Latest news with #Recast
Politico
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Democrats have ‘blue dot' dreams in Nebraska
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: Don't look now, but Democrats are suddenly full of optimism about their prospects … in Nebraska. The carmine-tinged state with its famous 'blue dot' around Omaha is suddenly looking like a legitimate battleground to zealous Democrats. They are buoyed by a key GOP retirement from Congress and a local electoral victory where a longtime Republican was toppled. And that was before last week's passage of Donald Trump's megabill, which his critics predict will add trillions of dollars to the national deficit and boot millions of people off Medicaid. 'There is so much anger at what is happening with all of the cuts, in particular in rural communities, that if there was ever an opening to win statewide, [2026] is the year,' Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb told The Recast. Practicality and coalition building is nonnegotiable for her party to compete in a state like Nebraska, Kleeb said. It's partly why she's not planning to recruit a candidate in next year's Senate race — an effort to help boost the chances of independent populist candidate Dan Osborn, who launched his candidacy Tuesday to compete against incumbent GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts, a low-key but ultra-wealthy former governor who is seeking a full six-year term. Kleeb met with Osborn last week. Among the topics they discussed was whether he would have voted for Trump's sweeping 'big, beautiful bill,' which Osborn affirmed he would not have — though he does agree with Trump that 'Biden failed us at the border.' To understand why Democrats are excited in Nebraska — a state where Republicans control the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the state Legislature and all three of the state's congressional seats — requires a look at recent trends in the 'blue dot,' otherwise known as Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr.'s decisive victory in May — a 13 percentage point walloping of three-term Republican Jean Stothert — made him the first Democrat to hold the post since 2013. Ewing is also the city's first Black mayor. In an op-ed, he cited not getting pulled into divisive national politics and focusing instead on kitchen table issues like crumbling streets and housing affordability as some of the reasons behind his victory. 'For too long, cities like Omaha have been ignored by national political strategists and the media,' he wrote. 'We're considered flyover country, not a political battleground. But that kind of thinking is short-sighted.' In addition to Ewing's victory, there was also last week's announcement from centrist U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) that he would not seek reelection, offering the best opportunity for Democrats in recent memory to compete for an open and winnable congressional seat. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently moved the seat from 'Toss Up' to 'Lean Democrat.' 'I think Nebraska has a real, real chance of being the center of a lot that goes on this political season,' said Ken Schilz, a former Republican state senator from Nebraska who suggested Democrats' excitement about making gains in the state might be warranted. He cautioned, though, that there might not be enough deep-pocketed donors to help compete for the seat Bacon is vacating and boost Osborn in his Senate run. 'If [Democrats are] going to win a statewide election in Nebraska, you've got to have the money from Omaha,' he said. 'And if all that money from Omaha is tied up in a congressional race, it'll be hard to find any of that for any other races.' The House contest, he added, 'could have the ability … to suck the air out of the room.' Kleeb pushed back on that assertion. 'We are clearly ready and focused on winning the 2nd Congressional District, and have a plan to do that, and we are definitely focused on helping win statewide as well.' All the best,The Recast Team DAVIS EYES SENATE RUN Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) is eyeing a bid for a North Carolina Senate seat in 2026. If he wins, Davis would become the Tar Heel State's first Black senator. Hannah Spengler, his chief of staff, told POLITICO that the second-term congressman is 'looking at all options and not ruling anything out,' while my colleagues Nicholas Wu and Jordain Carney also note that should Davis follow through on that Senate run, it would mean giving up a closely contested House seat in a district won by Trump last cycle. Davis, who has earned a reputation as a moderate who does not engage in fiery clashes with his GOP colleagues, is likely enticed by a potential run following last week's stunning announcement that incumbent GOP Sen. Thom Tillis will not seek reelection. That announcement came on the heels of Tillis' refusal to vote for Trump's megabill and the president's subsequent threat to back a primary challenger for Tillis' seat. Last cycle, Davis faced fiercer competition than he did when he was first elected in 2022, thanks to the GOP-controlled state Legislature's redistricting that made the state's 1st Congressional District far more competitive. In the state's only true toss-up contest last cycle, Davis narrowly defeated his Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout by roughly 6,300 votes. With Tillis retiring at the end of his term, Democrats are bullish about their chances of winning a North Carolina Senate seat, which has been the party's white whale since Tillis defeated Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in 2014. Democrats' hopes were dashed in 2022 when House Freedom Caucus member Ted Budd beat Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court judge, in what had been an open contest to replace the then-retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr. That loss extended Democrats' losing streak in North Carolina's Senate and presidential contests dating back to 2008, when both Hagan and Barack Obama carried the state. Aside from the potential bid from Davis, former Rep. Wiley Nickel announced his Senate campaign in April, becoming the first declared Democratic candidate. Popular former Gov. Roy Cooper is the biggest wild card on the Democratic side and would enter as the undisputed frontrunner for the nomination. He's expected to make his decision this summer. On the Republican side, RNC Chair Michael Whatley and Rep. Pat Harrigan are reportedly eyeing bids, as is Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, who grew up in Wilmington. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Gerontocracy watch — Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, a civil rights icon, has been steadfast in her public statements that she will seek reelection next year when she turns 89. Her staff, however, has contradicted those statements on multiple occasions, telling reporters that 'no decision has been made.' POLITICO's Michael Schaffer looks at the delicate dance of covering aging members of Congress. And more: TODAY'S CULTURE NEWS Mahershala Ali dodges questions about 'Blade' — The two-time Oscar winner, who also stars in this weekend's top box office earning 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' is done talking about his long-delayed star turn as the titular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Craig Robinson says he's quitting comedy — The former star of 'The Office' gives hints as to why in an Instagram post. Cardi B and her NFL boo on the outs? — It's fueling speculation after the 'I Like It' rapper scrubbed her social media posts of any mention of NFL receiver Stefon Diggs.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tonya Lee Williams Opens Up About Olivia's Future — and Fans May Be Surprised
Tonya Lee Williams is famous for her role as Olivia on The Young and the Restless. The actress played the Genoa City doctor from 1990 to 2012. It's been 13 years since her departure and fans are wondering if Williams will ever return as Olivia. For over two decades, Williams entertained Y&R viewers as Olivia. The character was a fan favorite and prominent member of the beloved Winters family. In 2012, the actress left the soap, but the door was open for her character's return. With Olivia's son Nate (Sean Dominic) now in Genoa City, fans feel it's time for the doctor to return. But if the character ever comes back, Williams won't be in the role. The actress has previously stated she has no desire to return to Y&R. In an interview with The TV Watercooler, the actress reiterated her reasons for not coming back. 'I love the show, but I don't even know how to get into the headspace of that character that I've not played in so long,' she explained. WATCH THIS: Check out Soap Hub's new podcast, Soap Hub Says, here! Although Williams isn't returning, she feels that shouldn't be the end of Olivia. 'I think they should recast!' Williams exclaimed. As for who should take over her role, Williams replied, 'Oh, no — I have no idea! Zero idea, but the character was really wonderful, and I think it would be great.' Williams has given her blessing for Y&R to recast Olivia if they choose to do so. But the question is when and if the character will return. Do you think Y&R should recast Olivia? Let us know in the comment section. Got a red hot theory about your favorite soap storyline? Email news@ — yours could be our next hot topic!
Politico
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Will rising utility costs help Dems win back Latinos?
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: A progressive civic engagement group is betting soaring utility costs will provide a jolt to Latino voters — particularly those who sat out last election cycle or those who broke for Donald Trump. In an exclusive, The Recast has learned Poder Latinx is launching a $300,000 ad campaign targeting Latino voters in the key battleground states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Their message is simple: Trump vowed to lower the cost of living — but he hasn't. Now he's attempting to gut legislation that could spike utility prices even higher. 'We're seeing a lot of folks whose frustration is building up,' said Yadira Sanchez, co-founder and executive director of Poder Latinx. 'Costs are skyrocketing during his administration and as a result of his actions.' The ad launch, which will run on Spanish and English television, kicks off Tuesday with the aim of reversing the significant inroads Trump made with Latino voters last cycle. The first $100,000 tranche will focus on North Carolina to underscore the dual threats Tar Heel State Latinos face. The group argues Trump's economic policies provide no relief for families, adding additional burdens to those still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene that walloped the state nine months ago. 'Trump wants to end the Clean Energy Plan,' the narrator said in one of the ads, referring to provisions passed in the Inflation Reduction Act under the previous administration that have been aggressively nixed from the House-passed legislative package commonly referred to as Trump's big, beautiful bill. '[It's] one of the only things helping us to save money now. … He should focus on lowering costs, like he promised.' That ad centers around an elderly Latino woman appearing to sift through a pile of bills interspersed with images of hurricane-ravaged buildings. Organizers believe what elevates this campaign above typical issue-based outreach attempts is leaning on Latino social media influencers, like Lisandra Vazquez. She's a content creator and comic with more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, where she's grown her audience with skits, including nearly daily parodies of Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. The digital ad Vazquez produced features her portraying two characters: a blond woman with a light Southern drawl taking occasional sips from a Stanley tumbler arguing the 'free market' should set energy prices, and a Latina who rails against Trump because he's going to 'raise bills and end jobs.' It ends with the blond woman being swayed. Vazquez told The Recast she didn't follow nuances of energy politics prior to her work with Poder Latinx but has a keen understanding of the importance of affordable, reliable energy sources. She's a native of Puerto Rico, where her parents still live under the uncertainty of the territory's malfunctioning electrical grid. Vazquez said lending her platform to educate Latino voters puts her 'on the right side of history' and hopes it breaks through to those not constantly glued to the news. 'My hope is that I can provide information through a more palatable way that's enjoyable and a place where people can experience a little bit of levity,' she said. 'When you're in survival mode, you can't make big plans, you're struggling, you're trying to keep your head above water. I can help by giving people small actions to take … or point them to smarter people that have information that I can relay.' While there's no direct mention in the ads, Trump's return to the White House was aided by his overperformance with Latino voters last fall, earning approximately 46 percent overall, according to one exit poll. His message of improving Americans' economic fortunes, addressing immigration and providing more opportunities in education endeared him to many Latino voters. 'I think right now the Latino community is sort of seeing through the bullshit a bit. I think that's a good thing,' said Adrian Maldonado, who chairs the North Carolina Democratic Party's Hispanic Caucus. He's not affiliated with the ad push but sees the upside in Democratic-aligned groups building bridges with the community long before the midterm elections, when Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is up for reelection. 'It's very apparent that [Democrats] can't earn trust at the last minute with a last minute ad in Spanish, right?' Maldonado said. 'What Latino voters [said] their biggest motivations were, I think a lot of that revolves around the sort of economic populist message. The more ways [the party] can kind of tap into that, I think the Latino community would feel a lot more heard.' National Democrats are keenly aware the party must do more to engage Latino voters, particularly in a state like North Carolina. According to statistics compiled by Way to Win, a group that tracks sentiments of Democratic voters and is not affiliated with the ad buy, Latinos had the highest 'skip rate' between those who voted in 2020 and sat out last fall across four battleground states. A quarter of Latinos in North Carolina skipped last year's election, which according to that survey was a higher percentage than Latinos in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia — all states Trump won. 'It's critical that Democratic and Democratic-aligned groups start investing and talking to Latino voters very, very early in the cycle,' said Kevin Munoz, who served as spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign. 'Democrats need to do that a lot more, because these voters require an intense amount of persuasion, an intense amount of communication to reach them where they are … because they're not going to be voters that we can tap late in the game.' Poder Latinx is aiming to roll out a similar campaign in Pennsylvania, arguably the nation's most important swing state, and Virginia, which holds statewide elections later this year. Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest utility company, proposed a 15 percent residential rate hike over the next two years citing factors including inflation and rising fuel costs. All the best,The Recast Team JUNETEENTH UNDER TRUMP SPARKS ACTIVISM Thursday marks the fourth year Juneteenth is observed as a federal holiday and the first since Trump was swept back into the Oval Office. I was initially cynical about the celebration, warning four years ago in this very newsletter about the commercialization of the holiday, which marks the end of slavery in the nation. Since Trump's return to power, there's been an obvious paradigm shift. The commercialization has given way to a predictable retreat — both in pledged dollars from corporate America and in how both political parties engage with Black voters and other voting blocs of color who traditionally have broken for Democrats but have begun to fall away. There's evidence of new efforts on the political left to reengage these voters. Baltimore on Thursday is the final stop of the 'State of the People' tour, spearheaded by Angela Rye, a former staffer with the Congressional Black Caucus who is now a television pundit and podcaster. After kicking off in Atlanta in April, the tour has hit other cities with large Black populations including Richmond, Virginia, Detroit, Louisville, Kentucky, and Birmingham, Alabama, in an effort to reignite a national call to action and to reimagine future possibilities for Black communities. 'We have the ability to survive these really challenging times,' Rye told The Recast, adding that participants of the tour are engaging in dialogue on policies to better unite against Trump's agenda. Separately, there's a push to continue withholding Black spending power as a means to bring corporate America back to the table to engage with the community. Atlanta-based pastor Jamal Bryant, one of the leaders in the boycott of Target after it adhered to the current administration's push to eradicate DEI policies, is expanding the effort to other retailers like Dollar General for not doing enough business with Black vendors. Charles Walker, founder and CEO of Friends of the Movement and a collaborator with Bryant, created a tool called the Conscious Spending Ticker that encourages socially conscious consumers to 'vote with their wallets.' The tool is dubbed the 'Black Wall Street Ticker' and lists companies on their national boycott registry. In all, it aims to redirect $7 trillion in consumer spending to send a clear message about the impact of dual voting: both at the ballot box and at the cash register, Walker said, adding that it is incumbent on Democrats, especially, to take notice. 'We have voted [for the party], but we still haven't achieved the results,' said Walker, who noted there are roughly 160,000 registered for this service so far. 'They don't have the House, nor the Senate, nor the White House,' he said, adding that the goal is to apply pressure on every front. 'If they're not out there telling people to support companies that support [our] values, then what are they doing?' WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Mother Emanuel anniversary — Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, will take part in a gun violence prevention town hall Tuesday evening in Charleston, South Carolina, marking the 10th anniversary of the Mother Emanuel church shooting where nine people were killed by a white supremacist. The event takes place as the nation is still reeling from the attacks on Minnesota state elected officials over the weekend. And more: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Jurors shown 'freak off' clips in court — The sex trafficking trial continues for disgraced music mogus Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Get caught up with the latest and see why a juror was dismissed. New cast additions — A slew of stars have been added to the upcoming Netflix upcoming comedy '72 Hours.' Find out who made the cut. Hoops dreams — The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-2 lead Monday night in the NBA Finals, leaving them one game away from clinching the franchise's first championship. The series goes back to Indianapolis, where the Indiana Pacers have to win Thursday to keep their season alive. Hoops biz — Angel Reese, one of the biggest stars of the WNBA, may be laughing all the way to the bank, appearing to take a phrase used by her social media trolls and making moves to trademark it.
Politico
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Wes Moore's reparations moment
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces an early test of his viability on the national stage as he is set to headline a dinner and fundraiser for South Carolina Democrats on Friday. The opportunity to address party insiders of an early presidential nominating state comes as Moore is facing some headwinds back home — and, perhaps, increasingly from other parts of the Democratic base — over his recent decision to veto a reparations bill in Maryland. The bill called for a study of historic race-based inequality in the state. The veto surprised many of Moore's supporters, especially his fellow Democrats in the state Legislature who presumed Maryland's first, and currently the nation's only, Black governor would sign the bill. It comes at a fraught moment for Moore, as he looks to bolster his national standing within the party and position himself as a potential presidential candidate. (Why else would he be traveling to South Carolina?) That's despite the fact that he's repeatedly said he's not looking to make a White House run, for now. The veto also prompted one South Carolina Democrat, state Rep. John King, to lobby state party officials to disinvite Moore from the Blue Palmetto Dinner. Writing in an open letter on Facebook, King characterized Moore's veto this way: 'It was a rejection of the very acknowledgment that the wounds of slavery still bleed into the lives of our people today.' In an interview with The Recast, King took it a step further, explaining that while he would be open to supporting Moore should he run for president in the future, the governor's veto of a reparations bill sends the message that the historic pain suffered by Black Americans, who make up the base of the Democratic Party, can easily be ignored. 'His decision to veto a bill that simply studies reparations, gives political cover, in my opinion, to opponents of racial justice, not just in Maryland, but across the country,' he said. 'It sends a message that even Black leadership at the highest level sees reparations as politically untenable, and that makes it even harder for us as Black legislators to introduce or defend, and in many cases advance, meaningful legislation on reparational justice.' Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. The reparations issue has gained traction in a handful of states in recent years, including in California, New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia, which have each enacted commissions to study the long-term effects of slavery on Black Americans. Some local municipalities including Providence, Rhode Island, have also established similar bodies. But the issue has gone nowhere on the federal level, having been introduced every session of Congress since 1989 without being passed. Most recently, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) introduced a 'Reparations Now' resolution earlier this month, which is not expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled House. Reparations remains a politically fraught issue nationally, with Black and white survey respondents expressing markedly different opinions. In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, some 77 percent of African American respondents supported reparations, while just 18 percent of white respondents said the same. A person familiar with Moore's thinking granted anonymity to speak candidly told The Recast it is unclear to them whether Moore will address the reparations veto directly in his South Carolina remarks but expects the governor to point to efforts during his time as governor that have addressed racial disparities in the state, echoing sentiments in the governor's veto letter. 'Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study,' Moore wrote in his May 16 letter, listing items including increasing the number of mortgages to help first-time homeowners, which has helped some 1,500 pursue homeownership, and investing more than $1.3 million in the state's historically Black colleges and universities. 'We've made real progress both to undo bad policies of the past and craft good policies that will lead us toward a brighter future,' Moore continued in his letter, promising to introduce more policies in the next legislative session, which convenes in January 2026. Maryland Democrats, who enjoy a supermajority in the state Legislature, are already floating talks of overriding the governor's veto. We'll continue to monitor this space and report back on how it will be playing out — both in South Carolina and in Maryland. All the best,The Recast Team REMEMBRANCES FOR CHARLES RANGEL The political world continues to mourn the death of the legendary Harlem, New York, Congressman Charles Rangel. During a congressional career that spanned nearly half a century, he came to be known as the 'Lion of Lennox Avenue' and was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which included other towering political figures like the late Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Ron Dellums of California and fellow New Yorker Shirley Chisholm. He also became the first Black lawmaker to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee, first taking the gavel in 2007. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black party leader of either chamber, remembered Rangel as 'friend and mentor,' while also praising him as 'change agent and champion for justice.' He listed numerous accomplishments, including being a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient fighting in the Korean War, establishing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit that helped usher in new and affordable housing units across the country and, in the late 1980s, established the so-called Rangel Amendment, which blocked foreign tax credits to U.S. businesses investing in South Africa, which at the time was ruled by the apartheid system. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who prior to serving in that post was elected twice as New York senator, also praised Rangel for his military service and helping to urge her to enter politics after eight years of being first lady. 'He was a proud veteran who loved serving his Harlem constituents,' Clinton said on X. 'He urged me to run for the Senate and later was an invaluable colleague.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also added on X: 'The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it.' While many of his mourners focused on his many achievements, there were less rosy moments of his career, including when his colleagues in the U.S. House overwhelmingly voted to censure him in 2010 for several ethics violations, including receiving gifts and improper use of influence. Still, voters in his Harlem district reelected him the following cycle by a wide margin, and he didn't retire until after his 17th term, when he decided not to seek reelection in 2016. Rangel was 94 years old. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK California GOP would love a Harris run — Republicans in the Golden State love to hate the former vice president. But what they would love even more is if she would run for California governor. Kamala Harris is still reportedly months away from a decision on that race — as she mulls a gubernatorial run or a perhaps another go at the White House in 2028 — but for California's GOP the mere prospect of her running for governor is seen as beneficial, as the party expect it to energize donors and the conservative rank and file, reports POLITICO's Jeremy B. White. What else we're watching: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Hoop Dreams — The NBA's Eastern and Western Conference playoffs have been a ratings bonanza, according to one metric, which is likely making that 'cha-ching' sound' for the league's new partners including NBCU, Amazon and Disney, which inked massive deals set to kick in when the new league season tips off in the fall. Take me back — Every genre has 'em, every decade loves 'em. Rolling Stone is out with their ranking of the 50 best one-hit wonders of the 2000s. See who topped the list and who missed the cut. Janet Jackson takes center stage — The American Music Awards was this past weekend. Didn't watch? No problem. Here's a list of winners, snubs and surprises. And a look at icon Janet Jackson's performance.
Politico
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Ilhan Omar on George Floyd, 5 years later
Programming note: We'll be off next Tuesday, May 27, following the federal holiday in the U.S., and we'll return to your inboxes the following day, May 28. What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: This weekend marks five years since George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer, a moment captured on video that sparked international protests calling for an end to systemic racism and a national conversation on how law enforcement interacts with Black and brown communities. The murder took place in the district represented by Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the Squad who has become a lightning rod for conservative provocateurs. In the wake of Floyd's murder, with protests rising around the country, corporations implementing DEI policies — and pledging collectively to spend some $50 billion to work toward eradicating systemic racism — and politicians openly talking about reforming policing, Omar hoped his death would spur radical change in the nation. But today, the protests have evaporated, DEI departments are shutting down and conservatives are even calling for President Donald Trump to issue a pardon to Derek Chauvin, the white officer convicted of killing Floyd. While it is unclear if Trump will move forward with a pardon, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told reporters 'it behooves us to be prepared for it,' according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. Meanwhile, bipartisan talks around federal laws to reform policing have been scuttled. And by one measure, 2024 saw more people killed by police than in any year in the last decade. As the anniversary approaches, I spoke with Omar about the push for a Chauvin pardon, the legacy of the protest movement his death prompted and whether Democrats bear any blame for ceding support of law enforcement to conservatives, who have since labeled the Democrats the party of 'defund the police.' ◆◆◆ This interview has been edited for length and clarity. THE RECAST: How do you think the country should be thinking about the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder? OMAR: I believe after George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight for all of us in the United States and the world to witness, it seemed like it created a moment of hope. It ignited a lot of urgent conversations about the state of our nation, the state of policing and the state of our justice system, and who's entitled to justice. And unfortunately, as we have seen every time there is a movement for the liberation of Black people, for equality, for justice, we see a backslide — a backlash — where things not only stop progressing, but we are seeing more people emboldened with their racism. We are seeing unjust calls for [Chauvin] to be pardoned, which is telling since they're not calling for the pardon for his fellow officers that were also charged and convicted by a jury of their peers. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. THE RECAST: To your point, Chauvin was tried, convicted and sentenced during his 2021 trial. The following year a federal court convicted the former police officer of two constitutional rights violations — in a case where Chauvin himself pleaded guilty — and in 2023 the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld his second-degree murder conviction. So what do you think is driving this sentiment, particularly from conservative circles, about this push to pardon Chauvin, given the courts have ruled pretty decisively on his actions? OMAR: Well, I believe it is rooted in white supremacy. And just to be clear, the president only has the ability to pardon people who are charged and convicted under federal law. George Floyd's murderer still faces the state murder conviction and will, regardless of the federal pardon, be in jail, and he will always be known to the world and people of this country as a murderer. THE RECAST: You alluded to Floyd's murder creating 'a moment' in this country. There was also a moment on Capitol Hill to push forward on some sort of agreement on how policing on the federal level could be changed. Yet that promise went unfilled too. Can you talk a little bit about the frustrations that talks fell apart and if there are plans of this bill being reintroduced in this Congress? OMAR: I was grateful at that moment that then-Congresswoman Karen Bass and the Black Caucus rallied around the idea of reforming our policing and justice system after George Floyd's murder. We weren't successful in getting it across the finish line, and that was a missed opportunity by Congress. We know that with the passing of the bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation we were able to direct a lot of resources to help with some of those intended reforms across police departments. The Minneapolis Police Department has not become perfect, by any sense, but it's been reformed to some capacity. We've seen the consent decree from the DOJ come through, though we know that Trump's DOJ has paused it. So I am optimistic in the fact that there will be lasting positive impacts in regards to policing in this country that came out of that movement in the summer of 2020. But I'm not optimistic about having a president that fans the flames of hate, racism and bigotry. THE RECAST: Republicans have successfully labeled Democrats the party that was soft on crime and anti-police during the racial reckoning protests of five years ago. Is there anything Democrats can do to take back some of the mantle about how they are viewed as far as being welcoming to law enforcement? OMAR: There's always a narrative battle when you're in politics. I do believe that Democrats themselves have conceded that debate of whether we are for law and order and whether we care about the safety of our communities. None of us want hurt and harm for those who sign up to serve, but we do want people who actually care about that oath to serve. I hope that my Democratic colleagues find a way to reclaim that narrative, that we are not the ones that are pardoning Jan. 6 insurrectionists who beat up and were ultimately the cause of the deaths of so many Capitol police officers. We are not the ones that are calling for a murderer to be released and pardoned. We are not the ones that are creating an environment for the law to be disregarded and for order to be dismantled in this nation. I think oftentimes Democrats can end up being focused on pointing the finger at each other, instead of thinking about what the broader narrative is on what we are fighting for. THE RECAST: There's plenty of finger-pointing going on now with how much of a role Joe Biden played in Democrats' defeats this past cycle. I take it you fall into the camp that Democrats should focus on crafting a message of taking on Trump. OMAR: Oftentimes, I think we can be that kid who thinks they're smart, and they don't fully hear the teacher's instructions. And they raise their hand, try to answer, give the wrong answer and embarrass themselves. I do think that we often forget to read the room, to look at where our narrative should be and really hone in on what it means to care and and protect the future of this country. BOTTOMS LAUNCHES GEORGIA GUBERNATORIAL BID Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms surprised no one with her official campaign launch for Georgia governor on Tuesday. If elected, she would score a number of historic firsts: She'd be the nation's first Black woman to become a governor, the first Black person and first woman to lead the state of Georgia — and the first Democrat to win the Governor's Mansion in a generation. 'Donald Trump is a disaster for our economy and our country,' Bottoms proclaimed in the nearly 2 1/2-minute announcement video. She poked fun at a minor kerfuffle earlier this year when the president claimed to have fired her from the White House Export Council, a post she was appointed to by Biden. She vehemently denies that she was fired, arguing that she resigned prior to Trump taking office. 'While I laugh when Donald Trump spent part of his first day in office firing me from a job I didn't even have, for thousands of hard working Georgians who've lost their livelihoods, Donald Trump is no laughing matter,' she said in the ad. Bottoms enters the 2026 Democratic primary with broad name ID in the Peach State, but there are still looming questions about whether she can extend her reach outside the Atlanta area. It's also unclear if Georgia voters will be reluctant to elect her to the state's highest office after she stunned many Democrats by deciding against seeking a second term as mayor. She faces a potentially crowded primary, with state Sen. Jason Esteves and Atlanta-area pastor Olu Brown having declared their candidacies. In March, Rep. Lucy McBath suspended her exploratory bid to help her husband recover from cancer surgery, but she left the door open to launching a run for governor in the future. On the Republican side, state Attorney General Chris Carr launched his bid last year, while MAGA darling Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is thought to be eyeing a run after bowing out of a chance to run for Senate next year. Bottoms is running to replace the popular GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, who is term-limited. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK DOJ hits New Jersey Democrat with criminal charge — The Justice Department announced an assault charge Monday against Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat. She remains the only elected official currently charged with a crime following a tussle this month between federal agents and Democratic lawmakers who attempted to gain access to an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark. The city's mayor, Ras Baraka, was initially charged for trespassing, but those charges were later dropped. Our POLITICO colleagues note the McIver charge 'is an extraordinary stress-test for the separation of powers at a time in which President Donald Trump is seeking to maximize executive branch dominance.' TODAY'S CULTURE RECS You make me wanna … sue! — We informed you a few issues back that hip-hop legends Salt-N-Pepa will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Ahead of their official induction ceremony, the pioneering female emcees are suing Universal Music Group over control of their music catalog. A Spike Lee joint — The upcoming film'Highest 2 Lowest,' a remake of the 1963 Japanese film 'High and Low,' is reimagined and set in New York. It stars Denzel Washington as a music mogul and A$AP Rocky, who ransom's his son. Acclaimed director Spike Lee is garnering high praise from Variety, which calls the work 'a soul-searching genre movie that entertains while also sounding the alarm about where the culture could be headed.' Shakira's Stirring Performance on Fallon — International superstar Shakira, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her megahit 'Hips Don't Lie' on the 'Tonight Show,' returned Monday night to perform 'Antología,' proving that she can move a crowd even when seated on a stool.
