Vermont Senator and self-described Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders is “barnstorming” the United States heading into the high-stakes 2018 midterm elections in October; stopping at nine states as liberal hopefuls work to take back Congress this fall.
According to the Associated Press, Sanders will stop in pivotal battleground states like Iowa, South Carolina, and Nevada; his longest return to the campaign trail since his failed bid for the Democratic nomination in 2016.
“He wanted to go where he thinks he can be helpful in energizing the base and bringing in young people and independent voters and working-class voters who supported him,” said Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ 2016 campaign manager.
Sanders has so-far refused to comment on whether he’s mulling a possible second run for the White House in 2020, with Weaver adding the prominent Democrat has “no timeline or date” for making the monumental decision.
Read the full story at the Associated Press.
BERNIE GOES OFF: Sanders Thanks DC Liberals for Advancing ‘EXTREMIST IDEAS’
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders raised eyebrows throughout the nation’s capital Wednesday, thanking DC liberals for transforming “radical” and “extremist ideas” into “mainstream American ideas.”
Sanders was speaking at the ‘We the People’ summit in Washington, DC when he praised those in attendance for helping to advance his liberal message, saying his supporters have brought those “fringe ideas” to the masses.
“Many of the ideas that we talked about were thought to be fringe ideas, radical ideas, extremist ideas,” said the Vermont Senator. “Well, you know what? Because of your efforts, those ideas are mainstream American ideas.”
“I want to thank all of the groups here, because whether you know it or not, you have helped transform this country in so many ways,” he added.
Watch Sanders’ comments above.
BERNIE’S LESSON: Amazon Cuts Bonuses, Stock Options After Minimum Wage Hike
Online retail giant Amazon is cutting back on bonuses and other stock options for its warehouse workers after it raised its minimum wage for all employees to at least $15 an hour; a sharp rebuke of Sen. Bernie Sanders public crusade against one of the nation’s largest corporations.
According to Bloomberg, “Warehouse workers for the e-commerce giant in the U.S. were eligible in the past for monthly bonuses that could total hundreds of dollars per month as well as stock awards, said two people familiar with Amazon’s pay policies. The company informed those employees Wednesday that it’s eliminating both of those compensation categories to help pay for the raises.”
The revised payment scheme may actually result in “less wages” for certain workers.
“Because it’s no longer incentive-based, the compensation will be more immediate and predictable,” Amazon said.
The announcement comes just weeks after Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his full-fledged campaign against the one of the nation’s largest companies; unveiling new legislation that would impose a stiff tax for government benefits received by full-time employees.
Read the full story at Bloomberg.