Tipsheet: Democrats face new civil war in primary fight

View in your browser     Democrats face new civil war in primary fight BY JONATHAN EASLEY The bell has rung on round two of the Democratic Party’s civil war. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s entry into the 2020 presidential primary sets the stage for another knockdown, drag-out fight between the establishment wing of the party and the ascendant left, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Read the full story here     Trump rails against political elites on Washington media's big night BY JONATHAN EASLEY President Trump railed against the political and social elites at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Saturday night, as members of the press gathered in Washington for the White House correspondents’ dinner. Read the full story here     Trump ramps up attacks on media ahead of White House correspondents' dinner BY BRETT SAMUELS President Trump has reignited his attacks on the news media in the days leading up to the White House correspondents’ dinner, underscoring the White House’s use of the press as an effective foil. Read the full story here     WHCD focuses on press freedom and history, not stars and comedy BY RACHEL FRAZIN AND JUDY KURTZ  The 2019 White House Correspondents’ Dinner focused more on history and press freedom than celebrities and comedy as President Trump skipped the dinner for the third consecutive year for a campaign rally in Wisconsin. Read the full story here       NRA convention rocked by leadership struggle BY TAL AXELROD   The National Rifle Association’s annual convention this week was rocked by a bitter leadership struggle that has resulted in the departure of the gun advocacy group’s president following allegations of extortion. Read the full story here     NRA President Oliver North leaving gun rights group amid clash BY TAL AXELROD National Rifle Association (NRA) President Oliver North announced Saturday that he will not run for reelection amid a rash of infighting at the gun rights group's annual meeting. Read the full story here     Chasten Buttigieg emerges as Mayor Pete's secret weapon BY ALEX GANGITANO Chasten Buttigieg has emerged as a star in the Democratic primary, becoming a key part of his husband Pete Buttigieg's campaign and helping the South Bend, Ind., mayor stand out in a crowded field. Read the full story here     Man detained following shooting at California synagogue BY ARIS FOLLEY AND JOHN BOWDEN Local authorities said they detained a man on Saturday in connection with a shooting that took place near a synagogue in San Diego County, California. Read the full story here     Government watchdog finds six Trump staffers violated Hatch Act BY MORGAN GSTALTER The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) on Friday found that six members of the Trump administration violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from using their offices and resources for political purposes. Read the full story here     Ex-Trump Cabinet heads' lobbying gigs challenge 'drain the swamp' message BY ALEX GANGITANO AND MIRANDA GREEN Former Environment Protect Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s latest gigs since leaving the administration, and the backgrounds of their replacements, have shed light on how the Trump administration isn’t following through with the president’s initial "drain the swamp" message. Read the full story here     Impeachment without conviction plays right into Trump's hands BY MIKE PURDY Opinion | The Constitution permits impeachment in the event of “treason, high crimes and misdemeanors.” But, as Gerald Ford once wisely noted, “an impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.” In other words, impeachment is not only a legal determination, but ultimately a political decision. Read the full story here     Did Mueller peek at Trump's tax returns? BY MARTIN J. SHEIL Opinion | Trump pointedly noted that “Mueller, I assume, for $35 million, checked my taxes, checked my financials. ... They checked my financials, and they checked my taxes, I assume” — the inference being that since Mueller had looked at them, there is no need for Congress to review them also. But is that a false assumption and therefore a new false narrative foundation being created? Read the full story here     The New York Times: Biden and Obama’s ‘odd couple’ relationship aged into family ties BY PETER BAKER Four years ago, Barack Obama gently discouraged him from running for president, but Joseph R. Biden Jr. is back and presenting himself as Mr. Obama’s natural heir. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Beto O’Rourke switches his campaign style and tone as the spotlight dims BY JENNA JOHNSON The former congressman turned Democratic presidential candidate finds America a bigger challenge than Texas, where he narrowly lost a U.S. Senate race in 2018. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Dems postpone contempt action as ex-WH staffer to testify BY AP STAFF A former White House staffer who was at risk of being held in contempt of Congress has agreed to testify, potentially averting a showdown between Democrats and the White House. Read the full story here     Reuters: Iran says leaving nuclear treaty one of many choices after US sanctions move BY REUTERS STAFF Quitting a treaty designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons is one of Iran’s “numerous choices” after the United States tightened sanctions on Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was on Sunday quoted as saying by state media. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: More whistleblower complaints emerge in Boeing 737 MAX safety inquiries BY ANDY PASZTOR Congressional panels and federal investigators are delving into various complaints by purported whistleblowers. Read the full story here   Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet     You might like         Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.