Politics
Obama Addresses US Presidential Race at G7 Summit
Politics
Top Cuomo aide DeRosa Emerges as Enforcer, Enabler in AG’s Sex Harass Report
New details have emerged about how Melissa DeRosa — a top aide and trusted confidante to Gov. Andrew Cuomo — allegedly helped try to bury the sexual harassment allegations against her boss.
New details have emerged about how Melissa DeRosa — a top aide and trusted confidante to Gov. Andrew Cuomo — allegedly helped try to bury the sexual harassment allegations against her boss.
The scathing official report confirming the three-term Democrat Cuomo’s potentially criminal behavior states that DeRosa played a key role in leaking the personnel file of one accuser in an attempt to discredit her — something Attorney General Letitia James’ independent probers found amounted to unlawful retaliation.
The Cuomo consigliere also pressured at least one former staffer to “surreptitiously record” a phone call with a government aide in the hopes of finding out what dirt she potentially had on the governor, the report alleges.
DeRosa, 38, was hired by Cuomo in 2013, after earlier jobs as acting chief of staff for since-disgraced ex-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and as the state director of the advocacy group Organizing for America.
The daughter of leading Albany lobbyist Giorgio DeRosa, she was promoted in 2017 to secretary to the governor, making her the first woman to hold the powerful position, which officially ranks her No. 1 on Cuomo’s staff.
A source who has frequent contact with both DeRosa and Cuomo previously told The Post that, “Melissa is very fiercely loyal and protective of the governor.”
“She can be very tough to deal with,” the source said, adding, “DeRosa is feared … If you cross her, you’re crossing the governor.”
DeRosa played a major role as secretary to the governor, in Cuomo’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the administration’s alleged cover-up of nursing-home COVID-19 deaths.
As The Post exclusively revealed, DeRosa privately told Democratic lawmakers that his administration stonewalled their requests for complete data on nursing home deaths from the virus.
She also helped him craft his lucrative memoir about the crisis, a project that has since come under scrutiny by the feds.
The 165-page report into sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, commissioned by state Attorney General Letitia James and compiled by independent investigators, mentions DeRosa’s name a whopping 187 times, including footnotes.
It describes how DeRosa, instead of seriously looking into the accusations from current and former aides, allegedly took part in dismissing and covering up the claims to protect the governor.
For instance, investigators alleged that DeRosa and other top aides, including counsel Judith Mogul and former Chief of Staff Jill Des Rosiers — dragged their feet on reporting former staffer Charlotte Bennett’s complaints to the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, which they were supposed to have immediately done under state law.
After Bennett came forward with her allegations, the Executive Chamber instituted “changes in staffing” so that “they would avoid situations where the Governor might be seen as being in a compromising situation with any woman.” But DeRosa and Mogul apparently described the change as “really more for the Governor’s protection.”
In interviews with the investigators, DeRosa also admitted that she decided to release ex-aide Lindsey Boylan’s personnel record, including internal complaints, to certain media outlets in December after she consulted with other staffers on the matter.
DeRosa said she made the decision because Boylan’s tweets about the governor — including that he was “one of the biggest abusers of all time” — had gotten “more and more escalating,” the report states.
Former aide Josh Vlasto told probers that if DeRosa decided to leak the files, it was “safe to say” the move “was consistent with what the Governor wanted or had been discussed with him and he approved it.”
A current aide who has since accused Cuomo of groping her, told probers she saw what she felt were attempts by the Executive Chamber — including DeRosa and fellow top aide Rich Azzopardi among others — to discredit Boylan, by calling her “crazy” and accusing her of having a political agenda, according to the report.
The investigators found that DeRosa also played a part in circulating a proposed op-ed, originally drafted by Cuomo, that contained “personal and professional attacks” on Boylan, and later sharing it with current and former Executive Chamber employees.
“The draft letter or op-ed attacking Ms. Boylan — particularly when combined with the release of the confidential internal records to the press — constitutes retaliation,” the investigators wrote.
At another point, DeRosa allegedly asked a former staffer to call a current government employee — identified only as “Kaitlin” in the report — to find out if she was working with Boylan or if she “had her own allegations against the Governor or was talking to reporters.”
The former staffer testified that she called Kaitlin — who had tweeted in support of Boylan — and secretly taped the call, “at the insistence of Ms. DeRosa.”
In another instance, DeRosa — who serves as Cuomo’s “Chairwoman of the New York State Council on Women & Girls” — tried to dismiss reporting about a state trooper who accused the governor of sexually harassing her as a case of sexism, the report states.
Responding to an inquiry from the Albany Times-Union about the allegations, DeRosa yelled at the newspaper’s editor saying, “You guys are trying to reduce her hiring to being about looks. That’s what men do.”
But despite her excuses, investigators found that the unnamed trooper was transferred to Cuomo’s personal detail, “at the governor’s urging and that he then “proceeded to engage in a pattern of sexually harassing conduct toward her.”
Though she appears to portray herself as a champion of women, writing in a recent tweet that “Haven’t you heard? Women aren’t allowed to be mad or fight — being tough and direct makes you a ‘bitch,’ ” the report portrays DeRosa as helping to cultivate a “toxic” workplace for young female staffers.
The report states that Cuomo himself dubbed DeRosa and other members of his inner circle “mean girls.”
The governor denied using the term, investigators said, but DeRosa said she had heard him use it and told him to quit it.
She also grew enraged with Cuomo after hearing of Bennett’s complaints about his behavior to state officials, and fiercely confronted him in a car, the report says.
“I can’t believe that this happened. I can’t believe you put yourself in a situation where you would be having any version of this conversation,” DeRosa apparently told him, before getting out when the car stopped at a traffic light.
Still, when the allegations against the gov started coming out, DeRosa was beside him during a press conference in which he apologized for acting “in a way that made people feel uncomfortable.”
The governor’s advisors then discussed what the “spin” from the March 3 presser should be, and DeRosa apparently texted the group she thought it was “getting back to work”
and “full throated emotional apology.”
DeRosa’s attorney declined comment to The Post on Wednesday. In a statement, Azzopardi, Cuomo’s communications director, said: “The report does not single out Melissa and suggestions otherwise are factually inaccurate.”
Now, Cuomo is facing growing calls to resign over the allegations, as well as an ongoing impeachment probe led by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. On Tuesday, Heastie said the gov should face impeachment proceedings.
But potential conflicts of interest could be raised, as DeRosa’s mother-in-law, Audrey Strauss, is the US Attorney for the Southern District, which is currently probing public corruption in Albany.
The federal prosecutors recently subpoenaed Patrick Jenkins, an influential lobbyist and close pal of Heastie.
Another federal probe, into the nursing home deaths, already appears to have landed with prosecutors in Brooklyn, instead of Manhattan, because Strauss’ son, Matt Wing, is married to DeRosa.
Politics
Democratic Debates 2019 Full Recap: Biden Fends Off Attacks From All Sides In Second Round of Detroit Debate
Former Vice President Joe Biden came under fire from his fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls in the second round of the debate in Detroit on Wednesday, with challengers like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker hoping to put a dent in his status as the frontrunner for the party’s nomination.
Over the course of more than two hours in Detroit’s historic Fox Theater, Biden defended himself along two lines of attack: critiques that his current policy proposals aren’t progressive enough, and attacks on his extensive record, built up over the course of his decades-long career.
Biden, who got considerably more speaking time than the other candidates on stage, appeared far more prepared than he did in the first debate in June. He displayed a firm grasp of the details of his rivals’ proposals on health care and immigration, and showed a familiarity with their own records on issues like criminal justice and economic policy.
Kamala Harris, whose confrontation with Biden defined the first debate, continued to challenge the former vice president, most notably in touting her recently unveiled health care plan. But that plan also opened her up to criticism from candidates to her left, who charged her plan does not constitute a true “Medicare for All” model since it allows for a role for private insurers. The California senator also came under scrutiny for her record as a prosecutor in California, despite her attempts to turn that experience into an argument for why she can beat President Trump.
The most strenuous criticism for Biden came from those candidates in the middle and low tiers who see an opportunity to pull Biden to the left on their signature issues. Julián Castro challenged him on immigration, particularly his record on deportations in the Obama administration. Booker took him to task on criminal justice and Biden’s support for the 1994 crime bill. Jay Inslee insisted Biden’s climate change plan is inadequate to grapple with the current crisis.
But Biden survived the barrage of incoming fire and seemed to emerge with his frontrunner status intact, at least for now. Below are the key moments from the second night in Detroit, as they happened. — Stefan Becket
Biden dominates total speaking time
11:32 p.m.: Biden spoke for nearly 20 minutes and was called on by the moderators 29 times, including numerous times when he was allowed to respond to a direct critique. Harris was second in speaking time, and Yang spoke the least.
These times include crosstalk and interruptions, but don’t count opening or closing statements:
- Biden: 19 minutes, 1 second; called on 29 times
- Harris: 14 minutes, 19 seconds; called on 18 times
- Booker: 9 minutes, 35 seconds; called on 11 times
- Gillibrand: 8 minutes, 47 seconds; called on 11 times
- Castro: 8 minute, 15 seconds; called on 10 times
- Gabbard: 8 minutes, 7 seconds; called on 10 times
- Bennet: 7 minutes, 56 seconds; called on 9 times
- Inslee: 7 minutes, 54 seconds; called on 8 times
- De Blasio: 5 minutes, 6 seconds; called on 8 times
- Yang: 4 minutes, 24 seconds; called on 8 times
— Aaron Navarro
Candidates make closing statements
10:51 p.m.: Candidates used their closing statements to reiterate the core principles of their campaigns.
Castro repeated a popular line from the first debate for his closing statement, saying that on inauguration day in 2021 he would say: “Adiós, Donald Trump.”
Andrew Yang had an unusual statement, noting that in the last debate, the fact that he didn’t wear a tie received more attention than the automation of American jobs, his key issue. Yang also likened the Democratic debates to a “reality TV” show.
“We’re up here with makeup on our faces and our rehearsed attack lines, playing roles on this reality TV show,” Yang said.
Harris called Mr. Trump a “predator,” saying that “predators are cowards.” She touted her experience as attorney general of California in going after predatory corporations as proof she could take on Mr. Trump.
Biden, who was targeted throughout the night by nearly every candidate on stage, repeated his common phrase that this election is “a battle for the soul of America,” focusing on Mr. Trump as his main competitor instead of the other Democrats.
“Eight more years of Donald Trump will change America in fundamental ways,” Biden argued.
— Grace Segers and Kathryn Watson
Harris says she wouldn’t “direct” DOJ to prosecute Trump
Harris: President Trump “needs to be held accountable. I’ve seen people go to prison for far less” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/4FandsSxzR
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
10:22 p.m.: Harris, pressed on previous comments about prosecuting the president for obstruction of justice, said she’d never “direct” the Justice Department to prosecute Mr. Trump. But Mueller outlined 10 clear instances of obstruction of justice in his report that cannot be ignored, she said.
“There are 10 clear incidents of obstruction of justice by this president, and he needs to be held accountable,” Harris said. “I’ve seen people go to prison for far less.”
Booker said impeachment proceedings need to begin immediately, politics “be damned.”
Castro said he agrees no president should “direct” such a prosecution, but that the prosecution of Mr. Trump on obstruction charges is likely.
— Kathryn Watson
Gillibrand challenges Biden over positions on working women
10:15 p.m.: Gillibrand challenged Biden over an opinion piece he wrote in 1981 opposing a bill to provide a tax credit to help parents pay for child care. Gillibrand quoted Biden as writing that the bill would cause the “deterioration” of family.
“That was a long time ago,” Biden said. He said his opposition to the bill was because it provided a tax credit to wealthier Americans. He also noted he had long been an advocate for women’s rights, and Gillibrand had previously praised him for his advocacy during an appearance at an event together.
“I don’t know what’s happened except that you’re now running for president,” Biden said, about Gillibrand’s newfound criticism of his positions.
Harris also targeted Biden for his recent flip-flop on the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortions.
— Grace Segers
Biden says he wouldn’t rejoin TPP as written
Joe Biden on if he would rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal: “I would not rejoin the TPP as it was initially put forward. I would insist that we renegotiate pieces of that” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/0h9w8H75XA
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Speaking times through second commercial break
10:04 p.m.: Through the second break, Biden has maintained his lead in speaking time, getting nearly three minutes more time than Harris. Times include crosstalk and interruptions, but don’t count opening statements:
- Biden: 14 minutes, 47 seconds
- Harris: 11 minutes, 53 seconds
- Booker: 7 minutes, 54 seconds
- Gillibrand: 6 minutes, 32 seconds
- Inslee: 6 minute, 25 seconds
- De Blasio: 5 minutes, 32 seconds
- Castro: 5 minutes, 30 seconds
- Bennet: 5 minutes, 16 seconds
- Gabbard: 5 minutes, 6 seconds
- Yang: 4 minutes, 24 seconds
— Aaron Navarro
Biden explains how he would beat Trump in Michigan
9:58 p.m.: When asked how he could defeat Mr. Trump in Michigan, Biden mined his experience aiding the state during the recession as vice president.
“I was part of the organization … that pushed bailing General Motors out, saving tens of thousands of jobs in this state,” Biden said. He added he had worked with the mayor of Detroit to try to revitalize the city, and noted that Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan had endorsed him.
Booker argued he would be able to defeat Mr. Trump in Michigan by appealing to black voters and black women in particular, a demographic critical to the Democratic Party which saw low turnout in 2016.
“We lost the state of Michigan because everybody from Republicans to Russians were targeting the state and suppressing the votes of African Americans,” Booker said.
— Grace Segers
Trump tweets about debate
9:46 p.m.: The president appears to be watching:
The cages for kids were built by the Obama Administration in 2014. He had the policy of child separation. I ended it even as I realized that more families would then come to the Border! @CNN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2019
Gillibrand says the first thing she’d do as president is “Clorox the Oval Office”
Gillibrand says the first thing she would do as President is “Clorox” the Oval Office #DemDebate https://t.co/IVb2ceHcTB pic.twitter.com/qcVaFSpFPm
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Inslee challenges Biden on climate change
9:39 p.m.: Inslee criticized Biden for not going far enough in his proposals to combat climate change.
“Middle ground solutions like the vice president has proposed … are not going to save us,” Inslee said. “Too little, too late is too dangerous.”
Biden responded that there was “no middle ground to my plan,” saying his administration would immediate rejoin the Paris Climate Accords and invest $400 billion in research for combating climate change.
Yang took a slightly darker perspective, arguing it was already too late to successfully ward off the effects of climate change.
“We are 10 years too late,” Yang said, adding that the best strategy now was to “start moving our people to higher ground.”
— Grace Segers
Gabbard says Harris would make a “prosecutor president”
9:35 p.m.: Gabbard insisted people suffered under Harris’ “reign” as a prosecutor in California, citing various ways in which the senator, in her eyes, punished people unfairly.
“She put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana,” Gabbard said, referencing a February radio interview in which Gabbard laughed about smoking pot in college.
Gabbard claimed Harris would be a “prosecutor president,” saying, “There are too many examples to cite.”
— Kathryn Watson
Harris hits Biden about his positions on busing
Harris on Biden’s position on busing: “Had those segregationists (had) their way, I would not be a member of the United States Senate, Cory Booker would not be a member of the United States Senate and Barack Obama would not have” been able to name Biden VP #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/cnKTs0da0V
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Booker and Biden face off over criminal justice records
Cory Booker to Joe Biden on criminal justice reform: “If you want to compare records, and frankly I’m shocked that you do, I am happy to do that” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/syZH7ve9bW
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Biden and Harris lead in speaking time
9:15 p.m.: Through the first commercial break, Biden and Harris spoke the most and fielded the most questions.
Here’s how much time each candidate got in the first portion of the debate, including crosstalk and interruptions, but not including opening statements:
- Biden: 8 minutes, 27 seconds
- Harris: 7 minutes, 16 seconds
- Bennet: 3 minutes, 48 seconds
- De Blasio: 3 minutes, 26 seconds
- Booker: 3 minutes, 13 seconds
- Gillibrand: 2 minutes, 39 seconds
- Castro: 2 minutes, 29 seconds
- Gabbard: 2 minutes, 14 seconds
- Inslee: 1 minute, 47 seconds
- Yang: 1 minutes, 7 seconds
— Aaron Navarro
Booker hits Biden for dodging question by invoking Obama
9:07 p.m.: De Blasio repeatedly questioned Biden about whether he opposed mass deportations of undocumented immigrants during the Obama administration. Biden demurred, saying he would not disclose private conversations he had with Obama as vice president.
Booker called Biden on his evasion by noting how often the former vice president invokes Obama’s legacy during campaign speeches.
“You can’t do it when it’s convenient and dodge it when it’s not,” Booker said about Biden’s repeated mentions of Obama.
Booker also hit Biden for his proposal to provide green cards for immigrants with advanced degrees, saying that immigrants without advanced degrees could also contribute to society.
“Some are from ‘sh–hole’ countries,” Booker said, referring to the term Mr. Trump once used to refer to third world countries.
— Grace Segers
Candidates clash on border crossings and immigration
9:05 p.m.: Castro said he would repeal a part of U.S. code on unlawful border crossings.
Harris focused on the Trump administration’s handling of migrant children at the border, saying children “should not be treated like criminals” and highlighting her visit to a facility housing unaccompanied minors.
Kamala Harris on her visit to a migrant detention facility: “I saw children lined up single-file. … These children have not committed crimes and should be not treated like criminals.” #DemDebate https://t.co/mRwNozivh9 pic.twitter.com/CALOMl73Gv
— CNN (@CNN) August 1, 2019
Bennet said one thing all candidates on the stage agree on is keeping families together. Not a single Democrat running for president would pry children from their parents, he said.
Gillibrand said she thinks about immigrants who had fled their countries for fear of violence. She said illegal border crossings should only be treated as civil violations.
Yang said immigrants are being “scapegoated” for problems that aren’t theirs, pointing to automation as a far greater concern in America.
Inslee said America shouldn’t allow a “white nationalist” to continue to be in the White House.
But it was Biden who had one of the starkest lines. The former vice president insisted asylum decisions need to be determined quickly, and Central American nations need more aid. But he drew a line that illegal immigration should stay illegal.
“The fact of the matter is if you cross the border illegally you should be able to be sent back, it’s a crime,” Biden said.
Julián Castro pushes back against Joe Biden’s immigration policies: “One of us has learned the lessons of the past and one of us hasn’t… What we need are politicians that actually have some guts on this issue.” https://t.co/smAKZynlzS #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/WQeX6ZWZih
— CNN (@CNN) August 1, 2019
Protesters interrupt Biden to criticize deportation
8:57 p.m.: In the second audience outburst of the night, protesters interrupted Biden’s answer on deportations during the Obama presidency.
Audience members appeared to be chanting “3 million deportations.”
— Grace Segers
“A bunch of malarkey:” Biden defends criticism of Medicare for All
Biden defends Obamacare: “This idea is a bunch of malarkey, what we’re talking about here” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/2FWqhMz7Jd
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Gabbard takes a shot at Harris over health plan
Biden and Harris pitch competing health care plans
Harris responds to Biden’s criticisms: “Unfortunately, Vice President Biden, you’re just simply inaccurate in what you’re describing. The reality is that our plan will bring healthcare to all Americans under a Medicare for All system” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/YNPTiUh7Pu
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
“Unfortunately Vice President Biden, you’re just simply inaccurate in what you’re describing,” Harris said.
“The plan, no matter how you cut it, costs $3 trillion,” Biden responded, noting it would also raise taxes on the middle class.
Biden argued his proposal would build on the Affordable Care Act. Harris noted that Kathleen Sebelius, who served as health and human services secretary in the Obama administration, supported her plan.
— Grace Segers
Protesters interrupt Booker
Protesters briefly interrupt the #DemDebate https://t.co/sVcxW9xdk2 pic.twitter.com/cpopVBx0xE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
Candidates target Trump in opening statements
8:29 p.m.: Most candidates took aim at the current administration in their opening statements. Bennet charged that Mr. Trump “frankly doesn’t give a damn about your kids or mine,” while Gabbard said that the president “is not behaving as a patriot.”
Yang trotted out his popular line in his opening statement: “The opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math.”
Booker, whose statement was briefly interrupted by protesters, condemned Mr. Trump’s tweets targeting Rep. Elijah Cummings, a prominent black member of Congress.
Biden said that he was running to “restore the soul” of the country after Mr. Trump’s four-year term. He also highlighted the diversity of the candidates on stage.
“Mr. President, let’s get something straight. We love it, we are not leaving it, we are here to stay, and we are certainly not leaving it to you,” Biden said.
De Blasio criticized Biden and Harris by name, noting that Biden had promised wealthy donors that politics would not fundamentally change if he were elected.
“Kamala Harris says she’s not trying to restructure society. Well, I am,” de Blasio said, adding that he would “tax the hell” out of the rich.
— Grace Segers
Biden to Harris: “Go easy on me, kid”
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris just shook hands before facing off tonight on stage for a #DemDebate rematch.
“Go easy on me, kid,” Biden told Harris. https://t.co/UjbrSN09XU pic.twitter.com/GVSrzhFxJM
— CNN (@CNN) August 1, 2019
— Kathryn Watson
De Blasio plans to roll out wealth tax
7:40 p.m.: The New York mayor plans to announce a tax reform plan in Wednesday night’s debate that he’ll tout as the most aggressive tax proposal of any presidential candidate in the race, according to spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg. The taxes would bring in an additional $1 trillion a year, she told CBS News.
He “would go farther than any other 2020 candidate to reshape society,” Rothenberg said in a statement that took aim at Warren and Sanders’ own tax plans.
De Blasio, who has been pitching himself as a candidate looking out for working people, has struggled to this point to attract attention amid the popularity of better-known populist candidates.
Read more about the proposal here.
— Zak Hudak
How to watch the debate
Wednesday’s matchup could show more confrontation between leading candidates, as they fight to raise their profiles — along with their polling numbers and donor figures — so they can make it to the next round, when the party’s higher thresholds for both these categories kicks in.
How to watch the second 2020 Democratic debate
- TV broadcast: CNN
- Free online stream: CNN.com, CNN apps, or on fuboTV – start a free trial
- Additional coverage: Watch CBSN for live coverage of the debates before, during and after
Second Democratic debate rules
According to CNN, candidates will have 60 seconds to answer questions from the moderators and 30 seconds for rebuttals and responses. Candidates at the debate will deliver opening statements and closing remarks.
— Grace Segers
Biden debate guests include mayor of Flint, Michigan
5:21 p.m.: Biden’s guests to the debate include allies of his campaign and mayors of major cities. A campaign aide told CBS News that the following guests will be attending the debate:
- Rep. Cedric Richmond, Biden’s campaign co-chair
- Sen. Chris Coons
- Keisha Lance Bottoms, mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
- Nevada State Sen. Yvanna Cancela
- Karen Weaver, mayor of Flint, Michigan
- Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP
- Kellie Nelson and Amanda Bolt, Debate Contest Winners from Charlotte, North Carolina
Biden has been criticized by Booker and Harris for his previous stances on busing and criminal justice issues. His guest list to the debate includes several prominent black politicians, whose appearances could bolster his support among black voters. Biden’s invitation of Weaver, the mayor of Flint, indicates that he wants to raise awareness about the lack of access to clean water still plaguing the majority-black city.
— Bo Erickson and Grace Segers
Harris’ plan would immediately give Americans the option of buying into a Medicare system. It would allow for Medicare for All to cover services like emergency room visits, hearing aids and substance abuse treatment.
The plan also calls for an audit of prescription drug costs. Harris is proposing a 10-year phase-in period, as opposed to Sanders’ plan, which called for a four-year transition. Her plan would automatically enroll newborns and uninsured individuals.
The Harris campaign said that extending the transition period would decrease the overall cost of Medicare for All, but it did not specify what that new estimated cost would be. Sanders estimates that his plan could cost up to $40 trillion over a decade.
— Stephanie Ramirez
Biden hoping to keep focus on Trump in debate
3:22 p.m.: Biden is hoping to keep the focus tonight on President Trump, but will not resist aggressively defending his record if confronted by fellow Democrats.
Biden is prepared to “take it Donald Trump and to not take any attacks on his record lying down,” a senior campaign official told reporters Wednesday afternoon ahead of the debate. “You’ll hear him articulate a strong case for why Donald Trump’s leaderships has been a failure for working-class people. Why it’s been a failure on the world stage.”
During the debate, Biden hopes to “make a case for transformational change in this country” and hopes to make the point that “consensus can’t be a dirty word and you have to work together to make change,” said the aide.
“You will certainly see him talk about some of the significant differences in the field,” the aide added. “Obviously, health care is one of them.”
Campaign aides refused to answer questions about how exactly Biden has been preparing — and wouldn’t even say which family members are in Detroit to watch the debate. But, they assured reporters that Biden “took prep very seriously.”
— Ed O’Keefe and Caitlin Conant
CNN sees steep drop in ratings from second debate
3:07 p.m.: Approximately 8.7 million viewers watched the first night of the second debate on Tuesday, a steep drop from the first Democratic debate in June. CNN also announced that 2.8 million people watched via live stream.
The debates in June, which aired on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo, garnered 15.3 million viewers across networks on the first night, and 18.1 million viewers on the second night. More than 9 million viewers watched the first debates via live stream.
Tonight’s debate will feature two of the most high profile candidates, Harris and Biden, so ratings may once again go up for the second night.
Update, 7:15 p.m.: Later in the day, the president tweeted his take on the less-than-stellar ratings:
Very low ratings for the Democratic Debate last night — they’re desperate for Trump!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2019
Sanders hauls in $1.1 million after Tuesday debate
2:41 p.m.: The Sanders campaign is hailing a victory after it reported a haul of $1.1 million and more than 70,000 contributions from small-dollar donors since Tuesday.
Sanders’ campaign manager credits the candidate’s breakout performance during Tuesday night’s debate for the fundraising milestone.
“Bernie Sanders commanded the debate, his vision and ideas dominated the stage, and he left absolutely no doubt that he is the best candidate ready to take this fight to Donald Trump and finally bring the change we need to America,” said Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir.
“Bernie Sanders stood out as a champion of working people and marginalized communities.”
The fundraising feat is nothing to scoff at either as candidates must pass even stricter thresholds to make the September debate stage.
A spokesperson for O’Rourke said that his campaign had the biggest fundraising day of the quarter after the debate, but declined to release any additional numbers.
— Emily Tillett
Warren, Sanders come out on top during Tuesday’s debate
The audience at Detroit’s Fox Theatre roared with applause for Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, two of the top contenders for the nomination.
Meanwhile, bottom-tier candidates like John Delaney, Tim Ryan and John Hickenlooper struggled to land their punches and connect with the audience, often choosing to attack Sanders and Warren rather than train their fire on the current administration.
Warren and Sanders emerged largely unscathed, having vigorously defended their proposals while upbraiding their opponents for failing to embrace bold policy positions.
“You know, I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for,” Warren said, in one of the defining moments of the evening.
— Emily Tillett
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