Former Obama Cabinet Member Julián Castro Announces 2020 Presidential Bid

Former United States Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro formally announced his presidential campaign on Saturday at an event in Texas.

He stated, “You see, I learned from my mother so many years ago in this community that when we want change, we don’t wait for change. We work for it. When my grandmother got here almost 100 years ago, I am sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing here with you today to say these words — I am a candidate for President of the United States of America.”

Castro, 44, also served as the mayor of San Antonio, Texas from 2009 until he joined Obama’s cabinet in 2014. He was also famously considered a frontrunner to be former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016, but she ultimately went with Senator Tim Kaine. Castro is the identical twin brother of Joaquín Castro, who currently represents Texas’s 20th congressional district.

Castro will fight for the Democratic nomination against a litany of other Democrats, including Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard who announced her formal bid on Friday. So far, the biggest name to throw her hat in the ring is Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. She made the announcement slightly over a week ago that she had launched an exploratory committee. Others who are considering running for president include California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders.

https://www.dailycaller.com/2019/01/12/obama-castro-2020-president-democrat/

Hillary Clinton: ‘Americans Can’t Afford Another Day’ of Government Shutdown

Hillary Clinton commented on the partial government shutdown, tweeting on Saturday that “Americans can’t afford another day” of what is now the longest-running government shutdown in U.S. history. Clinton made the comments as Saturday marked day 22 of the partial shutdown, surpassing the 21-day shutdown under former President Bill Clinton’s administration, which ended on January 6, 1996. Several government agencies are not receiving funding during the shutdown— including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Interior Department, the Agriculture Department, the State Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and a few smaller agencies— but these agencies are providing “essential” government services despite the lack of funding.

Clinton warned her followers at the start of the day that a continued government shutdown would cause “harm to our food safety and national security.” “As of today, this shutdown is the longest in history. The costs are already high: People are missing paychecks, losing business, or working without pay. Our national parks are overrun with trash,” the former 2016 Democrat presidential nominee tweeted Saturday morning. “The FDA and FBI warn of the harm to our food safety and national security” As of today, this shutdown is the longest in history. The ex-presidential candidate then urged her followers to call their senators, specifically singling out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and demand they reopen the government.

The shutdown is ongoing as President Donald Trump continues to stick by his demand to receive $5.7 billion in border wall funding, while Democrats are steadfast in opposing his plan to fund border security. Trump announced in a Saturday tweet that “Democrats could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes” if they considered securing the border an effort to solve a “Humanitarian Crisis”. Trump has mentioned the possibility of declaring a national emergency so he could use his executive powers to build a wall along the border, but he has not yet signaled a desire to take that step.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/12/hillary-clinton-americans-cant-afford-another-day-government-shutdown/

NAACP Prepares to Protest Donald Trump’s New Orleans Visit

The Louisiana chapter of the NAACP is preparing to protest during President Donald Trump’s visit to New Orleans on Monday, according to reports. The state’s NAACP Conference announced that it intends to protest on Convention Center Boulevard starting at 10:30 a.m. during the president’s January 14 visit. Trump is scheduled to address the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Centennial Celebration idea and trade show, according to New Orleans ABC affiliate, WGNO.

The NCAAP said its demonstrators “will be actively protesting President Donald Trump’s visit here in New Orleans, Louisiana because of the government shut down, his racist behavior towards Persons-of-Color, and the constant division amongst the people of the United States of America.”

The president is scheduled to begin his address between 11:15 and 12:45. A source close to the White House told the New Orleans Advocate that the president will come in for the speech and then leave immediately after. There will be no fundraisers or other meetings during the trip because of sensitivity to the partial government shutdown now going into its fourth week. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry tweeted that the state is “excited our state gets another chance to host our Commander in Chief!”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/12/naacp-prepares-protest-donald-trumps-new-orleans-visit/