Subject: Stitch — Schumer Ready to Broker Democratic Detente
From: Jonathan Allen <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 16:55:31 +0000
List-Id: dff5dea186e38c29c57ca6f8fmc list <dff5dea186e38c29c57ca6f8f.326717.list-id.mcsv.net>

** WHAT'S THE STITCH
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The Stitch is a speed-read highlighting the work and insights of Newsmakers. On weekdays, it's followed by a daily chat on hot political topics.

** SCHUMER WANTS TO PLAY PEACEMAKER IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
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ANNIE KARNI of Politico reports that New York Sen. CHUCK SCHUMER is telling senators he can play peacemaker between former delegation-mate Hillary Clinton and fellow Brooklyn native Bernie Sanders.

Annie enumerates Schumer's ties to each camp and talks to Democratic strategists GEOFF GARIN and DAVID AXELROD about whether Schumer is the right person to broker a Democratic detente.
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"He is well-positioned to try and help achieve a meeting of the minds and a unification of both sides. ... He is trusted and respected by both sides and there probably isn’t a long list of people who meet that description."

—Geoff Garin / Politico (http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/chuck-schumer-peacemaker-sanders-clinton-223434)

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"They both speak Brooklyn ... so that's a start."

—David Axelrod / Politico (http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/chuck-schumer-peacemaker-sanders-clinton-223434)

** OBAMA RISING
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As PHILIP BUMP writes for the Washington Post, President Barack Obama's approval numbers have soared this year, according to Gallup polling.
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"Over the course of the year, Obama's approval numbers changed — quickly, and a lot. In Gallup's most recent weekly average, Obama is at 51-45 — the exact opposite of where he was on Jan. 1 and a 12-point swing since then. He's been at 50 percent or higher in every week since March 1, save one."

—Philip Bump / WaPo (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/21/dont-look-now-but-barack-obama-is-suddenly-popular/)

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What's at work here? It's hard to know for sure. But it seems likely that the president has benefited from the contrast with all of the candidates who sought to succeed him.

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**
TRIVIAL PURSUITS
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ABOUT TODAY

The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters on this day in 1980.

ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT SPORTS TODAY

It's going to be soggy at Pimlico (http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/15643393/steady-rain-soaks-pimlico-race-course-nyquist-trainer-not-overly-concerned)  for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of horse-racing's Triple Crown, today. Nyquist won the Kentucky Derby and is the favorite for the Preakness, while Exaggerator, given the second-best odds of winning, has a history of running well in the mud.

ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT TODAY

This Chewbacca Lady video (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chewbacca-lady-tops-100m-views-896274)  has topped 100 million views on Facebook. It will remind you to enjoy the "simple joys" in life.

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA

Greg Giroux was the first to correctly respond that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is the oldest current member of the Senate. She turns 83 on June 22.

TODAY'S TRIVIA

Courtesy of Greg: What's the ONLY state that currently has two U.S. Senators from one political party AND was carried in the 2012 presidential election by the White House nominee of the OPPOSITE political party?

Send answers to [email-masked].

WHAT TO DO WITH NEWS TIPS, SUGGESTIONS AND CORRECTIONS

Please send them to [email-masked].

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**
MATT K. LEWIS FEATURED IN FREDERICK NEWS-POST
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The Frederick News-Post runs a lengthy weekend feature on Wolfsville, Md., native MATT K. LEWIS. Bet you didn't know he worked as a manager at Roy Rogers after graduating from college and at an Amoco station while he was in school.

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"Getting to go on television and talk about politics is an amazing blessing, and to get paid to do it, it’s almost unfathomable."

—Matt Lewis / Frederick News-Post (http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/from-wolfsville-to-cnn-lewis-finds-success-in-political-commentary/article_34f81b4a-e9aa-5de9-9ece-55fab2ea77f7.html)

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**
SIDEWIRE CHAT RECAP: REED GALEN
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Republican strategist REED GALEN joined Stitch yesterday to talk politics. Reed offered insights into Arnold Schwarzenegger and one of the party's rising stars.
ON WHAT MADE SCHWARZENEGGER A SPECIAL CANDIDATE
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"Gov. Schwarzenegger really has a pulse for people. Maybe it's from his time in Hollywood, but he instinctively knew what would sell and what wouldn't with voters. He's also incredibly hard working. No one outdid him on that front."

—Reed Galen / Sidewire (https://sidewire.com/politics/articles/1b6ebccb4a20eb32214045b4e9a22fca/commentary/376cb6e4-9c66-4517-b586-bf65d1feff28)

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Reed also talked about who might be the best Republican presidential candidate the next time there's not a GOP president running for re-election.
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"That's the 64K question. Ben Sasse is clearly making his case as thoughtful and charasmatic. Whoever it is, they will need to be a Gen Xer. This is likely (hopefully) the last Baby Boomer president. Time to turn the page generationally."

—Galen / Sidewire (https://sidewire.com/politics/articles/1b6ebccb4a20eb32214045b4e9a22fca/commentary/bd72bd3e-b0a2-483c-b25b-e3194f3a387e)

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THE BIG QUESTION
How much will Obama's approval level affect this year's presidential election?

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