“If your actions inspire others to dream more,
learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
– John Quincy Adams
BE THE BIGGER MAN: As Donald Trump and his team begin to “prepare” for round two, Congressional Republicans are weighing in with some well-warranted advice - be the bigger man and leave Bill Clinton’s infidelities out of the race. Republicans are advising Trump to discuss his economic plan, and to ultimately remain on topic, warning that a distraction away from the ground he’s made up could lead to a slippery slope. Republicans have a lot riding on Trump’s debate performances because the closer he is to Clinton in the polls, the more likely Republicans can hold the Senate and avoid heavy losses in the House. If Trump presses Clinton's past indiscretions and it backfires, Democrats may as well start salivating about a Senate takeover.
LEFT BEHIND: White evangelicals, typically a strong voting demographic, face some ideological soul searching this election season, as many feel that the presidential race has turned its back on them since Trump won the nomination over Ted Cruz. They will not vote for Hillary Clinton knowing a liberal SCOTUS Justice goes against their ideology. However, they have difficulty stomaching Trump as his positions on same sex marriage and abortion have changed frequently. Mitt Romney won 73% of the evangelical vote in 2012 and Trump will have to better than that to win a state like IA….so, in an attempt to assuage them, Trump named a pro-life advisory council on a campaign swing through NH yesterday.
PLAY FOR PROGRESSIVES: Clinton got a big boost from Elizabeth Warren as she continues her crusade to win over millennials. Warren, the stalwart firebrand of progressive ideals, has called Clinton’s campaign the most progressive in history, touting Clinton’s anti-trade sentiment and the progressive principles she’s absorbed along the trail. While many young voters are still bitter from Clinton’s victory over Bernie Sanders in the primary, Warren’s comments are meant to reassure and mobilize millennials to the voting booths on November 8th.
THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY...: If there’s one thing that Congress will stick around an extra day for and get Jeb Hensarling and Elizabeth Warren singing from the same hymnal, it’s a good ol’ Wall Street bashing. Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf appeared before the House Financial Services Committee, and while he didn’t have to face Warren again, there is still mounting pressure on him to step down even after the bank clawed back $41 million in stock. To make matters worse, CA has suspended business relationships with the bank for a year. Expect the Wells Fargo scandal to add increased pressure on regulators to scrutinize big banks more thoroughly.
TODAY → CALL INVITE: TOP THREE CHALLENGES FOR U.S. DEFENSE INDUSTRY IN NEXT ADMINISTRATION: Our Senior Defense Policy Advisor LtGen Emo Gardner is hosting a call today at 11:00 AM EDT with Aerospace Industrial Association CEO, Dave Melcher, to hear what industry is telling and hearing from the candidates. You can find call details here.
FCC DELAYS ACTION ON SET-TOP BOX COMPETITION ORDER: Our Telecommunications-Media Analyst Paul Glenchur discussed how the FCC dropped the set-top box issue from yesterday's open meeting, but negotiations continue and a final order could be adopted at any time. You can read his piece here.
UPDATE: GUIDE TO HITCHHIKERS ON THE LAST TRAIN (AKA YEAR END SPENDING BILLS) OUT OF WASHINGTON: Our Healthcare Policy Analyst Emily Evans shared her insight on year end budget negotiations, and added a few bills to her hitchhikers list. You can read her piece here.
OPEC CURB? WHY NOW?: Our Senor Energy Policy Advisor Joe McMonigle shared his insight on how fundamental production data suggests OPEC is winning the longevity and market share story, and why they've decided a cut now. You can read his piece here.
