Republican politicians, donors and lobbyists have been busy networking and partying on the sidelines of a midterm convention that is partly a fund-raiser.
About $1 billion in anonymous contributions is coursing through midterm races across the country. Figuring out where the funds are coming from is no easy task.
Read the polls, watch economic indicators and talk to President Trump's inner circle in private, and the verdict on his second term seems clear: - Even some longtime insiders fear he's trapped by a war he shouldn't have waged, tariffs he shouldn't have levied, monuments he shouldn't be obsessed with. Why it matters: These three topics chew up much of Trump's time and attention. All three are widely unpopular in polls. - And it's almost impossible to see the public suddenly warming to war, tariffs or more statues. By the numbers: Trump's approval cratered to an all-time low of 32% in a Quinnipiac poll last week. Even more damning: 68% of voters said he isn't focused enough on the problems most Americans face. - Trump has squandered…
Ronald S. Lauder, a major funder of conservative political causes, has not given a single dollar this year to Republicans in his home state, and his super PAC has gone idle.
Elected officials are increasingly taking advantage of state laws that allow them to solicit unlimited sums of money for third parties from large corporations, unions, tribes or other special interest groups.
OPINION: Evan Barker joins the show to talk about her new book, which details her time as a Democrat operative and why she became disillusioned with the party. #EvanBarker #Democrats #Progressives