration official asked not to be named because the announcement has not yet been made. The information was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The additional personnel for Syria follows last week's announcement to send another 217 military personnel to Iraq, where U.S. forces are training and advising Iraqi forces.

International odd couple: How Obama and Merkel forged a special bond<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-international-odd-couple-how-obama-and-merkel-forged-a-special-bond/2016/04/24/9ce8beac-0a4a-11e6-a6b6-2e6de3695b0e_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // GREG JAFFE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was asked Sunday to reminisce about her fondest moments with President Obama during the seven years of his presidency. Her short, remarkably unsentimental answer explains why she has become Obama's closest overseas ally and the president's political and ideological soul mate on critical issues such as Syria, terrorism and containing Russian aggression in Ukraine. More than most American presidents, Obama disdains what he regards as needy, showboating allies. Merkel is most definitely neither. The chancellor grimaced at the question from the German reporter. "I am not in a position to take stock now," she replied curtly. There was too much important work to do.

Obama Doesn't Take North Korea's Promise to Halt Nuke Program Seriously<http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-doesn-t-take-north-korea-s-promise-halt-nuke-n561271>

NBC // ELISHA FIELDSTADT

President Barack Obama said Sunday that he doesn't take seriously North Korea's claim that it would halt nuclear tests if the U.S. suspends military exercises with South Korea. North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong made the ultimatum in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press Saturday hours after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine. "We don't take seriously a promise to halt" nuclear tests, Obama said during a joint press conference in Hanover with German chancellor Angela Merkel. He said the U.S. would engage in "serious conversations" with North Korea if the country shows that it is serious about ending its nuclear program. "What is clear is that North Korea continues to engage in continuous provocative behavior, that they have been actively pursuing a nuclear program, an ability to launch nuclear weapons," Obama said. "And although more often than not they fail in many of these tests, they gain knowledge each time they engage in these tests."

No Need for Holmes. Obama Sheds Light on a Winston Churchill Mystery.<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/world/europe/no-need-for-holmes-obama-sheds-light-on-a-winston-churchill-mystery.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // MICHAEL D. SHEAR

It has been, perhaps, one of the most enduring mysteries of President Obama's tenure: What really happened to the bust of Winston Churchill that was once displayed in the Oval Office? With just months left in his term, Mr. Obama's first comments on the matter, in Europe last week, may have finally cleared up the truth of a tale that has persisted for more than seven years. For conservatives in both America and Britain, the disappearance of the bust from its place of honor soon after the end of George W. Bush's presidency was evidence of a liberal snub by Mr. Obama. In their view, he clearly did not fully appreciate the greatness of the British prime minister, who served during and after World War II. (The bust was replaced, White House officials said at the time, with one of Abraham Lincoln.)

First Lady Michelle Obama lauds husband for taking high road<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/theoval/2016/04/24/first-lady-michelle-obama-lauds-husband-taking-high-road/83453920/>

USA TODAY // GREGORY KORTE

First Lady Michelle Obama gave a rare and impassioned defense of her husband's legacy Saturday, saying he's risen above personal attacks and taken the high road even as opponents have questioned his patriotism, his honesty, his citizenship and his faith. "As I've walked this journey with Barack, I've gotten a pretty good look at what it means to rise above the fray, what it means to set your eyes on the horizon, to devote your life to making things better for those who will come after you," she told the graduating class of Jackson State University, a historically black college in Mississippi. "I have seen how, no matter what kind of ugliness is going on at any particular moment, Barack always stays the course," she said. The commencement address had echoes of a similar speech Mrs. Obama gave last year, at Tuskegee University in Alabama, when she confessed that criticism of her - often drenched in racial stereotypes - often caused her sleepless nights.

JK Rowling attends private dinner with Obama<http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/277442-jk-rowling-attends-private-dinner-with-obama>

THE HILL // CAITLIN YILEK

Author JK Rowling, most famous for penning the Harry Potter series, attended a private dinner with President Obama during his trip to London.  The author's spokeswoman confirmed to The Associated Press that Rowling dined with Obama at the U.S. ambassador's London residence on Saturday.  British Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance. The leaders golfed together earlier in the day.   Rowling has met the president several times, according to the AP.

Former UN ambassador calls for release of 9/11 documents<http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/277402-bolton-calls-on-obama-administration-to-release-redacted-pages>

THE HILL // HARPER HEIDIG

Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton on Sunday called on the Obama administration to release the 28 redacted pages of a 2002 congressional investigation into the 9/11 terror attacks. In a radio interview with John Catsimatidis, the former Bush administration official said he had not read the secret pages but believes they should be released to the public. "I think the thing to do is - because we could speculate for the next several hours on what these pages say - absent some possible compromise of U.S. sources and methods of intelligence-gathering, I'd just make all 28 pages public. Let's see what's in there, and then we can talk about it," Bolton said. "I think its important to note that the Saudi government itself has said for 10 or 12 years now that they agree to make the pages public, so I don't know what the Obama administration's holdup is. I think the sooner we get them out and let the American public see them, the better off we'll be."

Democrats

McAuliffe to GOP: 'Quit complaining' and earn ex-felons' vote<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/terry-mcauliffe-gop-felons-voting-222365>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe dismissed on Sunday the notion that his executive order restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons represents an election-year ploy to help elect a Democrat to the White House. His message for Republicans in an interview with ABC's "This Week": Complain less, campaign more. McAuliffe's order signed last Friday reversed more than 150 years of state law that stripped convicted felons who have served their time of the right to vote, the majority of which are African-American and have traditionally represented a large voting bloc of the modern Democratic Party. As he did in Richmond late last week, when he declared that the law did not overstep his constitutional authority, McAuliffe on Sunday said the restoration would represent an opportunity for all politicians and parties to earn the support of the previously disenfranchised group.

Lawmakers look to get tough on Russia<http://thehill.com/policy/international/277353-lawmakers-look-to-get-tough-on-russia>

THE HILL // REBECCA KHEEL

Russian aggression will be high on lawmakers' minds when the House Armed Services Committee meets Wednesday to mark up its annual defense policy bill. Over the last two weeks, the Russians have buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer, barrel rolled over a U.S. reconnaissance plane and warned the United States to steer clear of its territory. In response, committee members say there will be plenty in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to deter Russia. "We do have money to station troops in various parts of Eastern Europe, and that's the main thing, to have a presence in the region and to show support for our allies," said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the committee. Relations between Washington and Moscow have been tense since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and began supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Bob Graham pushes for declassification of 28 pages<http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/277435-graham-says-he-hopes-president-will-honor-american-people-and>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Former Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) said on Sunday that President Obama should order the declassification of 28 pages of a congressional commission's report on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that some believe documents links to Saudi Arabia. "The president's staff, at least, has said that they will make a decision by June. And I hope that decision is to honor the American people and make it available," Graham, who was a co-chairman of that panel, said on NBC's "Meet the Press." The former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman said the most important unanswered question is whether "these 19 people conducted this very sophisticated plot alone, or were they supported."

Republicans

Graham: GOP is at risk of breaking apart<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/277405-graham-gop-is-at-risk-of-breaking-apart>

THE HILL // HARPER NEIDIG

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned on Sunday that Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is putting the party at risk of breaking apart. In a radio interview with John Catsimatidis, the former presidential candidate explained his reasoning for backing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, someone he has butted heads with in the past. "I'm supporting Cruz because I think he is a reliable conservative; I think the election will be much more competitive with Ted Cruz," he said. "The people of New York voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in the Republican primary - I respect that.

How bathrooms and transgender rights have become a flash point in the GOP race<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-bathrooms-and-transgender-rights-have-become-a-flash-point-in-the-gop-race/2016/04/24/e7c7ad22-08d6-11e6-bdcb-0133da18418d_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // KATIE ZEZIMA

Cletus Abate was aghast after learning last week that the Pennsylvania legislature is considering a bill that would extend protections to transgender people, including allowing them to use the bathrooms they choose. So she took a petition and packets outlining what opponents see as threats from the legislation to a Ted Cruz rally, handing them out to anyone who would listen, including the candidate himself. "I'm here because Donald Trump came out on the news and said he doesn't have a problem with transgender bathrooms," Abate said. Transgender rights have become an unlikely and heated issue in the presidential campaign after North Carolina enacted a law that, among other things, mandated that people use the bathroom that corresponds to the gender on their birth certificate.

It's a Stretch, but Mitch McConnell Is Reaching Across the Aisle<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/its-a-stretch-but-mitch-mcconnell-is-reaching-across-the-aisle.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Senator Mitch McConnell has a ready comeback for Democrats who keep chanting "do your job" in hopes of pressuring Republicans to consider President Obama's Supreme Court nominee. It is simply, "We are." With a little guile and an agenda of limited ambition, Mr. McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate majority leader, can point to a number of legislative victories, complete with Democratic support. And he is not shy about boasting. "This week we have seen what can be accomplished on behalf of the American people with a Senate that's back to work under the Republican majority," Mr. McConnell declared in a floor speech on Wednesday, minutes before passage of a bipartisan energy bill and a day after the adoption of legislation to tighten aviation standards. "We just passed two broad-based bills aimed at protecting consumers and modernizing our energy policies respectively, and both bills take important steps to bolster national security," Mr. McConnell said. "The Republican-led Senate has made important strides to get the legislative process functioning again."

Republicans to take aim at the National Security Council<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/04/24/republicans-to-take-aim-at-the-white-house-national-security-council/>

WASHINGTON POST // KAROUN DEMIRJIAN

House Republicans plan to move a proposal that would restrain White House control over foreign policy planning, amid mounting complaints that the roles of the Pentagon and other national security agencies are being curtailed by West Wing micromanaging. House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry will offer an amendment as soon as next week to the annual defense policy bill that would slash the National Security Council staff to "well below" its estimated current level of 400, give Congress more oversight over the council and subject the president's national security adviser to the Senate confirmation process, according to committee aides. The changes are a response to a litany of recent complaints about how closely the NSC controls decision making regarding foreign policy and military strategy that traditionally was coordinated by national security agencies. Former Obama administration Defense Secretaries Robert Gates and Leon Panetta have been particularly outspoken about their frustrations since leaving the Pentagon about the amount of control exercised by NSC staff.

Rand back to being Rand<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/rand-back-senate-222281>

POLITICO // BURGESS EVERETT

During his ill-fated presidential run, Rand Paul tried to stretch his brand of libertarianism to appeal to a broader audience. He talked tougher about engaging the Islamic State, undercut diplomacy with Iran and called for cutting domestic programs to pay for more defense spending. Now, nearly three months after he pulled the plug on a presidential campaign that peaked at least a year too soon, Paul has resumed his role as the Senate's libertarian-minded contrarian. And the 53-year-old eye doctor appears quite content, relieved of any need to soft-pedal his ideas for a national audience and ready to settle in to the Senate for the long haul. In a recent interview in his Capitol office, adorned with magazine covers documenting the Kentucky Republican's meteoric rise, a relaxed Paul lounged in a chair and spoke with excitement about the prospect of being the Senate's leading libertarian voice on international policy and surveillance issues for another six years. He's favored to win reelection this fall and scoffed at criticisms leveled by his Democratic opponent that he's running a permanent presidential campaign, with his Senate seat as a launchpad.

2016 Democrats

DNC chief: Brokered GOP convention would 'descend into chaos'<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277427-wasserman-schultz-republican-party-is-going-to-descend>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Sunday slammed the Republican Party, saying a contested convention would turn into "chaos." "The Republicans are clearly headed to a brokered convention that is going to descend into chaos," the Florida congresswoman said on "Fox News Sunday." "There's almost no one that you can ask that doesn't acknowledge that." Wasserman Schultz also defended both Democratic candidates, saying they, unlike the Republican candidates, are focusing on the issues at hand.   "We are continuing to head toward a unified effort when our primary is over to make sure that we can get behind our eventual nominee." She also blasted Republican front-runner Donald Trump, saying the GOP has "a faker" running for president.

Clinton Can't Rely on Trump's Unpopularity<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/clinton-cant-rely-on-trumps-unpopularity.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // ALBERT R. HUNT

Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio is a relatively accessible fellow, but when asked for an interview on the subject of the schisms in his Democratic Party, his schedule was full. Instead, he sent a statement that the Hillary Clinton-Bernie Sanders presidential primary battle was strengthening the party in contrast with the "divisive" Republican fight. He's right about the Republicans. The personal invective and policy splits threaten to tear the party apart and produce an electoral cataclysm in November. Yet that is obscuring serious problems on the Democratic side: deep divisions on policy and an almost certain nominee, Mrs. Clinton, who if not for Donald J. Trump would be the most unpopular presidential front-runner in recent times. The differences between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders are more pronounced than those between Barack Obama and Mrs. Clinton in 2008. Then, there were modest divergences on health care and national security, highlighted by her support five years earlier for George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq.

Clinton camp predicts big wins Tuesday<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/277417-clinton-camp-predicts-big-wins-tuesday>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign chair, John Podesta, said rival Bernie Sanders won't do well in the five Democratic contests on the East Coast on April 26, ultimately helping the former secretary of State in her path to the party's nomination. "He's got to win, and he's got to win big, and we don't think he can do that," Podesta said to radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview Sunday. "So we're looking forward to that. "I think we're in very good shape to have her be the first woman nominee to a major party ticket in this country," Podesta added. "I think we can have a really, really good day next Tuesday." Five states vote Tuesday: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Polls show Clinton leading in all, and the states that offer the most delegates Tuesday are those in which she has the biggest leads.  In Maryland, which offers 118 delegates, Clinton carries a 22-point lead over Sanders, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls. And in Pennsylvania, which has 210 delegates up for grabs, Clinton has a 16-point lead on average.

Small Rhode Island Suddenly Has Big Role in Presidential Primaries<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/small-rhode-island-suddenly-has-big-role-in-presidential-primaries.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // JESS BIDGOOD

Most years, the presidential primary here is a drive-by affair, with candidates racing past the state like motorists taking the shortest route from Boston to New York. But this unpredictable election season has turned even Rhode Island's late primary and paltry pile of delegates into a valued prize, putting this small state into the primary spotlight before its vote Tuesday. "For the first time in a very long time," Larry Berman, an aide to the state's House speaker, said merrily, "Rhode Island's primary actually matters." Campaigns of yore would be forgiven for paying little attention to Rhode Island, which has 33 Democratic delegates and just 19 on the Republican side. Charles Bullock, a professor of political science at the University of Georgia, said Rhode Island tended to play a significant role in the primary season only in close contests like the one in 1976 between Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, or in 2008, when Hillary Clinton was trying to make up ground lost to Barack Obama.

Poll: Clinton leads Sanders by 15 in Pa.<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/277407-poll-clinton-leads-sanders-by-15-in-penn>

THE HILL // HARPER NEIDIG

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton holds a big lead over rival Bernie Sanders in Pennsylvania just days before the state's April 26 primary, according to a new Wall Street Journal/Marist/NBC poll. Among likely Democratic voters, Clinton has 55 percent support to Sanders's 40 percent. She has over 60 percent support among African-Americans, voters over 45, women and voters who identify as Democrats. But the Vermont senator continues to dominate among younger voters, with 60 percent of those under 45 supporting him. Both candidates beat Republican front-runner Donald Trump in a hypothetical general election match-up. Clinton leads the business mogul 54 to 39 percent, while Sanders tops him 57 to 37 percent. The poll surveyed 734 likely Democratic primary voters from April 18 to 20. It has a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

Hillary Clinton visits Philadelphia churches ahead of primary election<http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/04/hillary_clinton_visits_philade.html>

PENNLIVE // CHRISTIAN ALEXANDERSEN

Hillary Clinton toured black baptist churches in North Philadelphia on Sunday leading up to Tuesday's  primary election battle against Sen. Bernie Sanders in Pennsylvania. Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls have spent the last few days crisscrossing Pennsylvania in search of support and votes. There are five primary elections on Tuesday and candidates have been visiting those states -- including Pennsylvania. In another push to corral votes before the Pennsylvania primary, Hillary Clinton will hold a rally at City Hall in Philadelphia. Sunday,Clinton visited two churches in Philadelphia. She visited Triumph Baptist Church and African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. At both stops, she pledged to seek criminal justice reform and fight for tougher gun regulations before the largely African-American congregations.

Clinton Targets Cruz, Trump In Final Push In Bridgeport<http://www.courant.com/politics/elections/hc-clinton-bridgeport-20160425-story.html>

COURANT // MARA LEE

Making a final Connecticut appearance in front of 1,200 supporters before Tuesday's primary, Hillary Clinton again promised to tackle gun violence and warned against the divisive rhetoric of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. "We have to take on the gun lobby and take on the epidemic of gun violence in America," she said Sunday afternoon in a gymnasium on the University of Bridgeport campus. Clinton did not mention her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders, but looking beyond Tuesday, she was blunt about her differences with her two GOP rivals. "What you hear Trump and Cruz say, it's not only offensive, it's dangerous," she said, telling the audience that Republicans have painted all Muslims as potential enemies of America. To defeat ISIS, Clinton said, "We have to build a coalition with majority Muslim nations," she said. Without mentioning Bill Clinton by name, Clinton talked about her political career going back to her years as first lady, and referred to the booming economy during her husband's eight years in office.

Clinton storms Connecticut with gun-control message<http://thehill.com/news/campaign/277345-clinton-storms-connecticut-with-gun-control-message>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

Hillary Clinton is accentuating her support for gun control in the run-up to Tuesday's Democratic primary in Connecticut, the site of one of the worst school shootings in American history. The former secretary of State met last week in Hartford, Conn., with the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and has launched ads in the state featuring victims of gun violence.  "I am here to tell you I will use every single minute of every day, if I'm fortunate to be your president, looking for ways to save lives so we can change the gun culture," Clinton said to victims of the Newtown massacre in Hartford on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.  Mailers supporting Clinton that have been sent to registered Democrats in Connecticut feature Gabby Giffords, a former Arizona congresswoman and shooting victim who has become one of the biggest national advocates for changing gun laws.

After a Sanders supporter mentions Monica Lewinsky, Clinton accuses his campaign of encouraging vitriol<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/after-a-sanders-supporter-mentions-monica-lewinsky-clinton-accuses-his-campaign-of-encouraging-vitriol/>

WASHINGTON POST // JOHN WAGNER AND ANNE GEARAN

A brief mention of Monica Lewinsky by a prominent Bernie Sanders supporter sparked controversy on the campaign trail this weekend, with Hillary Clinton's team accusing her Democratic presidential rival of condoning "vitriol." Actress Rosario Dawson, who has campaigned with Sanders on several occasions, brought up the former White House intern on Saturday during a Sanders rally in Wilmington, Del., referencing the work that Lewinsky now does to combat cyberbullying. Dawson said she and other Sanders supporters were being bullied by Clinton's allies. "We are literally under attack for not just supporting the other candidate," Dawson said in remarks introducing Sanders to the crowd. "Now I'm with Monica Lewinsky with this. Bullying is bad. She has actually dedicated her life now to talking about that. And now as a campaign strategy, we are being bullied, and, somehow, that is okay and not being talked about with the richness that it needs."

Facing long odds for the Democratic nomination, Sanders remains a big draw on the trail<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/facing-long-odds-for-the-democratic-nomination-sanders-remains-a-big-draw-on-the-trail/>

WASHINGTON POST // JOHN WAGNER

Bernie Sanders's path to the Democratic presidential nomination may have narrowed considerably since his loss to Hillary Clinton in the New York primary, but he showed Sunday that he can still turn out big-time crowds. More than 14,000 people gathered in a downtown park here for a Sanders rally on Sunday night, according to park officials, just hours after more than 7,000 people streamed to an outdoor event in Providence, R.I. Connecticut and Rhode Island are among the five states that will hold primaries Tuesday, when Clinton is hoping to further tighten her grip on the party's nomination. The senator from Vermont took markedly different approaches regarding Clinton at his two rallies. In Providence, he barely mentioned her name during his hour-long stump speech -- a signal, some thought, that he might be dialing back his criticism as his odds of prevailing grow longer.

Sanders: America needs to get to 'root cause' of 9/11<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/sanders-on-9-11-i-want-to-get-to-the-root-of-what-saudi-arabia-has-done-222353>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

The United States needs to get to the "root cause" of the 9/11 attacks, Bernie Sanders said in an interview aired Sunday, explaining his support for Senate legislation that would allow the families of terror victims the right to sue foreign governments and entities in federal court, including Saudi Arabia. "I think there's a lot about Saudi Arabia that we don't fully understand. And I want to get to the root cause of it," Sanders told Chuck Todd on NBC News' "Meet the Press." "The root of what Saudi Arabia has done." Remarking that there is "some evidence -- and we will have to ascertain whether it's accurate or not -- that money from Saudi Arabia actually funded a 9/11 attack," Sanders noted that Saudi money "is going all over the world" to fund the austere Wahhabi form of Islam. "And I think that the full extent of the role that Saudi Arabia plays in supporting extremism in this world is something that we should explore," Sanders said.

Sanders snags another union endorsement<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/sanders-snags-another-union-endorsement-222357>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

Bernie Sanders on Sunday announced that he had earned the backing of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, in the Democratic candidate's latest endorsement from a major national labor union as he looks to gain momentum ahead of Tuesday's five primaries. Peter Knowlton, the union's national president, called the Vermont senator in a statement released through his campaign "the most pro-worker pro-union presidential candidate I have seen in my lifetime," adding that Sanders' candidacy "is a unique opportunity that workers and unions must not pass up." Rank-and-file local delegates from the 35,000-member organization unanimously approved the endorsement of Sanders in the last six weeks, while Knowlton said in the statement that there has already been a "groundswell of support for Bernie with members volunteering for the campaign."

Sanders shrugs off Rosario Dawson's Lewinsky reference<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/rosario-dawson-monica-lewinski-sanders-222362>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

On Saturday, Bernie Sanders supporter Rosario Dawson said she stood with Monica Lewinsky in the fight against bullying. On Sunday morning, Bernie Sanders shrugged off the invocation of Lewinsky, the former White House intern with whom the husband of his Democratic rival infamously had an affair as president. "We are literally under attack - not just for supporting the other candidate," the actress told a crowd in Wilmington, Delaware, as she introduced the senator, adding, "I'm with Monica Lewinsky on this ... bullying is bad." Dawson also called it a Clinton "campaign strategy." Asked on CNN's "State of the Union" whether that was appropriate, Sanders instead talked up the "great job" the "great actress" is doing for the campaign. "And she has been a passionate fighter to see the voter turnout that we fight for, racial, economic environmental justice. What our job right now is to contrast our views compared to Secretary Clinton. That's what a campaign is about," Sanders said, reiterating that he would approach the campaign in an "issue-oriented way, not by personal attacks, but by contrasting our view to Hillary Clinton."

Sanders rejects Philadelphia soda tax<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277418-sanders-rejects-philadelphia-soda-tax>

THE HILL // KYLE BALLUCK

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders in an interview broadcast Sunday rejected a proposed soda tax to pay for pre-kindergarten programs in Philadelphia, an initiative backed by rival Hillary Clinton. "It is a totally regressive tax, and right now, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when the wealthy are getting wealthier - many of them pay an effective tax rate lower than working people," Sanders said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "You have large multinational corporations not paying a nickel in federal taxes. That's where you get the money. Somebody's making $20,000 a year and they buy a bottle of soda, I don't think you charge them $0.30 more for that bottle of soda." Sanders said he "absolutely" agrees with the goal of universal childcare.

Sanders dodges on Rosario Dawson's Lewinsky comments<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277423-sanders-dodges-on-rosario-dawsons-lewinsky-comments>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Sunday did not directly answer a question about whether it was appropriate for actress Rosario Dawson, a Sanders surrogate, to mention former White House intern Monica Lewinsky at a rally Saturday.  "Rosario is a great actress and she's doing a great job for us," Sanders said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "I have no idea in what context Rosario is talking about, but I would hope that all of our people talk about the real issue." Sanders also said people should be talking about climate change instead of his surrogate. "And, by the way, it might be a good idea for all of us, including TV networks, to start talking about the planetary crisis of climate change," Sanders added. Dawson on Saturday took a swipe at Sanders's rival, Hillary Clinton, by mentioning Lewinsky - who has become an anti-bullying activist following her alleged affair with former President Bill Clinton - and accusing the front-runner's campaign of bullying.

Sanders on supporting Clinton as nominee: 'Totally dependent' on her platform<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277431-sanders-on-supporting-clinton-as-nominee-that-is>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said on Sunday that if rival Hillary Clinton secures the nomination, he'll have to look at her platform before he commits to making an enthusiastic case for her. "That is totally dependent on what the Clinton platform is and how she responds to the needs of millions of Americans who are sick and tired of establishment politics and establishment economics," Sanders said on ABC's "This Week" in response to a question about whether he'd back her in the same way she pushed for President Obama in 2008. "You know, I can't snap my finger and tell people what to do."

Sanders said he hopes that if Clinton is the nominee, she will put together "the strongest progressive agenda." He noted he will also do everything he can to make sure Republican front-runner Donald Trump or "some other right-wing Republican" does not become president. "We do not need more tax breaks for billionaires, more cuts to Social Security, Medicare, more ignoring the facts," he said.

Bernie Sanders: I'm behind because 'poor people don't vote'<http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/04/24/bernie-sanders-im-behind-because-poor-people-dont-vote.html>

FOX //

Bernie Sanders says he is trailing Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary "because poor people don't vote." When asked why he consistently lost contests in states with the highest income inequality gaps, the populist Vermont senator said on "Meet The Press" Sunday that he wouldn't trail front-runner Clinton by 275 pledged delegates - and 750 total delegates - if more low-income voters showed up to the ballot box. "I mean, that's just a fact," Sanders said. "That's a sad reality of American society. And that's what we have to transform. "We have one - as you know - one of the lowest voter turnouts of any major country on Earth. We have done a good job bringing young people in. I think we have done - had some success with lower income people. But in America today - the last election in 2014, 80 percent of poor people did not vote. "Sanders has cited that statistic before as his insurgent candidacy has taken hold with disaffected Democrats who want someone with an ideology to Clinton's left. A Politifact examination found the number to be an overestimation by anywhere from 10 to 15 points.

Sanders: 'We're in this race to California'<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277443-sanders-were-in-this-race-to-california>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said he plans to continue campaigning up to California's June 7 primary. "We are in this race. We are not writing our obituary. We're in this race to California, and we're proud of the campaign we ran," he said on NBC's "Meet The Press" in an interview Sunday. Sanders said his campaign still has a "narrow path to victory," and he said he plans to continue fighting and hopes to win. The Vermont senator also touted the progress his campaign has made, noting it brought millions of young people out "who I think many of the pundits had thought were kind of apathetic, not interested in politics. "We're going to have to do - obviously win big in the number of the primaries and caucuses that yet remain. A poll came out yesterday that has us within striking distance in California, a larger state," he said.  "I think we can do very well in California."

Bernie Sanders Acknowledges 'Narrow Path' to Nomination<http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/bernie-sanders-acknowledges-narrow-path-nomination-n561266>

NBC // SALLY BRONSTON

Are we getting the first preview of what a Bernie Sanders exit interview could look like? The Vermont senator seemed to have a more resigned tone on Sunday during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." Sanders conceded his campaign has only a "narrow path to victory" but that they would "fight...through that path. We hope to win." This was a different tone than the one he used just a few weeks ago when he confidently assured supporters, "We are going to win New York." He ended up losing the state to Hillary Clinton by 16 points. Yet Sanders insisted his campaign is "not writing our obituary." Looking ahead, Sanders said, "We're in this race to California, and we're proud of the campaign we ran."

Bernie Sanders draws 7,000 to Rhode Island rally<https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/04/24/sanders-draws-rhode-island-rally/9vAIJ5Kxjcah1p6wD6bsIO/story.html>

BOSTON GLOBE // JAMES A. KIMBLE

US Senator Bernie Sanders barely mentioned Hillary Clinton during a rally that drew more than 7,000 people to the grassy fields of Roger Williams Park just two days before the state's primary. What supporters and curious voters did hear was Sanders' assertion that a "political revolution" for the working class could only happen if voters of the Ocean State mobilized to the polls. "What we have found throughout this campaign is when voter turnout is high, when working people, and young people, when the middle class people come out in big numbers, we often win," Sanders told a cheering crowd before a backdrop of a lake and the stand of Roman columns that make up the Temple to Music pavilion. "When voter turnout is low, we don't do well. I would hope on Tuesday that Rhode Island has the largest turnout for a Democratic primary in the history of the state."

Sanders ponders legality of cigarettes<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/bernie-sanders-cigarettes-222351>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

There is "almost the question as to why" cigarettes are legal in the United States, Bernie Sanders said in an interview aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." The remark came as Sanders explained his opposition to a proposed tax on sugary drinks in Philadelphia, which would fund pre-kindergarten education, reiterating that it is a "totally regressive tax" that results in poorer people paying even more in taxes if they buy a bottle of soda. When moderator Chuck Todd asked him if he felt the same way about cigarette taxes, Sanders said he did not. "Cigarette taxes are - there's a difference between cigarettes and soda," the Vermont senator said. "I am aware of the obesity problem in this country." Todd replied, "I don't think Michael Bloomberg would agree with you on that one," referring to the former New York mayor's infamous effort to limit the size of sugary drinks sold in the city. (The state's highest court in 2014 ruled that the city had overstepped its regulatory bounds by implementing the rule.)

Bernie Sanders and Allies Aim to Shape Democrats' Agenda After Primaries<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

Even as his chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination slip away, Senator Bernie Sanders and his allies are trying to use his popularity to expand his political influence, setting up an ideological struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party in the post-Obama era. Aides to Mr. Sanders have been pressing party officials for a significant role in drafting the platform for the Democratic convention in July, aiming to lock in strong planks on issues like a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage, breaking up Wall Street banks and banning natural gas "fracking." Amid his unexpectedly strong showing in the Democratic primaries, Mr. Sanders has tapped his two-million-person donor list to raise money for liberal congressional candidates in New York, Nevada and Washington State. And in the waning months of Barack Obama's presidency, Mr. Sanders's allies are testing their muscle against the White House, mounting a public attack on the president's housing secretary, Julián Castro, over his department's sales of delinquent mortgages to banks and private equity firms.

2016 Republicans

Fed-up GOP mega-donors sitting on their checkbooks<http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/277312-fed-up-gop-mega-donors-sitting-on-their-checkbooks>

THE HILL // JONATHAN SWAN

Republican mega-donors, increasingly fed up with their party's circus-like presidential primary, are sitting on their checkbooks until the nominee is decided. GOP campaigns and super-PACs saw dismal fundraising figures in March. John Kasich's campaign took in $4.5 million and his super-PAC $2.8 million for the month - numbers Bernie Sanders's campaign can beat on a good day. And Ted Cruz isn't doing much better. After a strong start, his super-PAC's income has slowed to a trickle and his campaign took in just $12.5 million in March - less than half of Hillary Clinton's campaign haul and about a quarter of Sanders's total. Interviews with major Republican donors and fundraisers reveal that many are fed up after early enthusiasm for unsuccessful candidates. Many of these donors spent millions on the super-PACs supporting Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, one-time favorites who dropped out of the race after getting throttled by Donald Trump.

Koch brothers won't go to Republican National Convention<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/koch-brothers-no-2016-convention-222385>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

Add the Koch brothers' massive political network to the growing list of those who say they will not be attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July. "Why go?" Charles Koch told ABC News<http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/charles-koch-skipping-convention-paul-ryan-gops-white/story?id=38633798> in an article published Monday, referring to the brothers' umbrella political organization, Freedom Partners. "We're not interested in politics. We're interested in moving us towards a culture and policies that will enable people to improve their lives." Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has said that he will also skip the event, along with the party's 2008 nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is facing a tough re-election race. Despite the Koch brothers' donation of hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes over the past decade, Charles Koch remarked that if Democrats "will do a better job, we would support them."

Charles Koch Says He Could Possibly Support Hillary Clinton<http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/24/charles-koch-says-he-could-possibly-support-hillary-clinton/?ref=politics&_r=0>

NEW YORK TIMES // MICHAEL BARBARO

Charles G. Koch, the billionaire industrialist, suggested in an interview Sunday that he was open to supporting Hillary Clinton for president and said it was possible she would make a better president than her Republican rivals. It was an unexpected sentiment from Mr. Koch, who has for years deployed his vast wealth to champion conservative causes and Republican candidacies, emerging as a major foe of the Democratic Party. Mr. Koch sounded at times baffled and disappointed by the language and ideas of several Republican presidential candidates in an interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC, which aired on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." He called a plan by Donald J. Trump to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country "monstrous" and dismissed Senator Ted Cruz's proposal to carpet-bomb territory held by the Islamic State as "frightening" hyperbole.

Charles Koch suggests that another Clinton in the White House might be better than Trump or Cruz<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/charles-koch-suggests-that-another-clinton-in-the-white-house-would-be-better-than-trump-or-cruz/>

WASHINGTON POST // VANESSA WILLIAMS

Conservative political activist Charles Koch suggested in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that Democrat Hillary Clinton would be a better president than the Republican contenders, although he stopped short of saying he would support the former secretary of state if she ends up representing her party in a general election. The billionaire, who with brother David has been active in Republican Party politics, criticized the tone of the GOP presidential primary campaign, citing it as the reason the brothers have not contributed to any campaigns, including efforts to derail Republican front-runner Donald Trump. In the interview with chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl, which aired on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," Charles Koch said Bill Clinton had done a better job than George W. Bush in controlling government growth while president.

Priebus: Chances of contested convention have 'plateaued'<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277428-priebus-on-chances-of-contested-convention-i-think-theyve>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in an interview Sunday the chances of his party heading toward a contested convention in July are no longer increasing. "I think they've plateaued," he said on ABC's "This Week" in response to a question on whether the chances of a contested convention were falling. "On the delegate front, obviously Trump's got a little bit of a lead. But if you look on the delegate selection front, it looks like a pretty split decision, so I think it's going to be a close contest going into the next 60 days," he said. Priebus said the Republican Party will eventually unify behind its nominee. He said he expects the party to have a "strong case" to make to the American people. "We're working hard to make sure that we've got an open and fair convention so that we get to that place where we can unify around one person," he said.

A kinder, gentler Trump?<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277348-trump-starts-to-tone-it-down>

THE HILL // NIALL STANAGE

Donald Trump is set to shift his strategy to win the White House, becoming less antagonistic toward the GOP establishment and adopting a less abrasive tone on social issues. But the approach brings risks as well as potential rewards. At a closed-door briefing with Republican National Committee (RNC) members Thursday, Trump aide Paul Manafort assured his audience that his boss is not "running against" the national party and that he "cares about the united team." In his remarks, first reported by The New York Times, Manafort also raised eyebrows by saying of Trump, "the part he's been playing is evolving."

But Trump will have to tread a fine line, as comments he made at the weekend acknowledged. At a Saturday rally in Waterbury, Conn., Trump suggested that he would never have reached his current position as the dominant GOP front-runner had he "acted presidential" from the outset of his campaign. The key question is whether Trump can establish more civil relations with the RNC and set a more sober-minded tone in general - while also not disenchanting supporters who were drawn to the businessman as a brash voice unwilling to pay deference to the powers-that-be.

Trump: 'It looks like five' wins on Tuesday<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277455-trump-says-he-thinks-hell-sweep-in-tuesdays-contests>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Sunday during a campaign rally he thinks he will sweep all five states in the upcoming contests Tuesday. "Trump has millions of votes more by that time because you look Tuesday, it looks like five. I don't know, but I believe in polls," he said during the rally in Hagerstown, Md., when talking about the convention in July. "So let's say we win five, we win all five states, we pick up a lot."  He said he expects to get to the 1,237 required delegates needed to secure the nomination ahead of the Republican convention and will add to his delegate count on Tuesday. He is winning by millions and millions of votes, he said, while also calling the system unfair. In the five states that vote on Tuesday - Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island - Trump has a double digit lead, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. In Maryland, he has a 14.7 point lead over rival John Kasich. Trump had 41 percent support, followed by Kasich with 26.3 percent and Ted Cruz with 24.5 percent.

Trump: 'I'm only interested in the first ballot'<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277457-trump-im-only-interested-in-the-first-ballot>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Sunday he expects to secure the Republican nomination on the first ballot. "I'm only interested in the first ballot," he said during a rally in Hagerstown, Md. "I'm not interested in second, third, fourth, nineteenth because I'm really interested in winning it early and that's it." Trump said he's not "playing games," adding he's going to win in states that other Republicans are not even going to campaign in. But during the rally, Trump slammed the primary system, calling it unfair. He criticized rival Ted Cruz for "bribing" delegates. "He's bribing people essentially to vote," he said. "Now he can't do it on the first ballot, because they're locked into me on the first ballot," he said. "That's all I care about. I only care about the first." Trump said he's pretty sure he's going to get the 1,237 delegates required to secure the nomination. "I'm millions of votes up on Cruz, millions of votes up on Kasich," he said. "I think we're going to make it easily," he added later.

Poll: Trump holds double-digit lead in Pa.<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/277416-poll-trump-holds-double-digit-lead-in-pa>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump holds a double-digit lead in Pennsylvania ahead of the state's April 26 primary, according to a new poll released Sunday. Trump leads rival Texas Sen. Ted Cruz 45 percent to 27 percent, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 24 percent, according to the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll.

The poll shows that Trump performs poorly among college graduates, only getting 37 percent support from that crowd, and women, with only 39 percent of Republican women saying they support the businessman. Alternatively, 52 percent of GOP voters without a college degree support Trump, and the same percentage of men back the candidate. Pennsylvania is one of five Eastern states voting Tuesday and offers 71 delegates.

Trump Jr. says 'we'll do what we need to do' to get delegates<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277424-trump-jr-says-well-do-what-we-need-to-do-to-get-delegates>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

Donald Trump Jr. said during an interview Sunday that his father's campaign would "do what we need to do" to win the GOP nomination when asked about wooing delegates.  "I think we're going to do what we need to do to a point, but I think we want to win without having to do that," Trump Jr. said on CNN's "State of the Union." Trump Jr. has accused presidential rival Ted Cruz of bribing delegates and taking away the voice of the voters, while his father, GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, has said he refuses to do the same as he fights to clinch the Republican Party's nomination. "That's been [Cruz's] game from day one because he's not an appealing candidate to the general election voters," Trump Jr. said.

Manafort: Comments about Trump playing a 'part' taken out of context<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277422-manafort-says-claims-about-trump-playing-a-part-taken-out>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Donald Trump's convention manager, Paul Manafort, on Sunday said his comments that the Republican front-runner is playing a "part" and will start to pivot toward a more presidential persona were taken out of context. "I was talking about rallies versus some other setting," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "In the context of that room, that's what was said and that's what was understood." Manafort told members of the Republican National Committee (RNC) at the party's spring meeting in Hollywood, Fla., that Trump "gets it." "The part that he's been playing is now evolving into the part that you've been expecting. The negatives will come down, the image is going to change, but 'Crooked Hillary' is still going to be 'Crooked Hillary,' " Manafort added, referring to Trump's moniker for Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.  "On the campaign setting, you're seeing the real Donald Trump in campaign mode talking to people who believe in his candidacy," he said on "Fox News Sunday."

Trump campaign manager says his comments that candidate is playing a 'part' were taken out of context<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/trump-campaign-manager-says-his-comments-that-candidate-is-playing-a-part-were-taken-out-of-context/>

WASHINGTON POST // VANESSA WILLIAMS

Donald Trump's new campaign manager said Sunday that his comments that the Republican front-runner was "evolving" from a rough and sometimes raucous candidate to one with a more presidential persona in preparation for the general election had been taken out of context. Paul Manafort - whose leaked comments at a private meeting last week with Republican Party leaders have prompted questions anew about Trump's loyalty to the party and its conservative ideology - said on "Fox News Sunday" that he was not referring to the candidate's core beliefs. "We were talking about evolving the campaign, not the candidate," Manafort said. He sought to convince a skeptical Chris Wallace that he was referring to how Trump talks to cheering followers at campaign events versus "when he's giving speeches on policy, settings that are not rally-oriented."

In Philadelphia, a Brash Ex-Mayor Draws Comparisons to Donald Trump<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/frank-rizzo-philadelphia-donald-trump.html?ref=politics>

NEW YORK TIMES // ALAN RAPPEPORT

His style has evoked polarizing political figures like Barry Goldwater, George Wallace and Edward I. Koch, but as the presidential campaign moves through Pennsylvania, Donald J. Trump is reviving memories of someone who stirred local passions like few others: Frank L. Rizzo of Philadelphia. A former police officer who was nicknamed Big Bambino, Mr. Rizzo rose to power during the city's crime-ridden 1960s and '70s, cracking down on lawlessness with a legendary bellicosity. After becoming police commissioner, he rounded up homosexuals late at night, forced the Black Panthers to strip down in the streets and once appeared with a nightstick stuffed in the cummerbund of his tuxedo. As mayor, he threatened to "break the heads" of criminals and boasted that his Police Department was strong enough to invade Cuba.

Trump: 'Don't think you're ever going to see me again' if I lose<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277458-trump-if-i-lose-i-dont-think-you-will-ever-see-me-again>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said if he loses the Republican nomination, people shouldn't expect him to stick around in the public eye. "They fight like hell for six months, and they're saying horrible things, the worst things you can imagine," Trump said during a rally in Maryland on Sunday. "And then one of them loses, one of them wins. And the one who loses says, 'I just want to congratulate my opponent. He is a brilliant man, he'll be a great governor or president or whatever,'" he said. "I'm not sure you're ever going to see me there. I don't think I'm going to lose, but if I do, I don't think you're ever going to see me again, folks. I think I'll go to Turnberry and play golf or something." Trump said sometimes, the winner will put losing candidates in the administration.

Among this group of GOP primary voters, Trump is the Porsche of candidates<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/among-this-group-of-gop-primary-voters-trump-is-the-porsche-of-candidates/2016/04/24/1a87dd42-0a29-11e6-bfa1-4efa856caf2a_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // CHRIS CILLIZZA

If Donald Trump were a car, he would be a Porsche. If he were an animal, he'd be a lion. And people like Porsches and lions. Or, at least, "Walmart moms" do, according to a focus group of Republican primary-voting Walmart moms conducted this past week in Pittsburgh by Democratic pollster Margie Omero and Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. (Walmart moms are defined as women who have children younger than 18 at home and have gone to the store at least once in the past month. The focus groups - the two pollsters did another one with swing moms in suburban Philadelphia - were funded by Walmart.) "Characterizing Donald Trump as a type of car or animal resulted in some fascinating descriptions - from the GOP group, women depicted him as a Porsche, a Ferrari, a muscle car, a boxer who stands his ground, a bulldog, an Escalade, a lion (fierce and king of the jungle) and as an unpredictable cat," Newhouse and Omero wrote in a memo summarizing the results. "These Moms praised him as someone who speaks his mind, stands his ground, and is refreshingly politically incorrect."

Charles Koch calls Trump's Muslim registry plan 'reminiscent of Nazi Germany'<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/charles-koch-trump-nazi-222372>

POLITICO // POLITICO STAFF

Conservative billionaire Charles Koch chastised Donald Trump for his plan to register all Muslims, calling the idea "monstrous." "That's reminiscent of Nazi Germany. I mean, that's monstrous, as I said at the time," Koch said in an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl.

Koch also said Trump's proposal to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United States is "antithetical to our approach." Trump has previously said, if elected president, he'd support creating a database of all Muslims in America. He later backed off the comment, saying a reporter had suggested the database. Koch also said during the interview that "it's possible" that another Clinton would be better than a Republican president.

Charles Koch on contributing to 'Never Trump' movement: 'That's not what we do'<http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/277429-charles-koch-on-contributing-to-never-trump-movement-thats-not>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Billionaire businessman and campaign funding powerhouse Charles Koch said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he's been asked to contribute to the "Never Trump" movement, but has decided to focus instead on how to improve the country. "That's not what we do," he said on ABC's "This Week," when asked why he hasn't become involved in the "Never Trump" movement. "What we're trying to do is build alliances to make the country better. Like we have one with the White House on criminal justice reform. You do it by trying to find areas where you can work with everybody." Koch did criticize Republican front-runner Donald Trump's proposal to put a temporary ban on letting any Muslims enter the country, however. "Obviously that's antithetical to our approach, but what was worse was this, 'We'll have them all register,' " he said. "That's reminiscent of Nazi Germany. I mean that's monstrous, as I said at the time." Koch also dodged a question about whether he is going to sit out this presidential election, saying he has to look into the nominee once a candidate is chosen.

Trump Jr.: Dad is going through 'natural evolution'<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/donald-trump-jr-dad-evolution-222361>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

Donald Trump is going through a "natural evolution" as a presidential candidate, his son Donald Trump Jr. said Sunday. "There's aspects of things where he'll take things to a level that they need to be taken to, to be able to draw attention to it," Trump Jr. told CNN's "State of the Union," noting that on any of the issues his father has addressed, "he'll talk about them in a way no one else has, he'll take them to a certain level." Issues that were "taboo," that "no one wanted to touch," Trump Jr. said, "people are actually talking about it." Trump Jr. rejected the notion that his father's campaign to this point has been an act, but rather that "sometimes he has to talk about things in a certain way to draw the requisite attention that that topic actually needs." "No one else will touch it if he hasn't done that," he continued. "So I think for him this is a natural evolution, switching over, getting focused on the general election where he's going to have to talk to the broader audience. So I think it's a very natural progression."

Poll: Trump, Clinton leading in Rhode Island<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/poll-trump-clinton-leading-in-rhode-island-222370>

POLITICO // KRISTEN EAST

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton hold comfortable leads among Rhode Island voters, according to a new Brown University poll. Clinton leads Bernie Sanders 43 percent to 34 percent. Trump leads his rivals by double digits, with 38 percent of likely voters. John Kasich and Ted Cruz follow at 25 percent and 14 percent. Roughly the same number of Democrats and Republicans are undecided: 16 percent of Democrats and 17 percent of Republicans, all likely voters, are unsure of which candidate to support on Tuesday. The poll surveyed 600 likely voters in Rhode Island - 436 Democrats and 164 Republicans. The margin of error for the Democratic results is plus or minus 4.6 percentage points, and 7 percentage points for Republican results.

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz: Best of friends?<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/donald-trump-and-ted-cruz-best-of-friends/>

WASHINGTON POST // FENIT NIRAPPIL

Can Donald Trump become best friends with the man he dismisses as "Lyin' " Ted Cruz? The Republican presidential front-runner suggested it could happen after a bruising primary at a Sunday rally in a packed airport hangar in Hagerstown, Md., with a 5,000-person capacity. Maryland is one of five states along the Northeast Corridor that will vote Tuesday, an opportunity for Trump to widen his delegate lead over Cruz, a senator from Texas. After tearing into Cruz as the worst liar he has encountered and accusing him of trying to bribe delegates, Trump offered praise for his fallen rivals in the once 17-person GOP field. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whom Trump last month declared "is not doing a great job," became a "great" governor. He dubbed Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) "a great guy" instead of "Little Marco." And he called Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) - whose cellphone number he once gave out at a rally -- "a nice guy."

Trump Jr.: Cruz can only win by 'bribing the delegates'<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/trump-jr-cruz-bribe-delegates-222366>

POLITICO // NICK GASS

Ted Cruz's only path to the Republican nomination is by "bribing the delegates," Donald Trump Jr. said in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union" aired Sunday, going on to suggest that has always been the Texas senator's plan because is "not appealing" to the general electorate. "You know, Ted Cruz has no chance of winning this without bribing the delegates," Trump's eldest son remarked, noting that Cruz has been mathematically eliminated. Blasting Cruz's delegate strategy, Trump Jr. commented that the senator will "try to get there, he'll do this" and subsequently "lose more states than Mitt Romney, because I can't name a single state that Mitt lost that Ted can possibly win." "So, I think at this point the Republican establishment would much rather just hand the things over to Hillary, hand the reins over to her, let her run it, because guess what?" Trump Jr. said, going on to say that he "certainly question[s] the motives" of the party.

Ex-Reagan admin. official urges Pennsylvania to support Cruz<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/277438-senior-reagan-administration-official-urges-people-to-support-cruz>

THE HILL // REBECCA SAVRANSKY

A senior official in the Reagan administration wrote an op-ed published Sunday urging Pennsylvania residents to support Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz. "Since my days working for Sen. Henry 'Scoop' Jackson (D., Wash.), events in the Middle East and especially concerning the security of Israel have been at the center of my attention," Elliott Abrams wrote in The Philadelphia Inquirer piece, titled "Cruz understands dangers, realities of Mideast." "And if Israel's security and its relationship with the United States are a key concern, Ted Cruz should get your vote. More broadly, if your concern is America's position in the Middle East, your vote should go to Cruz." Abrams said Cruz is intelligent and has a good grasp on the dangers in both the Middle East and Israel. He also wrote that the Texas senator had a commitment to Israel's security. "While [GOP front-runner] Donald Trump is talking about extracting more from Israel for its defense, Cruz wants to beef up the missile defense programs like Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow that are crucial for Israel - and immensely valuable for the United States, with our bases all over the globe," he wrote.

Cruz dominates, Trump falls short again as more states pick delegates<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/cruz-dominates-trump-falls-short-again-as-more-states-pick-delegates/>

WASHINGTON POST // ED O'KEEFE

Ted Cruz dominated the race for delegate seats at weekend Republican meetings nationwide, further positioning the senator from Texas to overtake Donald Trump in the race for the GOP presidential nomination if the contest is decided on later ballots at the Republican National Convention. In some instances, Cruz supporters won delegate seats in states that Trump won, meaning that in most cases they will be required to vote for the businessman on a first ballot. But if Trump fails to win the nomination in the first round, those Cruz supporters could switch to the senator on subsequent ballots. The Trump campaign has assured supporters that it would begin performing better in such settings, but it still seems more focused on winning most of the remaining 15 contests through June and securing the 1,237 delegates needed before the Cleveland convention.

Kasich: Trump can't change negative perception overnight<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277430-kasich-trump-cant-change-negative-perception-overnight>

THE HILL // JESSIE HELLMANN

GOP presidential hopeful John Kasich on Sunday dismissed claims from the Donald Trump campaign that the front-runner will adopt a less-abrasive tone as the Republican National Convention in July approaches.  "You can't turn negatives around overnight. It's not possible to do because when you create that, that negative impression in people, you just can't talk your way out of it, unfortunately, for those that have high negatives." Trump aide Paul Manafort told members of the Republican National Committee last Thursday that the billionaire businessman is "evolving." "That part that he's been playing is now evolving into the part that you've been expecting. The negatives will come down, the image is going to change," Manafort said.

Sen. Inhofe: I'm supporting Kasich so Trump picks him as VP<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/jim-inhofe-john-kasich-trump-222364>

POLITICO // KRISTEN EAST

Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe is supporting John Kasich "not so that he could be president," instead hoping he would be the vice presidential pick, should Donald Trump wrap up the Republican nomination, and boost the party's chances of winning in November. "I support John Kasich not so that he could be president, but so that if Donald Trump becomes president, I would want Trump to use him as vice president because Kasich is one of the smartest guys I know," Inhofe said, according to the Enid News in Oklahoma. Inhofe previously supported Florida Sen. Marco Rubio before he dropped out in March. He then came out in support of Kasich. Speaking to locals at the Enid Woodring Regional Airport this weekend, Inhofe said he believes Trump can only be elected if he wins in Ohio, and having Kasich as his running mate would be a boon to his chances there.

Kasich: We're starting to vet potential VPs<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277440-kasich-were-starting-to-vet-potential-running-mates>

THE HILL / REBECCA SAVRANSKY

Republican presidential candidate John Kasich said Sunday his campaign is looking at potential running mates for if he secures the nomination. "Well, we have some old hands now who are beginning to do that," he said on CBS's "Face The Nation." "You know, these things come quickly. And you don't want to have yourself in a position where you have to pick somebody out of a hat. So I have some skilled hands who are beginning now to take a look and figure out who would really fit. And, you know, it's just starting, so there isn't a lot to report." He said it's possible he'll announce his vice presidential pick by June, before the Republican National Convention in July. Kasich said he approved of the campaign vetting potential candidates, but said its strategy is something "you talk about as a group." "But we're at the preliminary stage. And yeah, I think it's always possible," he said.

Editorials/Op-Eds

A State Bucks the Trend on Voting Rights<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/opinion/a-state-bucks-the-trend-on-voting-rights.html?ref=opinion&_r=0>

NEW YORK TIMES // EDITORIAL BOARD

In a major executive order, Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia on Fridayrestored voting rights to more than 200,000 people<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/us/governor-terry-mcauliffe-virginia-voting-rights-convicted-felons.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=62547929&pgtype=Homepage> who have completed their sentences for felony convictions. Virginia was one of four states, along with Iowa, Kentucky and Florida, that placed a lifetime bar on voting for anyone convicted of a felony. All other states except Maine and Vermont impose lesser restrictions on voting by people with felony convictions. To people who have served their time and finished parole, Mr. McAuliffe said in a statement: "I want you back in society. I want you feeling good about yourself. I want you voting, getting a job, paying taxes." It is the largest restoration of voting rights by a governor, ever.

Mr. McAuliffe's political, and principled, move<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-mcauliffes-political-and-principled-move/2016/04/23/b8191284-08ca-11e6-b283-e79d81c63c1b_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // EDITORIAL BOARD

THE RACISTS who rewrote Virginia's constitution in 1902 made no bones about their objectives. Poll taxes, literacy tests and the disenfranchisement of felons were all granted constitutional cover, the better, explained State Sen. Carter Glass (D), a key draftsman, "to eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State" and ensure "the complete supremacy of the white race in the affairs of government." With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) did his best Friday to scrap the last vestige of that project: the ban on voting by ex-felons. Mr. McAuliffe, who as a candidate promised to expand on similar efforts by his predecessors, ordered that voting rights be automatically restored to more than 200,000 former inmates who have completed their sentences, regardless of their offense. It's about time. For years, Virginia has been one of a dirty dozen states that has barred automatic restoration of voting and other civil rights to ex-convicts. It is one of just four such states - the others are Florida, Iowa and Kentucky - that erected the most onerous barriers by subjecting every felon, violent or not, to a lifetime revocation barring action by the governor.

To change Cuba, speak up for democracy again and again<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-change-cuba-speak-up-for-democracy-again-and-again/2016/04/24/66d63f58-089f-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html>

WASHINGTON POST // EDITORIAL BOARD

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S visit to Cuba last month laid down a marker. The president hailed the island's entrepreneurs, met with dissidents, and encouraged openness and democracy in the presence of President Raúl Castro, who rules without any. The regime's answer has now been delivered at the just-concluded Seventh Congress of the Cuban Communist Party: a loud "no way." The four-day conference, held in Havana, ratified the old guard's hold on leadership. Mr. Castro, 84, was reelected as first secretary of the party, and the delegates cheered a farewell speech from a frail Fidel Castro, 89. Party members seemed eager to snuff out any lingering glow from Mr. Obama's visit. Raúl Castro referred to the United States as "the enemy" and warned "we have to be more alert than ever." The Cuban foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, called the president's visit "an attack on the foundation of our history, our culture and our symbols." He added, "Obama came here to dazzle the non-state sector, as if he wasn't the representative of big corporations but the defender of hot dog vendors, of small businesses in the United States, which he isn't."