Cory Booker and Cedric Richmond Head to MS, Will Hurd Staffer Links with NFL, and Elaine Chao Pushed by Senators on Airlines

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was in the hot seat Wednesday night during CNN’s town hall, facing high school students who survived the Parkland, FL shooting and defending his stance on gun rights. He refused to deny campaign contributions when asked point blank by a student, “can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?” The father of a teenager killed in the shooting said to Rubio, “Your comments this week and those of our president have been pathetically weak,” prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. The Senator did make news, saying arming teachers is a bad idea, and he broke with the NRA by expressing support for raising the legal age to purchase an assault rifle to 21 and restricting the size of gun magazines. Earlier on Wednesday, Donald Trump hosted a listening session on gun violence at the White House where cameras captured a shot of the president's cheat sheet of five pointers, which he held in his hands. Point No. 5 on the list read, simply, “I hear you.” During the session he suggested arming certain educators with guns. This morning, he doubled down on his suggestion, while calling the reporting on it fake news. See his remarks here. To borrow a line from his cheat sheet, we hear you. Michelle Obama offered words of support to the students advocating for gun control, tweeting that she and Barack Obama are behind them every step of the way. In other news, this popular game show host will moderate a 45-minute debate among Pennsylvania’s 2018 gubernatorial candidates on October 1st. Who is Alex Trebek? Correct! Embattled White House staffers for $500 please. With tensions reportedly flaring between Donald Trump and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the Pentagon is considering options that would allow the president to potentially move the three-star general out of his current role and back into the military. And lastly, the White House will not be outdone. When the sister of Kim Jong-un made her historic visit to the Winter Olympics in South Korea two weeks ago, the South Korean news media dubbed her “North Korea’s Ivanka.” Now, POTUS45 is sending the real Ivanka. She will arrive in South Korea tomorrow with Press Sec Sarah Huckabee Sanders and a National Security Council official who specializes in Korean affairs in tow. We’re kicking off Thursday with this...

  • CBC members head to “counter” opening of Mississippi civil rights museum this weekend.
  • Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) wants Equifax to provide protection for consumers.
  • Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez's (D-NY) report shows economy would lose almost half a trillion without “Dreamers.”
  • Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) staffer heading to Tanzania with charity founded by Philadelphia Eagles player.
  • Barack Obama alumna named NJ Secretary of Higher Education.
  • The Ohio Democratic Party names Hillary Clinton campaign alumna new Senior Communications Advisor.
  • Indian Health Service nominee withdraws amid questions about his résumé.
  • Garden State candidate switches run from Senate to House.
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) bucks Hispanic and women’s groups with endorsement in Texas congressional race.
  • WaPo has a new Operations Editor.
  • National Association of Black Journalists partners with Facebook.
  • José Andrés is writing a new book and honored as Humanitarian of the Year.
  • The AFRO-American newspapers have a new Board Chair and President.
  • Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed appointed to University of Chicago Advisory Board.
  • Ford ousts top exec for ‘inappropriate behavior.’
  • State Department ordered to tamp down language on discrimination.
  • Lawmakers in The Palmetto State want to ban saggy pants.
  • WSJ takes a look at the judicial differences at the Supreme Court through an exchange between Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas. Check it out in Blogs.
Brenda Arredondo