Joe Sestak ends long-shot 2020 Democratic presidential campaign

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN)Former Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak on Sunday ended his long-shot 2020 presidential bid after failing to gain traction in the race for the Democratic Party's nomination.

"I want to thank you for the honor of running for President of the United States of America," Sestak said in a statement. "It has been an endeavor filled with immeasurable wisdom, passions, humor and insights to, and from, the people of America."

Sestak, who mounted unsuccessful bids for US Senate in 2010 and 2016, entered an already-crowded Democratic primary field in June hoping to leverage his career in the US Navy into a successful campaign, but did not qualify for any of the major Democratic presidential debates.

"The hour has become late to restore US leadership to this liberal world order, but Iraq is our lesson to remember," Sestak said in a video announcing his campaign in June. "Democrats and Republicans alike who cast their votes for the tragic misadventure in Iraq showed little understanding that while militaries can stop a problem, they can never fix a problem."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/01/politics/joe-sestak-2020-campaign/index.html

Tonight on THE WEEKLY (by the New York Times): "The Hot List"

New York Times reporters discuss an alleged source of videos of Jeffrey Epstein, and apparent plans by Attorney David Bois to demand financial settlements from those implicated.

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-weekly

German government in doubt after shock SPD vote

Source: Politico

BERLIN — German politics were thrust into disarray late Saturday after a surprise decision by the Social Democrats (SPD) to elect a leadership duo that has expressed deep reservations over the party’s participation in Angela Merkel's government.

SPD members elected Norbert Walter-Borjans, a former regional minister from North Rhine-Westphalia and Saskia Esken, a little known MP from Baden-Württemberg, to take over the beleaguered party, which has been under interim management for six months.

The vote casts doubt on the viability of the so-called "grand coalition" with Merkel's Christian Democrats, which has already come under severe strain amid deep divisions on issues such as taxes, welfare spending and defense, to name but a few.

Walter-Borjans, who campaigned on a promise to demand major spending concessions from the Christian Democrats, said the new leadership’s first priority would be “to define a clear position vis-à-vis our coalition partner.”

Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/german-spd-elects-leaders-skeptical-of-merkel-coalition/

Klobuchar knocks Bloomberg late 2020 entry: 'We have strong candidates'