Burning Issues: Is Climate Change A U.S. Security Threat?
Jason Kowalski, U.S. policy director for 350.org, the global, grassroots organization battling climate change, explains in this Burning Issues video how climate change has become a national security issue.
Clinton Blurs Key Difference With Sanders
Clinton tries to narrow the fracking gap with Sanders. W. Post: "...Clinton may be able to complicate the Sanders camp’s hopes of gaining traction on the issue in the state [of New York] ... Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon confirmed that ... 'she does not believe fracking should take place where states and local communities oppose it' ... Sanders has argued for a total ban on fracking ... But Clinton, by aligning herself with New York’s fracking ban, may be able to minimize the political importance of that difference."
Sanders knocks Clinton's "judgment." NYT quotes: " She may have the experience to be president of the United States. No one can argue that. But in terms of her judgment, something is clearly lacking.”
"Not Unqualified, Compromised" says Robert Borosage in HuffPost: "... the kerfuffle was all nonsense ... Sanders’ critique of Clinton isn’t that she is unqualified or inexperienced. It is far tougher and more substantive. His campaign is premised on the belief that she is too compromised and conservative to be the president we need. It isn’t about character or experience; it is about direction, program and independence."
Sanders campaign making huge strides in online organizing. Politico: "Sanders’ organizational success — fueled by free or low-cost, off-the-shelf apps like Hustle and Slack — is the lesser-known counterpart to his campaign’s prowess in raking in campaign cash from hordes of shallow-pocketed donors online ... Sanders' virtual volunteers do campaign work that has traditionally been handled by paid operatives or fallen through the cracks in a busy election cycle — such as identifying likely voters or turning out people to campaign events ... the Sanders' team argues that its distributed organizing strategy will fully reveal its strength as the election reaches sprawling states later in the calendar, such as New York on April 19 and California on June 7."
Trump Rails Against GOP Primary Rules
Trump's complaints about delegates don't add up, argues MSNBC's Ari Melber: "Donald Trump blasted the GOP's delegate rules Sunday, saying a 'corrupt' system is denying him delegates in states he won. According to a new NBC analysis, however, Trump has benefited far more than Ted Cruz under the party's arcane rules for allocating delegates. Trump now leads the Republican field with 756 delegates — or 45 percent of all delegates awarded to date. Yet he has won about 37 percent of all votes in the primaries..."
Trump's charitable giving doesn't involve his money. W. Post: "...Trump’s campaign compiled a list of his contributions ... Not a single one of those donations was actually a personal gift of Trump’s own money ... many of the gifts that Trump cited to prove his generosity were free rounds of golf..."
Paul Ryan launches a campaign, of sorts. NYT: "...his staff churned out its latest flattering video of Mr. Ryan, deploring identity politics and promoting a battle of ideas — set to campaign-style music ... Mr. Ryan is creating a personality and policy alternative to run alongside the presidential effort — one that provides a foundation to rebuild if Republicans splinter and lose in the fall ... He is shaping an agenda that he plans to roll out right before the convention, a supplement of sorts to the official party platform."
World Leaders Struggle With Panama Papers
Panama Papers continues to roil globe. Bloomberg: "[UK PM David] Cameron will face lawmakers on Monday as he seeks to draw a line under the crisis stemming from information about the use of offshore tax havens leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. Iceland’s prime minister has resigned, Malta’s government faces a confidence vote and Argentine President Mauricio Macri promised to put his assets in a blind trust after he was linked to two companies listed in Panama.
UK PM David Cameron proposes tax evasion crackdown after being ensnared in Panama Papers scandal. AP: "Cameron is speeding up plans to make companies criminally liable if their employees help their customers to evade tax ... Cameron will also host a global anticorruption summit next month in London and will hope to restore some credibility by bringing in the tighter rules more quickly (his government had previously committed to introducing the legislation by 2020)."
President of Panama defends nation in NYT oped: They are unfairly called the Panama Papers because this particular trove of documents came from a single law firm based in Panama. But the problem of tax evasion is a global one. Panama does not deserve to be singled out on an issue that plagues many countries. But we are willing to accept the responsibility for fixing it, in part because greater transparency is ultimately a continuation of reforms we have recently undertaken."
