| | | | The week Donald Trump went nuclear on immigration | |  | At the start of this week, two stories dominated the news: 1) The murder of 11 people at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh and 2) The pipe bombs delivered to a number of prominent Trump critics -- and a news organization -- the previous week.
The week ends very differently: with a pitched battle over immigration, law-breaking and what kind of country we are and can be.
The switch is of President Donald Trump's choosing. Here's what he had to say about it at a rally on Thursday night in Missouri:
"Now, we did have two maniacs stop our momentum that was incredible, because for seven days, nobody talked about the election to stop the tremendous momentum.
"More importantly, we have to take care of our people. And we don't care about momentum when it comes to a disgrace like just happened to our country. But it did nevertheless stop a certain momentum. And now the momentum is picking up."
Trump clearly believes that his scare tactics on immigration -- and, in particular, his insistence that the so-called "caravan" is right on our doorstep -- are working. He's learned from his 2016 campaign that fear and anger have huge power in the political sphere. And in this campaign, like in that one, he's ending the race by appealing to people's fear of the other. (His web video -- featuring convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes -- is the most clear example of the depths Trump is willing to plumb to scare his supporters into voting.)
What's less clear is whether Trump's tactics on immigration will work. Yes, they may well rile up the Republican base. But at least in the most competitive House races in the country, there simply aren't enough Trump base voters to win an endangered House Republican race. Many of these House races are in the suburbs -- in California, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania -- and it's hard to see those sorts of voters being swayed by Trump's hard-line message on immigration. (Trump's messaging may work better in hotly contested Senate races in reliably Republican areas such as Missouri, North Dakota and Indiana.)
The Point: This is how Trump is going to end his 2018 push. Not on the surging economy. Not on trade. Not on health care. But on immigration. It's a big risk that could pay dividends (as it did in 2016) or blow up in his face.
-- Chris
Below, the week in 25 Trump headlines.
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: | | "I like being relevant."
-- Sen. Lindsey Graham describing to The New York Times why he likes to be involved in any sort of Senate "gangs" tasked with solving problems. | | | Democratic efforts for midterm gains are being focused on a highly specific region called The Sun Belt, which stretches from Florida and Georgia in the Southeast to Nevada and Arizona in the Southwest.
CNN's Ronald Brownstein digs into what's going on here: "All of these states are politically defined by a stark racial divergence between their diverse youth populations and predominantly white seniors. ... (But) especially in midterm elections like this year, young people and minorities here vote at vastly lower rates than older and white people."
Who will turn out? Watch the Sun Belt on Tuesday for updates. | | | No one loves Copeland more than Point editor Leigh Munsil. So, this one's for her. | |  | Sen. Bernie Sanders, a potential 2020 contender, did an Ask Me Anything on Reddit Friday. So, of course, we've curated some of the best tidbits for you (including an answer about marijuana!):
Q: "If Democrats take control of the Senate or the House after the midterms, what is the the first piece of legislation or issue you'd like to work on?"
A: "If Democrats take control the House or the Senate we must move to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. We must immediately lower prescription drug costs in this country and we must work aggressively towards Medicare for All. We also have to take on Trump in transforming our energy system away from fossil fuel toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy as we combat the great threat of climate change."
Q: "How important is it to you that the younger generations get out and vote?"
A: "This is the most important midterm election in the modern history of this country and it is enormously important than (sic) young people come out and vote. In fact, in my view, if young people vote at the same percentage as older people do we can transform this country and move aggressively towards, economic justice, social justice, racial justice, and environmental justice. Do not sit out this election. It it too important. Please vote and bring your friends and co-workers to the polls."
Q: "you smoke weed?"
A: "When I was a young man, I did smoke marijuana on several occasions. For me, the result was a lot of coughing. Having said that, I strongly believe that we should move toward the legalization of marijuana because that issue is an integral part of our failed criminal justice system. ... If we are serious about criminal justice reform in this country, we must move towards the legalization of marijuana and that is something I'll fight for." | |  | Chris recaps some of the most notable lines from President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Missouri. Here's some of the wildest ones that caught our eye:
14. "We don't run around like Antifa with their little arms and then go ... back home into Mommy's basement and put on the black uniform and the black helmet. Oh, it's so disappointing when those helmets fall off and you look at this weak little face, isn't it?"
29. "Even one of them recently said that President Trump made promises, but he's kept many more promises. I mean, far more than I made."
37. "We're the hot country. Can you believe it?"
46. "We will never surrender, ever, ever, ever." | |  | The President may be sprinting across the country in his final campaign push of the midterms, but the first lady is hanging back.
As CNN's Kate Bennett notes: "It's not unusual that this particular first lady has opted out of rallies and appearances with candidates and incumbents -- she was not a regular presence during campaign events during the presidential campaign either. But it is worth noting that other Trump family members and Cabinet officials are acting as surrogates for the President as heated election battles are waged across the country." | | | | | | |
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