GOPer’s Plan For Public Welfare Registry, Trump Loses Ground, and How To Prosecute Non-Violent Crimes

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Check out Friday’s newsletter!

September 25, 2015

Top Stories


Jeb: I’ll Attract Black Voters With ‘Uplifting’ Message, Not ‘Free Stuff’

The Gist: Bush told a questioner at the East Cooper Republican Women’s Club annual Shrimp Dinner that he’d target black voters with a message of “hope” and “earned success.”

GOP Maine Mayor Wants To Create Public List Of Those On Welfare

The Gist: The mayor of Lewiston wants to create a public online registry with the names and addresses of those on welfare in the state, as well as how long they have been receiving benefits.

PA Rep: Don’t Call My Witness A White Supremacist, He’s A White Nationalist!

The Gist:  A Republican lawmaker invited a white nationalist to testify at a hearing to on a bill to make English the official state language of Pennsylvania.

From The Reporter’s Notebook


It’s too soon to say that Trump’s campaign is ending or even taking significant hits because he is still leading national and state polls, according to TPM’s Caitlin Cruz. But, many of his opponents—including fellow anti-establishment candidates Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson—are seeing significant gains. In Bloomberg’s poll, Carson jumped 11 points and Fiorina jumped 10. In the Quinnipiac poll, Trump actually saw a decline while Carson and Fiorina saw gains. And in the Fox News poll, Carson polled six points higher than last month. With his opponents gaining, Trump may have to finally start announcing specific policy positions—something neither of his two policy papers have done so far.

Agree or Disagree?


Sarah Erdreich thinks it’s hypocritical of liberals to vilify Kim Davis but accept doctors who refuse to provide birth control prescriptions to women because of their religious beliefs.

Say What?!


“I want everyone to win. When I run for president, I’d prefer not to run against someone. I would be like ‘I want to work with you.”

– Kanye West thinks Ben Carson is brilliant.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From TPM live chat guest and criminal justice expert Eli Hager: “I do think that there’s a growing sense among policymakers I’ve spoken with that we need to be less punitive with the types of people you’re describing — people whose crimes were minor or victimless. On Capitol Hill, the right and left seem to agree that “low-level, nonviolent” offenders, especially drug offenders, need to go to prison for fewer years or not at all. But there are a few problems with this growing consensus. One, it is frighteningly fragile. When one terrible crime happens (like the murder of Kate Steinle in San Francisco this summer), policymakers start talking about creating mandatory minimum sentences all over again. Second, policymakers have an incredibly distorted definition of “violent” crimes. They’re willing to be less punitive about nonviolent crimes like you describe, but NOT less punitive about “violent crimes” like having — but not using — a handgun, or like stealing a backpack, which Kalief Browder was accused of doing. Second, I think the influence of policymakers is actually less than influence of prosecutors. In an overwhelming majority (over 90%) of criminal cases, whether or not the defendant goes to prison and for how long is decided not by a judge and jury, but by the prosecutor.”

Related: Kate Steinle was fatally shot at a San Francisco tourist spot.

Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here.

What We’re Reading


How did prescription drugs get so expensive? (Wired)

California is still seeking answers for dealing with its most troubled children. (ProPublica)

As the Pope pushes to help the poor, Catholic universities are leaving them behind. (Guernica)


Latest Daybreaker
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: