| | | | Mike Pompeo gets slapped down |  | | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been trying to have his cake and eat it too for quite a while now. And The Kansas City Star is sick of it.
See, Pompeo is the nation's top diplomat, yes. But he's also Republicans' top recruit for the open seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts (R) next November. And Pompeo likes it that way -- so he's keeping the Senate race on the burner, even while insisting that anyone who asks whether he is planning to run is ridiculous and misguided.
Witness Pompeo's trip to Wichita this week with Ivanka Trump -- and his sit-down with The Wichita Eagle. Asked about the Senate race, he responded this way:
"No change. I think I've answered this question. I think this is number 103 or 104 times. My mission set every day when I wake up is incredibly clear. Our task at the State Department is to use all our all our skill to keep the American people saying, to execute American diplomacy, to make sure that American markets are open for Kansas products all around the world. That's what I'm focused on. And it's what I continue, intend to continue to be focused on."
You'll notice that isn't a "no" or an "I'm not running." It's just outrage that the question is asked -- followed by a non-answer that makes it entirely clear why the question needs to be asked.
That how-dare-you-ask-a-totally-relevant-question reaction led the Star's editorial board to write a scathing op-ed headlined "Mike Pompeo, either quit and run for U.S. Senate in Kansas or focus on your day job." Here's the key bit: "If Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is running to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, then he should quit his rather important day job and do that. "Or if, as he told The Star and The Wichita Eagle in a testy, credulity-straining interview on Thursday, he isn't even thinking about it, then he should by all means focus on U.S. diplomacy — remember diplomacy? — and stop hanging out here every chance he gets."
Woof. But also not wrong.
The Point: Mike Pompeo is a politician. Politicians run for things. And until Pompeo decides whether he's running for the Senate, reporters need to keep asking him about it. The Wichita Eagle nailed it.
-- Chris
And now, the week that was in 16 headlines:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday | | "It's a word that many Democrats have used. It's a word that many people have used over the years but that's a word that has been used many times."
-- President Donald Trump on using "lynching" to describe the impeachment process. He did not apologize for using the term. | | | ABOUT THAT DECEMBER DEBATE | | Mark your calendars for the sixth Democratic presidential debate: December 19 at the University of California, Los Angeles. It'll be hosted by Politico and "PBS NewsHour."
The threshold to qualify will be even steeper than for the November debate, which nine candidates of the 18 still in the running have qualified for.
To make the stage in December, candidates must either receive at least 4% support in four qualifying polls of primary voters nationally or in early-voting states; OR they must receive at least 6% support in two qualifying early-state polls. Candidates must also have donations from at least 200,000 unique donors, with a minimum of 800 donors in 20 states, territories or Washington, DC. | | Rocking the suburbs
Trump's DC hotel is up for sale?
The Economist on just how radically Elizabeth Warren would change the US economy
File this in the "good problems to have" folder
Rancid milk! | | | Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash doing "Wanted Man"? YUP. | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL SCHEDULER | | Coming in the week ahead: Saturday marks 100 days till the Iowa caucuses, Bernie is back in Iowa and candidates can file for the New Hampshire primary.
Friday, October 25 - Bernie Sanders: Holds three campaign events in Iowa, including a town hall and a rally to end corporate greed
- John Delaney: Participates in The Post and Courier's Pints and Politics candidate series in Charleston, South Carolina
- Donald Trump: Delivers the keynote speech for the Second Step Presidential Justice Forum in Columbia, South Carolina -- it is an official White House visit. Ten Democratic presidential candidates will participate in the group's forum over the next two days.
- Marianne Williamson: Meets with voters at a Connecticut yoga studio before speaking at Yale University
- Manchester Democrats Countdown to Victory Dinner: Draws Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer and Michael Bennet to Manchester to a fundraiser for Rep. Chris Pappas
Saturday, October 26 - Second Step Presidential Justice Forum: Draws Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, John Delaney, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders to each discuss their criminal justice proposals in Columbia, South Carolina.
- Marianne Williamson: Speaks at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
- 100 days until the Iowa caucuses
Sunday, October 27 - Second Step Presidential Justice Forum: Julián Castro, Tulsi Gabbard and Elizabeth Warren discuss their criminal justice plans for day two of the forum in Columbia, South Carolina. Organizers will also announce the winner of a straw poll.
- Marianne Williamson: Speaks at Howard University and The George Washington University in Washington, DC
- Joe Biden: Speaks at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hartsville, South Carolina
Tuesday, October 29 Wednesday, October 30 - Joe Biden: Hosts a town hall in Maquoketa, Iowa. He'll be in the Hawkeye State through Sunday.
- New Hampshire primary filing period begins: Candidates or their representatives sign paperwork in the secretary of state's office and pay $1,000 to get on the ballot. The primary's date hasn't yet been officially set, to prevent any other state from leapfrogging it -- but it's expected to be on February 11.
- Pete Buttigieg: Plans to file his candidacy for the New Hampshire primary
Thursday, October 31 - Kamala Harris: Visits a forum in Ankeny, Iowa
- Bernie Sanders: Files his candidacy for the New Hampshire primary at the secretary of state's office before a noon rally on the Statehouse lawn
Friday, November 1 - Donald Trump: Rallies in Tupelo, Mississippi
- Iowa Democratic Party Liberty and Justice Celebration: Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Steve Bullock, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, John Delaney, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang attend the Iowa Democratic Party's marquee event in Des Moines (previously named the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner).
| | | $60,800
The amount of money, in bitcoin, that anonymous hackers demanded from the Trump inauguration team to return control of the US Capitol's surveillance system, according to the Wall Street Journal. The hackers were ultimately caught. | | | | | | |
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