FEDERAL:

News:

•  Yesterday evening we found out that the FBI raided a GOP campaign consulting and fundraising firm in Annapolis, MD called The Strategic Campaign Group. “The Strategic Campaign Group says it supports Republican candidates on a range of services including mail, fundraising and telephone town halls.”  Who knows what information this will net, but there must’ve been a reason this firm was targeted now.

 

• “The acting head of the FBI, Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, vowed to lawmakers on Thursday that he would not update the White House on the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.”  And thank goodness for that. McCabe also said that the rank-and-file were not happy about the removal of Director James Comey, as stated by the White House.

 

• And finally, not related to the Trump-Russia investigation, but important nonetheless,  “According to a report by ABC News, Vice President Mike Pence will be the chair and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach will be the vice chair—two men with very long histories of making it harder to vote, especially Kobach.” This will be a huge waste of time and money, which is what Republicans excel in. “Given the lack of evidence of voter fraud, the commission seems designed for one purpose: to perpetuate the myth of fraud in order to lay the groundwork for enacting policies that suppress the vote.”

 

TRUMP-RUSSIA:

Keep calling, emailing, writing, visiting the offices of Senator Richard Burr and demanding he appoint a full staff for the investigative committee. There are currently 7 staffers working on Trump-Russia. There were 46 staffers for the Benghazi investigations. There are scripts here and here.

State Attorneys General from around the country, including our own AG Josh Stein, signed a letter urging Deputy United States AG Rod Rosenstein to appoint special counsel to investigate Trump’s Russian ties.

Here’s a direct action opportunity: Progress NC will be outside the Sheraton 420 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh today in downtown Raleigh at 3:30 PM, protesting where Senators Burr and Tillis and former UN Ambassador John Bolton are speaking at a foreign policy event. The will be demonstrating to tell Senator Burr and Senator Tillis to demand a special prosecutor for the Trump-Russia investigation.

 

STATE:

THE SENATE BUDGET AND THE TWO CAROLINAS –“Republicans claim their tax cuts have led to magazines citing North Carolina as among the best states for business. That may be true, but those national publications are talking about places like the Triangle, the Triad, and Charlotte, not places like Anson County, Scotland County or Wilkes County. The GOP budget has hung those places out to dry.”  Or Randolph, for that matter.

Let your NCGA Legislators know that we’re aware they’ve hung us out to dry and we will respond accordingly come election time.

 

SOME FRIDAY FUNNIES:

Why is it so hard to talk with someone you disagree with?

What are the odds on Trump?

   

Have a safe and wonderful Mothers’ Day Weekend!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Sixth Congressional District Democratic Convention – Saturday, May 20th

Save the date! The location for the 6th District Democratic Convention is still being set, but it will most likely be in Guilford County. Randolph County District Convention delegates need to save the date for Sat. morning, May 20, 2017. More details coming as soon as we know. We will set up a carpool once we know the location.

Note: If you attended and signed in at the County Convention on April 8th, you are a delegate to the 6th District Convention to be held in Guilford County.