Sen. Bernie Sanders is counting on proving the doubters wrong as he did in 2016 when his campaign exceeded all expectations. | Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesBernie Sanders keeps getting bad news.After Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren seized the spotlight in the first primary debate, the Vermont senator dropped to fourth place in in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa. In some national surveys, Sanders fared . And though he raised an impressive over the last three months, former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg posted bigger hauls in the same period.Inside the...…Sen. Bernie Sanders is counting on proving the doubters wrong as he did in 2016 when his campaign exceeded all expectations. | Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesBernie Sanders keeps getting bad news.After Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren seized the spotlight in the first primary debate, the Vermont senator dropped to fourth place in in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa. In some national surveys, Sanders fared . And though he raised an impressive over the last three months, former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg posted bigger hauls in the same period.Inside the...WW…

Sen. Mitch McConnell and his wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, wave to the crowd during a parade for veterans in Madisonville, Ky., on Nov. 2, 2014. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll CallThe Transportation Department under Secretary Elaine Chao designated a special liaison to help with grant applications and other priorities from her husband Mitch McConnell’s state of Kentucky, paving the way for grants totaling at least $78 million for favored projects as McConnell prepared to campaign for reelection.Chao’s aide Todd Inman, who stated in an email to McConnell’s Senate office that Chao had...…Sen. Mitch McConnell and his wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, wave to the crowd during a parade for veterans in Madisonville, Ky., on Nov. 2, 2014. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll CallThe Transportation Department under Secretary Elaine Chao designated a special liaison to help with grant applications and other priorities from her husband Mitch McConnell’s state of Kentucky, paving the way for grants totaling at least $78 million for favored projects as McConnell prepared to campaign for reelection.Chao’s aide Todd Inman, who stated in an email to McConnell’s Senate office that Chao had...WW…

Throughout the evening, Gavin Newsom portrayed himself as a leader who would battle President Donald Trump on key areas including immigration, the budget, and other governmental priorities. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP PhotoLOS ANGELES — California’s crowded field of major gubernatorial candidates battled in a televised debate for the first time Tuesday, exchanging barbs over sanctuary cities and #MeToo issues — and saving some of their toughest blows for the Democratic frontrunner, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.The 90-minute program, televised live from San Jose, brought together the top Democrats in...…Throughout the evening, Gavin Newsom portrayed himself as a leader who would battle President Donald Trump on key areas including immigration, the budget, and other governmental priorities. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP PhotoLOS ANGELES — California’s crowded field of major gubernatorial candidates battled in a televised debate for the first time Tuesday, exchanging barbs over sanctuary cities and #MeToo issues — and saving some of their toughest blows for the Democratic frontrunner, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.The 90-minute program, televised live from San Jose, brought together the top Democrats in...WW…

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller's previously undisclosed emails could raise legal questions about whether the public charge rule was rushed to completion. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesWhite House senior adviser Stephen Miller wasn’t getting an immigration regulation he wanted. So he sent a series of scorching emails to top immigration officials, calling the department an “embarrassment” for not acting faster.The regulation in question would allow the Department of Homeland Security to bar legal immigrants from obtaining green cards if they receive certain government benefits....…White House senior adviser Stephen Miller's previously undisclosed emails could raise legal questions about whether the public charge rule was rushed to completion. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesWhite House senior adviser Stephen Miller wasn’t getting an immigration regulation he wanted. So he sent a series of scorching emails to top immigration officials, calling the department an “embarrassment” for not acting faster.The regulation in question would allow the Department of Homeland Security to bar legal immigrants from obtaining green cards if they receive certain government benefits....WW…

Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery told POLITICO about the emotional toll discussions on racism in politics can take on reporters of color. | Kris Connor/Getty ImagesThe Associated Press earlier this year shifted a national race and ethnicity reporter to its 2020 election team, an acknowledgment that race has become a defining element of President Donald Trump’s campaigns.That beat, assigned to reporter Errin Haines Whack, is fairly unusual among major news organizations. And media outlets’ approach to covering race is frustrating some prominent journalists of color at a time when...…Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery told POLITICO about the emotional toll discussions on racism in politics can take on reporters of color. | Kris Connor/Getty ImagesThe Associated Press earlier this year shifted a national race and ethnicity reporter to its 2020 election team, an acknowledgment that race has become a defining element of President Donald Trump’s campaigns.That beat, assigned to reporter Errin Haines Whack, is fairly unusual among major news organizations. And media outlets’ approach to covering race is frustrating some prominent journalists of color at a time when...WW…

What happens when you give someone a lot of leash, and they have nowhere to run with it?Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesNew York Times columnist Bret Stephens ambushed and gravely wounded his own career on the evening of Dec. 27 when his about—bear with me here—the alleged superior intelligence of Ashkenazi Jews went live on the Times website.As Twitter fury rose to smite Stephens for his “The Secrets of Jewish Genius” column and tilted hard against him, his editors attempted some post-publication damage control. They went back into his column and simply deleted the most provoking passages from...…What happens when you give someone a lot of leash, and they have nowhere to run with it?Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesNew York Times columnist Bret Stephens ambushed and gravely wounded his own career on the evening of Dec. 27 when his about—bear with me here—the alleged superior intelligence of Ashkenazi Jews went live on the Times website.As Twitter fury rose to smite Stephens for his “The Secrets of Jewish Genius” column and tilted hard against him, his editors attempted some post-publication damage control. They went back into his column and simply deleted the most provoking passages from...WW…

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. | Zach Gibson/Getty ImagesEducation Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday finalized rules that make it more difficult for federal student loan borrowers to cancel their debt on the grounds that their college defrauded them, scaling back an Obama-era policy aimed at abuses by for-profit colleges.The rules, which the Trump administration weighed for more than a year, set a more stringent standard for when the Education Department will wipe out the debt of borrowers who claim they were misled or deceived by their respective colleges.The overhaul of the rules — called...…Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. | Zach Gibson/Getty ImagesEducation Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday finalized rules that make it more difficult for federal student loan borrowers to cancel their debt on the grounds that their college defrauded them, scaling back an Obama-era policy aimed at abuses by for-profit colleges.The rules, which the Trump administration weighed for more than a year, set a more stringent standard for when the Education Department will wipe out the debt of borrowers who claim they were misled or deceived by their respective colleges.The overhaul of the rules — called...WW…

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox greets a supporter during an election night party Tuesday in San Diego. | Gregory Bull/AP PhotoDemocrats were on track to avoid getting locked out of the general election in a number of key, battleground House districts as the vote count from California’s top-two primary continued on Wednesday.The party has scrambled to avoid being shut out of the general election in three Southern California districts where large numbers of Democratic candidates split the party’s votes. Under the state’s “jungle” primary system, that would have allowed two...…Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox greets a supporter during an election night party Tuesday in San Diego. | Gregory Bull/AP PhotoDemocrats were on track to avoid getting locked out of the general election in a number of key, battleground House districts as the vote count from California’s top-two primary continued on Wednesday.The party has scrambled to avoid being shut out of the general election in three Southern California districts where large numbers of Democratic candidates split the party’s votes. Under the state’s “jungle” primary system, that would have allowed two...WW…

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang announced at Thursday night’s debate that his campaign will randomly select 10 families and give them a total of $120,000 over the next year as part of a pilot program for his universal basic income plan.Yang announced the online raffle during his opening statement. People will be able to enter during the next week, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. The money will be distributed to 10 families in increments of $1,000 per month as a way of highlighting Yang’s signature campaign promise, a universal basic income.That plan, which Yang has...…Presidential candidate Andrew Yang announced at Thursday night’s debate that his campaign will randomly select 10 families and give them a total of $120,000 over the next year as part of a pilot program for his universal basic income plan.Yang announced the online raffle during his opening statement. People will be able to enter during the next week, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. The money will be distributed to 10 families in increments of $1,000 per month as a way of highlighting Yang’s signature campaign promise, a universal basic income.That plan, which Yang has...WW…

Campaign manager Juan Rodriguez is taking the most heat for the failings, but his defenders point their finger at the candidate's sister, Maya Harris.People close to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris‘ campaign say the effort has been hampered by a flat organizational structure at the top with no clear lines of authority. | John Locher/AP PhotoBALTIMORE — Kamala Harris’ campaign is careening toward a crackup.As the California senator crisscrosses the country trying to revive her sputtering presidential bid, aides at her fast-shrinking headquarters are deep into the...…Campaign manager Juan Rodriguez is taking the most heat for the failings, but his defenders point their finger at the candidate's sister, Maya Harris.People close to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris‘ campaign say the effort has been hampered by a flat organizational structure at the top with no clear lines of authority. | John Locher/AP PhotoBALTIMORE — Kamala Harris’ campaign is careening toward a crackup.As the California senator crisscrosses the country trying to revive her sputtering presidential bid, aides at her fast-shrinking headquarters are deep into the...WW…