Latest news with #HarryReid
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dems are quietly forming a think tank to help them win again
At a private meeting last month, a top Democratic strategist pitched party leaders and donors: We need to break down ideological lanes and reject interest group agendas if we plan to win again. Adam Jentleson, former chief of staff to Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), used the retreat to preview his new policy research and messaging hub, called Searchlight. Its goal: push the Democratic Party toward the most effective, broadly popular positions regardless of which wing of the party they come from, with an eye toward 2028, according to five people who have spoken directly to Jentleson and were granted anonymity to describe private conversations. Seth London, an adviser to major Democratic donors, is working with Jentleson on the effort. The think tank's mission, as described by these people, is an explicit rejection of purity tests Jentleson sees as holding the party hostage, the most famous of which became fodder for a highly effective ad Donald Trump used against former Vice President Kamala Harris during his campaign to recapture the presidency. Searchlight — a name inspired by the birthplace of Jentleson's former boss, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — comes at a precarious moment for a Democratic Party looking to revive its deeply unpopular brand and eyeing a comeback in the 2026 midterms. One person directly familiar with the project, granted anonymity to describe private details, said its aim will be to create 'an institutional space where Democrats can think freely and put those ideas out into the world.' 'That doesn't exist right now because anywhere else, you're going to get those ideas sanded down from one angle or another,' the person continued, adding that it wasn't going to be driven ideologically or 'on a left-right binary scale,' but rather 'draw on the best ideas wherever they come from.' Jentleson explained the group to top Democratic donors and officials, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other congressional members, according to those people. The confab, dubbed 'Wildflower,' was hosted at a swanky resort of the same name in upstate New York, where it also drew several potential 2028 candidates, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego. Some of Jentleson's pitch, these people said, was already laid out in a New York Times op-ed published soon after the 2024 election loss. He urged Democrats to declare 'independence from liberal and progressive interest groups that prevent Democrats from thinking clearly about how to win' and to reject the 'rigid mores and vocabulary of college-educated elites.' He urged elected officials to not be afraid of alienating powerful groups that dictated much of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. London, too, penned a post-election strategy memo that called for 'a complete rejection of race- and group-based identity politics.' 'Voters do not break down among the perceived ideological lines that a lot of Democrats are drawn into by the interest groups,' said a retreat attendee granted anonymity to discuss a private event. 'The machinations of the party force people into boxes, and if this is a vehicle to get those new ideas out there, outside those lanes that automatically limit the breadth of voters you're able to reach, then I think a lot of people would welcome that.' But the fight over the Democratic Party's future is well underway, and Searchlight is the newest entrant into an already crowded scene of Democratic groups looking to shape the 2028 presidential primary. At least some of those who heard Jentleson's pitch were frustrated that it sounded duplicative of other efforts. Just this week, Welcome PAC, a moderate-focused group, is holding 'WelcomeFest,' a day-long event they describe as 'the largest public gathering of centrist Democrats.' Several speakers at WelcomeFest, including Slotkin and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), also attended Wildflower. 'They're saying, 'we need a moderate voice, because we're losing everyone and we have to come back to the center and get away from woke, identity politics,'' said one Democratic donor adviser who heard Jentleson's pitch. 'They want to become a research and communications hub for that, which is great, but we already have a bunch of entities who do that.'
Politico
2 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Dems are quietly forming a think tank to help them win again
At a private meeting last month, a top Democratic strategist pitched party leaders and donors: We need to break down ideological lanes and reject interest group agendas if we plan to win again. Adam Jentleson, former chief of staff to Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), used the retreat to preview his new policy research and messaging hub, called Searchlight. Its goal: push the Democratic Party toward the most effective, broadly popular positions regardless of which wing of the party they come from, with an eye toward 2028, according to five people who have spoken directly to Jentleson and were granted anonymity to describe private conversations. Seth London, an adviser to major Democratic donors, is working with Jentleson on the effort. The think tank's mission, as described by these people, is an explicit rejection of purity tests Jentleson sees as holding the party hostage, the most famous of which became fodder for a highly effective ad Donald Trump used against former Vice President Kamala Harris during his campaign to recapture the presidency. Searchlight — a name inspired by the birthplace of Jentleson's former boss, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — comes at a precarious moment for a Democratic Party looking to revive its deeply unpopular brand and eyeing a comeback in the 2026 midterms. One person directly familiar with the project, granted anonymity to describe private details, said its aim will be to create 'an institutional space where Democrats can think freely and put those ideas out into the world.' 'That doesn't exist right now because anywhere else, you're going to get those ideas sanded down from one angle or another,' the person continued, adding that it wasn't going to be driven ideologically or 'on a left-right binary scale,' but rather 'draw on the best ideas wherever they come from.' Jentleson explained the group to top Democratic donors and officials, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other congressional members, according to those people. The confab, dubbed 'Wildflower,' was hosted at a swanky resort of the same name in upstate New York, where it also drew several potential 2028 candidates, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego. Some of Jentleson's pitch, these people said, was already laid out in a New York Times op-ed published soon after the 2024 election loss. He urged Democrats to declare 'independence from liberal and progressive interest groups that prevent Democrats from thinking clearly about how to win' and to reject the 'rigid mores and vocabulary of college-educated elites.' He urged elected officials to not be afraid of alienating powerful groups that dictated much of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. London, too, penned a post-election strategy memo that called for 'a complete rejection of race- and group-based identity politics.' 'Voters do not break down among the perceived ideological lines that a lot of Democrats are drawn into by the interest groups,' said a retreat attendee granted anonymity to discuss a private event. 'The machinations of the party force people into boxes, and if this is a vehicle to get those new ideas out there, outside those lanes that automatically limit the breadth of voters you're able to reach, then I think a lot of people would welcome that.' But the fight over the Democratic Party's future is well underway, and Searchlight is the newest entrant into an already crowded scene of Democratic groups looking to shape the 2028 presidential primary. At least some of those who heard Jentleson's pitch were frustrated that it sounded duplicative of other efforts. Just this week, Welcome PAC, a moderate-focused group, is holding 'WelcomeFest,' a day-long event they describe as 'the largest public gathering of centrist Democrats.' Several speakers at WelcomeFest, including Slotkin and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), also attended Wildflower. 'They're saying, 'we need a moderate voice, because we're losing everyone and we have to come back to the center and get away from woke, identity politics,'' said one Democratic donor adviser who heard Jentleson's pitch. 'They want to become a research and communications hub for that, which is great, but we already have a bunch of entities who do that.'
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
The Future of the Filibuster
The filibuster is on life support. Both parties have vowed to protect it, but both have chipped away at it. The latest blow came last week, when the parliamentarian, Senate's independent rules referee, said a measure to strike down a California air pollution law was not exempt from the filibuster's 60-vote threshold — and Republicans found a way to maneuver around her, pushing the bill through with a simple majority. The next test for the filibuster is coming soon, when members consider a sprawling bill that carries much of President Trump's domestic agenda. Republicans are moving it through Congress using special rules that shield fiscal legislation from a filibuster and that strictly limit what may be included in such bills. The Senate majority leader, John Thune, says he'll safeguard the newsletter explains how this parliamentary maneuver, made famous by windy speeches given for TV in the middle of the night, is changing. Defining filibuster downward Republicans can hardly be accused of delivering the blow that sent the filibuster reeling. That punch came from Democrats a dozen years ago, in November 2013. The G.O.P. was blocking Barack Obama's judicial nominees, so Harry Reid, then the majority leader, orchestrated a series of votes to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for most confirmations. Four years later, Republicans extended that filibuster exemption to Supreme Court nominees. Two years later, they shortened the time it takes to consider any lower-level nominee, a change that allowed both parties to speed the seating of judges. The moves had monumental consequences. They enabled Trump to place three justices of his choosing on the Supreme Court. He didn't need to make selections palatable to Democrats, since they could no longer influence the outcome. Most current members of Trump's cabinet probably wouldn't have been confirmed if a 60-vote threshold remained. Median income of triple-trending counties Shifted right Shifted left in each of the last three elections $140,000 per year Only three counties that shifted toward Trump have a median income above $100,000. $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 Shifted left in each of the last three elections Shifted right $140,000 per year Only three counties that shifted toward Trump have a median income above $100,000. $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 Note: Circle size indicates county population. Sources: Associated Press (2024 results); Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections (historical results); American Community Survey (income) By The New York Times Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Safety concerns uncovered at Las Vegas airport following review into Washington midair collision
Potential safety issues at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport have been uncovered by a federal review into the January mid-air crash between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C. All 64 people on board American Airlines Flight 5342 to Reagan Washington National Airport and the three on the Black Hawk helicopter died in the deadliest air disaster in the United States since 2001, which triggered a nationwide review of "hotspot" airports with mixed air traffic. Administrators say they took immediate action after reviewing the situation in Las Vegas. Local helicopter companies were previously instructed to avoid airplane arrival and departure corridors, but these areas lacked vertical and lateral measurements, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, tower controllers did not issue traffic advisories between returning tourist helicopter trips and the arrival or departure of planes. "We took quick action, including exercising positive control over the helicopters and issuing more traffic advisories to pilots. As a result, the number of traffic alert and collision avoidance system reports decreased by 30 percent in just three weeks," Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said. More action is planned at more airports in and around Las Vegas, as well as in other locations. These include Hollywood Burbank Airport and Van Nuys Airport in the greater LA area, which are 10 miles apart and "each serve a wide mix of aircraft, and they have closely spaced arrival and departure paths," Rocheleau said. "What I think the FAA wants is more communication. I think in the case of Harry Reid, they were a little bit concerned about helicopters coming back inbound and mixing, remixing with fixed-winged aircraft. I think they were concerned about separation procedures and the communication procedures," pilot and aviation expert Reed Yadon told NBC affiliate KSNV of Las Vegas. NBC News contacted the Clark County Department of Aviation, which owns and operates Harry Reid, for comment. The county referred questions from KSNV and The Associated Press to the FAA. Both Burbank and Van Nuys Airports were also contacted for comment. The FAA permanently banned non-essential helicopter trips around Reagan Washington National Airport after January's accident and promised to investigate areas with busy mixed air traffic. The administration held a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, stressing that potential collisions between planes and helicopters were just one of the hazards. "The top causes of accidents are loss of control, striking an object during low-altitude operations," Rocheleau said, as well as intentionally and unintentionally flying into bad weather. The FAA said that this work began months before the Hudson River helicopter crash in New York earlier this month, in which six people died, but Rocheleau added that that crash "underscored that aviation safety is not static." Helicopter flights in New York were grounded after that accident, and the flight operator is shutting down. The rulemaking committee members include aircraft and aircraft technology manufacturers, air tour operators and organizations, and aviation safety experts. They'll hold the first meeting on May 20 and provide recommendations to us by late September 2025. "While flying remains the safest mode of transportation, we must always strive to do better. We have to identify trends and get smarter about how we use data. And when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them," Rocheleau said. Aviation lawyer Robert Clifford, who is acting for some of the families of those who were killed in the January crash in Washington, welcomed the moves to improve safety. "As a frequent critic of the FAA, I must say that the FAA deserves recognition for taking these steps to protect the traveling public," Clifford said. "Helicopters are known for being the most dangerous and potentially unsafe aircraft. The extra vigilance by the FAA may save many lives." This article was originally published on
NBC News
23-04-2025
- General
- NBC News
Safety concerns uncovered at Las Vegas airport following review into Washington midair collision
Potential safety issues at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport have been uncovered by a federal review into the January mid-air crash between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C. All 64 people on board American Airlines Flight 5342 to Reagan Washington National Airport and the three on the Black Hawk helicopter died in the deadliest air disaster in the United States since 2001, which triggered a nationwide review of "hotspot" airports with mixed air traffic. Administrators say they took immediate action after reviewing the situation in Las Vegas. Local helicopter companies were previously instructed to avoid airplane arrival and departure corridors, but these areas lacked vertical and lateral measurements, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, tower controllers did not issue traffic advisories between returning tourist helicopter trips and the arrival or departure of planes. "We took quick action, including exercising positive control over the helicopters and issuing more traffic advisories to pilots. As a result, the number of traffic alert and collision avoidance system reports decreased by 30 percent in just three weeks," Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said. More action is planned at more airports in and around Las Vegas, as well as in other locations. These include Hollywood Burbank Airport and Van Nuys Airport in the greater LA area, which are 10 miles apart and "each serve a wide mix of aircraft, and they have closely spaced arrival and departure paths," Rocheleau said. "What I think the FAA wants is more communication. I think in the case of Harry Reid, they were a little bit concerned about helicopters coming back inbound and mixing, remixing with fixed-winged aircraft. I think they were concerned about separation procedures and the communication procedures," pilot and aviation expert Reed Yadon told NBC affiliate KSNV of Las Vegas. NBC News contacted the Clark County Department of Aviation, which owns and operates Harry Reid, for comment. The county referred questions from KSNV and The Associated Press to the FAA. Both Burbank and Van Nuys Airports were also contacted for comment. The FAA permanently banned non-essential helicopter trips around Reagan Washington National Airport after January's accident and promised to investigate areas with busy mixed air traffic. The administration held a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, stressing that potential collisions between planes and helicopters were just one of the hazards. "The top causes of accidents are loss of control, striking an object during low-altitude operations," Rocheleau said, as well as intentionally and unintentionally flying into bad weather. The FAA said that this work began months before the Hudson River helicopter crash in New York earlier this month, in which six people died, but Rocheleau added that that crash "underscored that aviation safety is not static." Helicopter flights in New York were grounded after that accident, and the flight operator is shutting down. The rulemaking committee members include aircraft and aircraft technology manufacturers, air tour operators and organizations, and aviation safety experts. They'll hold the first meeting on May 20 and provide recommendations to us by late September 2025. "While flying remains the safest mode of transportation, we must always strive to do better. We have to identify trends and get smarter about how we use data. And when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them," Rocheleau said. Aviation lawyer Robert Clifford, who is acting for some of the families of those who were killed in the January crash in Washington, welcomed the moves to improve safety. "As a frequent critic of the FAA, I must say that the FAA deserves recognition for taking these steps to protect the traveling public," Clifford said. "Helicopters are known for being the most dangerous and potentially unsafe aircraft. The extra vigilance by the FAA may save many lives."
