Top Trump Aide Quickly Bows Out, Bundy Bros Fight For Rights In Jail, And Some On Far Left Call Sanders A Sellout

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May 26, 2016

Top Stories


The Eccentric Tech Billionaire Behind The Gawker Suits Has Some Curious Ideas

The Gist: The idea that an overly sensitive rich guy would use clandestine court maneuvers — in a pro wrestler’s defamation case, no less — to financially drain a pesky news outlet would be comical, if not so troubling. But Peter Thiel is not just any overly-sensitive rich guy.

Top Trump Aide Rick Wiley Leaves Campaign Shortly After He Was Hired

The Gist: Rick Wiley, the former campaign manager for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), left Donald Trump’s campaign on Wednesday just a little over a month after he was officially hired.

Shocker: Bundy Bros Discover That Jail Inmates Have Fewer Freedoms

The Gist: Ammon and Ryan Bundy want their Constitutional Rights –including the Second Amendment– to be recognized in jail and are considering suing the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office to get them, according to a report from Oregon Public Broadcasting. 

From The Reporter’s Notebook


A top Trump advisor said that as the campaign pivots to the general election, the candidate will be softening his stance on one of his most controversial platforms: the Muslim ban, TPM’s Caitlin MacNeal wrote. “He operates by starting the conversation at the outer edges and then brings it back towards the middle. Within his comfort zone, he’ll soften it some more,” top aide Paul Manafort said.

Agree or Disagree?


Josh Marshall: “Sanders has been the top beneficiary of the anti-democratic parts of the nomination process. But that’s irrelevant. Both candidates played under the same rules. The relevant point it’s not about being right. It’s not about anyone’s feelings. Hillary Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee. She won fair and square. The only relevant issue is putting her in the oval office rather than Donald Trump. Anything that gets in the way of that goal is a disaster for the Democrats.”

Say What?!


“I was heading to the exit and they were following me with more of these vile comments. I used a sense of humor and I blew them kisses.”

– Sanders Campaign Manager Jeff Weaver questioned Sen. Barbara Boxer’s claims that she felt threatened by Sanders supporters at a Nevada event, but Boxer said her kisses were just a de-escalation tactic.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From a TPM Prime member: “It’s easy to look at this and assume that it is representative of Sanders supporters in general but it’s not. You have to remember that Sanders has attracted an awful lot of folks who are not traditional Democrats and tend to see the two party system as a choice between somewhat corrupt and very corrupt.so anything less than an overthrow is considered a betrayal of their values. These are not people who would vote for Hillary under any circumstances for the most part but along with these Sanders has brought in a good number of new voters who were not engaged in the process to begin with and that can’t hurt us if they are led to do the mature thing and support the Democratic nominee and downticket candidates. The vast majority of us were looking to reform the party from within and return it to its roots. Neither the Reagan Revolution nor the Third Way approach has worked for the majority of Americans. 22% of American children live below the poverty line which ranks us at the bottom of the pile of developed nations with Latvia and Romania. At the same time, wealth is accumulating at an alarming rate in a very few hands and we spend more time finding ways to keep that wealth concentrated than addressing the ramifications of that unsustainable structure. These are the things we should be fighting against- not making accommodations for.”

Related: What exactly did Bernie supporters do at the Nevada Democratic Convention?

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

What We’re Reading


Some on the far-left say Bernie Sanders is a sell-out, not a socialist. (The Los Angeles Times)

Even with Bundy behind bars, the “range war” lives on for some ranchers. (NPR)


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