We Love You, First Lady Michelle Obama

Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn't be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS. I love you, Michelle.

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President Obama (@POTUS) July 26, 2016

Why We Are Democrats

Grab the Tissues: Karla Ortiz Is Why We’re Democrats. bluenationreview.com/grab-the-tissu…

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Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) July 26, 2016

Chat Away

All I'm saying is: Boo Michelle Obama tonight, and we gon' fight. #DemsInPhilly

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Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) July 25, 2016

Really? Because she and I sit on the board of the National Congress of BLACK WOMEN. twitter.com/clay_cam/statu…

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Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) July 25, 2016

Tweets Of The Day

Ds didn't play Russian hacking card idly today. Subtext is they suspect deep financial ties between @realDonaldTrump & Russian oligarchs.

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David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 24, 2016

CNN: The FBI is investigating the DNC hack. Russian involvement suspected cnn.com/2016/07/25/pol… #DNCleak #imwithher

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Don Mathews (@MathewsDomingo) July 25, 2016

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"I can no longer remain silent." Michael Jordan announces $1million to support @NAACP_LDF's policing reform efforts theundefeated.com/features/micha…

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Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) July 25, 2016

Kinda says it all, no? Whoah... h/t @JohnFugelsang https://t.co/2EHLspQIWH

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Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) July 23, 2016

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U.S. manufacturing dead? Output has doubled in three decades - MarketWatch nzzl.us/iQgeUe3 via @nuzzel thanks @TedSmyth

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Alan Murray (@alansmurray) July 25, 2016

All jokes aside. Everyone should watch this. Regardless of your political views. Feelings are NOT facts. dlvr.it/LtCRBT

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Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) July 25, 2016

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This DNC leak story is legitimately turning into a huge news story https://t.co/Dllch0yqxE

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

This suggests DNC hackers went after private email accounts of staffers investigating Manafort's Russian connections https://t.co/1X3hwfSoWh

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

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If Isikoff is correct & Russian intel hacked the DNC, this is a huge int'l incident, one w/serious implications for US-Russia relations

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

It's not just that the Russians are meddling in US electoral politics, but they are trying to actively assist Trump & harm Democrats ...

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

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... that speaks to Russia's bad intentions, but also raises serious questions about Trump campaign knowledge of this

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

Trump's people took out platform language critical of Russia. He talked about not defending Baltic states from invasion & has praised Putin

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

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... and Trump has huge financial connections to Moscow & a campaign manager on w/ties to Putin. Put it altogether & this story stinks

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

Even if there's no Trump conex, if evidence emerges Russia is trying to influence election the U.S-Russia relationship will suffer. A lot

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 25, 2016

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FBI Suspects Russia Hacked DNC; U.S. Officials Say It Was to Elect Donald Trump thebea.st/2aqWdHB via @thedailybeast

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Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) July 25, 2016

DNC estimates nearly a thousand black delegates at Democratic Convention, compared to 18 black delegates at GOP convention. #DemsInPhilly

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Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 25, 2016

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Who might these people booing Bernie right now be? Many may not be Democrats... fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-c… https://t.co/Dg5OtddamH

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(((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) July 25, 2016

So far, the antics at the DNC from BernieBros is the best argument against open primaries yet.

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I, Hoebot. (@eclecticbrotha) July 25, 2016

President Obama Gives A Progress Report On ObamaCare

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Barack Obama, JD: United States Health Care Reform. Progress To Date And Next Steps

Importance The Affordable Care Act is the most important health care legislation enacted in the United States since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The law implemented comprehensive reforms designed to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of health care. Objectives To review the factors influencing the decision to pursue health reform, summarize evidence on the effects of the law to date, recommend actions that could improve the health care system, and identify general lessons for public policy from the Affordable Care Act. Evidence Analysis of publicly available data, data obtained from government agencies, and published research findings. The period examined extends from 1963 to early 2016. Findings The Affordable Care Act has made significant progress toward solving long-standing challenges facing the US health care system related to access, affordability, and quality of care. Since the Affordable Care Act became law, the uninsured rate has declined by 43%, from 16.0% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2015, primarily because of the law’s reforms. Research has documented accompanying improvements in access to care (for example, an estimated reduction in the share of nonelderly adults unable to afford care of 5.5 percentage points), financial security (for example, an estimated reduction in debts sent to collection of $600-$1000 per person gaining Medicaid coverage),

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and health (for example, an estimated reduction in the share of nonelderly adults reporting fair or poor health of 3.4 percentage points). The law has also begun the process of transforming health care payment systems, with an estimated 30% of traditional Medicare payments now flowing through alternative payment models like bundled payments or accountable care organizations. These and related reforms have contributed to a sustained period of slow growth in per-enrollee health care spending and improvements in health care quality. Despite this progress, major opportunities to improve the health care system remain. Conclusions and Relevance Policy makers should build on progress made by the Affordable Care Act by continuing to implement the Health Insurance Marketplaces and delivery system reform, increasing federal financial assistance for Marketplace enrollees, introducing a public plan option in areas lacking individual market competition, and taking actions to reduce prescription drug costs. Although partisanship and special interest opposition remain, experience with the Affordable Care Act demonstrates that positive change is achievable on some of the nation’s most complex challenges.

More here

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Good summary in the NYT

Breaking bipartisan taboo, Obama proposes fixes to health care law, including public option. nyti.ms/29zIajl https://t.co/TqXEkxnjTn

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NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) July 11, 2016

Obama now calling for public option in article published in JAMA (Obama JAMA has a nice, nerdy ring to it) bit.ly/29L8k1K

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Sy Mukherjee (@the_sy_guy) July 11, 2016

Be Your Brother’s And Sister’s Keeper

A man just got pulled over in front of me. As soon as he stopped he quickly threw his hands out his window and waved his ID. My heart sank.

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justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 16, 2016

As a white man being pulled-over I've NEVER been afraid of losing my life. The fact that a black man has to wave his ID like a peace flag

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justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 16, 2016

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just to make sure he doesn't get shot not only breaks my heart but makes me ashamed. We can't let this be our new normal. #blacklivesmatter

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justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 16, 2016

Seeing this I felt the need to protect him like a brother. I pulled over just to make sure they knew I was watching. Luckily all is good.

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justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 16, 2016

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Those of us with white privilege must speak up.If you've never had to waive your ID like a peace flag - you should retweet #blacklivesmatter

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justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 16, 2016

Early Bird Chat

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Thinking of not voting, America? Boos, listen to @luvvie: awesomelyluvvie.com/2016/07/omg-do…

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shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) July 23, 2016

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All Times Eastern

10AM: President Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

12:45PM: Press Secretary Josh Earnest holds the White House Briefing

3:15PM: President Obama meets with Treasury Secretary Lew

4:15PM: President Obama meets with Defense Secretary Carter

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