| | | | Bernie Sanders has a problem |  | | Bernie Sanders is (almost-certainly-I-mean-let's-be-honest-with-each-other) running for president in 2020.
Lots of people think he is a top-tier contender -- and might even be sort of a co-favorite with former Vice President Joe Biden.
I am not really one of them. Or to put a finer point on it: I don't think Sanders' 2016 campaign -- in which he quite clearly overachieved -- is indicative of how he will fare in the 2020 race.
Here's one example why:
On Wednesday night, Sanders was asked by Anderson Cooper whether he was aware, during the 2016 campaign, of the allegations -- recently published by The New York Times -- of sexism and sexual harassment within his operation.
"I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case," said Sanders.
That is not a good answer. At all. Ever. And especially not amid the ongoing impact of the #MeToo movement on the culture and political world.
(Worth noting: He did apologize "to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately," and added: "If I run, we will do better next time.")
The larger point here is that Sanders got away with lots of flubs and gaffes -- like this one -- during the course of the 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton because a) no one believed, particularly in the early days of the race, that he had any real chance and b) she simply never really went after him.
Sanders has spent decades in the House and Senate. Clinton barely mentioned the thousands of votes he took -- she did spend some time on his votes in support of gun rights -- largely because she was afraid of pissing off liberals who were already skeptical of her.
That won't be the case when (I mean, if) Sanders runs for president this time. He won't be a plucky outsider charging at a windmill. He will be one of the best-known candidates, someone others are looking to knock down a peg to bump up their own chances.
Sanders' steadfast support among liberals may withstand that scrutiny. But that scrutiny is coming in ways that the Vermont independent has never seen before.
The Point: The challenge for Sanders in 2020 is very different than the one he faced in 2016. Different -- and harder.
-- Chris | | "I think nobody knows much more about [drone] technology, this type of technology, certainly, than I do."
-- President Donald Trump touting his knowledge of drones during a surprise appearance in the White House Press Briefing Room with members of the National Border Patrol Council to talk about the need for a border wall -- the key sticking point in ongoing shutdown negotiations. They did not take questions. | | | MEET YOUR NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS: KENDRA HORN | |  | Among the House members being sworn in today: Kendra Horn, Oklahoma's first female member of Congress.
Lauren caught up with Horn for this latest installment of Meet Your New Members of Congress. Horn, a Democrat representing central Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, plans to provide the best constituent service in Congress -- and has some GREAT restaurant recommendations. Lauren Dezenski: In five words, describe your first emotions when you realized you flipped your district to blue (for the first time since the mid-1970s).
Kendra Horn: Excited, relieved, thankful, hopeful, determined.
LD: What's your top priority in your first term?
KH: Providing the best constituent service in the nation.
LD: What was your biggest lesson from your campaign?
KH: Be authentic.
LD: If 2018 is the year of the woman, what does that make 2019?
KH: The year of returning common sense leadership to Congress. With a divided government, it's time we focus on the things we agree on in the best interest of our communities. Our job is about public service and doing what's right. We need to keep that in mind with everything we do.
LD: Did you have a New Year's resolution in 2018 -- and did you achieve it? What about 2019?
KH: You can probably guess what my 2018 resolution was. But in case you can't, CNN is now interviewing the first Democratic woman to ever serve in Congress from Oklahoma. I feel pretty good about how my 2018 resolution turned out.
2019 is all about representing the people of Oklahoma's 5th District to the best of my ability. That's going to take a lot of hard work, seeking out the voices of people in my district and making sure I listen to them. Also, exercise.
LD: What's your favorite pump-up music to get yourself motivated?
KH: "Hamilton: The Musical" was pretty much the soundtrack of the campaign for the past two years.
It was even on in the car full blast on the way to the watch party while my campaign manager was in the back seat on his laptop trying to confirm if we actually won, as the final votes were still being reported.
LD: What is your favorite thing to eat in your district?
KH: With an affordable cost of living and a growing younger population, Oklahoma City is seeing a boom in great new restaurants. It's hard to narrow it down to just one. Case in point, Nonesuch restaurant was just named the best [new] restaurant in America by Bon Appetit. Of course I haven't had a chance to eat there yet because they're booked up for months and I've been a little busy, but I'm looking forward to trying it out if I can get a reservation.
And of course our rural counties have great restaurants as well. Shawnee's Vann's Pig Stand is renowned for their barbecue and Robertson's Ham in Seminole is one of the best roadside stops along I-40.
Stay tuned: We will have more questions for freshmen lawmakers in upcoming editions of The Point! Is there a new face we should talk to from your district? Email lauren.dezenski@cnn.com with your suggestions! | |  | The best of politics in 2018? We made a list | | | Before the start of another partisan political year (here's looking at you, Congress), let's look back on the best moments 2018 had to offer. Plus, get a jump on a great new year by subscribing to The Point on YouTube! | |  | The plaque is up, the gavel has been passed and it is official -- Nancy Pelosi is once again the speaker of the House.
Pelosi was elected with 220 votes -- 15 Democrats ultimately didn't back her, including New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew who initially voted "no" (which is verboten -- members needed to state a name or "present").
During her speech on the House floor today, Pelosi called for a "pledge that when we disagree, we respect each other and we respect the truth."
Pelosi is now at the helm of the House amid a partially shut down government (the fourth-longest in history).
The House plans to vote tonight on a resolution that would open the government -- and would only include $1.3 billion for the border (which would not fully fund President Donald Trump's border wall). But even if it passes the House, the Republican-held Senate is not planning to take it up because of Trump's urging for a $5 billion package for a border wall. | |
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABROAD | | Remember yesterday's wild and winding Cabinet meeting with President Trump, which included him seemingly supporting the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979?
Well, the rest of the world heard about it, too. Reactions that have rolled in show the meeting was not received super well. - "Israeli official 'in shock' as Trump says Iran 'can do what they want' in Syria," (Times of Israel)
- "Indians outraged, mystified by Trump's Afghan library taunt," (Washington Times)
- "We gave more than enough sacrifices': Afghans blast Trump's praise of the Soviet invasion," (Washington Post)
🎩: Hat tip to Daniel Dale of the Toronto Star, who spotted this first! | | Because the would-be presidential landscape is constantly evolving, we've got another update on the field:
Martin O'Malley: The 2016 candidate said he is officially passing on a 2020 run, but in a Des Moines Register op-ed, he encouraged Beto O'Rourke to run.
Dianne Feinstein: The California Democrat says she'd back Joe Biden if he runs in 2020 (though they haven't spoken about it, she adds) -- pretty noteworthy considering Feinstein serves in the Senate with a whole crop of would-be candidates -- like Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown and Cory Booker. | | | | | | |
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